Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
And that’s the living truth my Friends! We’re certain of Christ’s coming again: ‘And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.’ (vs.26) We just don’t know when. Even Jesus didn’t know. ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven neither the Son, but the Father.’ (vs.32) That’s why people we’ve got to take His advice seriously and pay close attention to the way we live our lives. Jesus gave some generic guidelines for His return; times of much warfare and rumours of war, many false prophets, earthquakes, famines, brother betraying brother, parents against children, and affliction like never before. ‘These are the beginnings of sorrow.’ (vs.8) All these things must come to pass before that fateful day arrives. Several times in the same speech, He warned His disciples. ‘Take heed lest any man deceive you.’ (vs.5) talking about false prophets. ‘But take heed to yourselves for they shall deliver you up to the councils..’ (vs.9) referring to persecution for His sake. And in vs.23 He again warns: ‘But take heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.’ Yes Friends, because He wanted us to be fully aware of future happenings, so we’d live faithful lives and always be ready. And you know what people, many of those things that Jesus talked about are occurring now: The many wars and rattling of sabres in expectation, the overwhelming natural disasters, the tremendous increase in false prophets, the breaking down of morals and family values, brother against brother, parents against children. Sickness is also rearing it’s ugly head like never before despite all our modern medicines. We still can’t cure Aids. Polio is coming back. So is Malaria. The diseases are becoming resistant to our strongest antibiotics. Cancer is now a scourge we can’t even get a handle on, much less cure. Then there’s the enormous stress produced by the violent, fearful, hasty manner in which we live. Oh people, I doubt the world has ever seen a troubled time like this. Can this be the beginnings of those sorrows Jesus referred to? Who knows? But there’s one bright or sombre light, according to how you look at it. ‘And the gospel must first be published amongst all nations.’ (vs.10) Now if the Lord’s waiting for everyone to get a chance to hear the Word before He calls time, then we’ve still got some leeway, cause the Word is not universal as yet. Regardless Friends, it’s imperative that we realize we’re in the midst of a very precarious situation. Jesus even simplified it to make sure we understood. ‘For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.’ (vs.34-36) Oh Friends, Jesus wants us to be ready, whenever He comes. And He ends on a rather stringent note. ‘And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.’ (vs.37) Friends, consider ourselves warned. Much LOVE!…always be prepared…should be our battle cry…
And that’s the living truth my Friends! We’re certain of Christ’s coming again: ‘And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.’ (vs.26) We just don’t know when. Even Jesus didn’t know. ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven neither the Son, but the Father.’ (vs.32) That’s why people we’ve got to take His advice seriously and pay close attention to the way we live our lives. Jesus gave some generic guidelines for His return; times of much warfare and rumours of war, many false prophets, earthquakes, famines, brother betraying brother, parents against children, and affliction like never before. ‘These are the beginnings of sorrow.’ (vs.8) All these things must come to pass before that fateful day arrives. Several times in the same speech, He warned His disciples. ‘Take heed lest any man deceive you.’ (vs.5) talking about false prophets. ‘But take heed to yourselves for they shall deliver you up to the councils..’ (vs.9) referring to persecution for His sake. And in vs.23 He again warns: ‘But take heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.’ Yes Friends, because He wanted us to be fully aware of future happenings, so we’d live faithful lives and always be ready. And you know what people, many of those things that Jesus talked about are occurring now: The many wars and rattling of sabres in expectation, the overwhelming natural disasters, the tremendous increase in false prophets, the breaking down of morals and family values, brother against brother, parents against children. Sickness is also rearing it’s ugly head like never before despite all our modern medicines. We still can’t cure Aids. Polio is coming back. So is Malaria. The diseases are becoming resistant to our strongest antibiotics. Cancer is now a scourge we can’t even get a handle on, much less cure. Then there’s the enormous stress produced by the violent, fearful, hasty manner in which we live. Oh people, I doubt the world has ever seen a troubled time like this. Can this be the beginnings of those sorrows Jesus referred to? Who knows? But there’s one bright or sombre light, according to how you look at it. ‘And the gospel must first be published amongst all nations.’ (vs.10) Now if the Lord’s waiting for everyone to get a chance to hear the Word before He calls time, then we’ve still got some leeway, cause the Word is not universal as yet. Regardless Friends, it’s imperative that we realize we’re in the midst of a very precarious situation. Jesus even simplified it to make sure we understood. ‘For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.’ (vs.34-36) Oh Friends, Jesus wants us to be ready, whenever He comes. And He ends on a rather stringent note. ‘And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.’ (vs.37) Friends, consider ourselves warned. Much LOVE!…always be prepared…should be our battle cry…
SCRIP-BITS 