Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

C. S. Lewis referred to the Second Coming of Jesus as the world’s last night. This world, and life as we know it here, will have a last night. Jesus will return and set all things right and restore the world to its intended and proper form. This is the subject of Matthew 24. This chapter is a bit daunting for a few reasons. On the one hand, it appears that things will get worse before they get better. Wars, violence, political upheaval, and human suffering will seemingly reach a climax before the end comes. On the other hand, this chapter can be difficult to grasp because it is hard to know when Jesus is referring to events that will occur in the current generation’s lifetime (v. 24) and to those that will occur in the distant future. Many of the things he describes certainly refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. And yet we should also keep in mind that we are still waiting for His return, the gospel to reach all nations, and our full and final redemption (Romans 8:18–25). What God started in the first century with these events has yet to be completed. In the meantime…we wait.

And that seems to be the main idea of this chapter, if we had to sum it up. Our aim is not to predict the events or try to guess when all these things will take place, especially when Christ will return, something only the Father knows (v. 36). This could distract us from our main focus, which is to endure to the end (v. 13). And what does this endurance look like? Faith and wise waiting. At the end of this chapter, Jesus tells us exactly how we should orient our lives toward the coming end of this world. He likens this to a faithful and wise servant who tends to his master’s business while he is away. Once the master returns, the servant is “blessed” (v. 46). But the wicked servant who takes his master’s delay as justification for self-indulgence and negligence is then punished upon his master’s shocking return (vv.48–51).

Many Christians live with Christ’s Return in mind. They are awake and waiting for Him to come again and make all things right. Many, however, are not. The idea of His Return is confusing, scary, and perhaps they struggle to believe it will actually happen.

Where are you today? Does this passage excite you? Does it scare you? It’s okay to confess exactly where you are and then let Jesus’ words in this chapter function like smelling salts in your life. Let them sober your mind and fix your gaze on His promises. Rest in the good plans He has for you and for this world. Pray that verse 42 becomes real in your heart today: “Stay awake, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming…”

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection: 

Prayer: Father, we do not understand all the plans you have for the world. But we trust You. We place our hope in the second coming of your Son. Give us grace to look forward to that day and be blessed when it finally comes!