And you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.
Luke 12:40 GNB
As usual, there was always a crowd wherever Jeuss went. People followed him from all over Judea, listening to Him and seeing His miracles. There was one thing though: He didn't allow the pressure of the crowd to lead Him into compromise. His teaching stayed the same, whether the audience was the crowd, the Pharisees, the scribes, the Sadducees, the teachers of the law, or even His disciples. First lesson: it doesn't matter who it is; God doesn't lower His standard for anyone. If He calls a thing sin, no amount of education, enlightenment or exposure will change it into anything else. I must come to Him in His terms, or I should not come at all.
There was a crowd around Him, but Jesus specifically spoke to His disciples, warning them about the things that would happen at the end of the age. The message of eternity is a spiritual message; not too many people can bear it. You speak about heaven and hell; people laugh. They respond with the usual message: if God is a God of love, why would he create a hell? The question is: if God is a God of love, why does he not force us to love him? Why not create robots who have no choice but to love their creator? That is the power and mystery of choice: I get to choose God by myself, not out of compulsion, but from a heart that appreciates all it has received.
That heart has a choice to make: accept or reject the love of God, as expressed in and through Jesus His Son. He is called the Son of Man, because He came like man, so He could feel what they feel, and be able to offer eternal salvation to all men. He came and died of his own freewill; He rose again, sealing redemption for all who will accept the gift. And for all who accept, we are kept on earth as a reminder of the gift that has been given and all that we stand to gain.
He then promises: I will return one day to take with me all who are eagerly waiting for me. While I wait down here, I must be careful of the things I do. Am I really ready, or am I paying lip service to the God who calls for sincere worship? While I wait, am I truly preparing for the day of His return? He will come back; that is certain, but because we do not know when, we cannot afford to be careless or to live as we please. By salvation, we bear allegiance to the One who saved us, and His desire must be our utmost pursuit.
Nobody knows the day of that return, but we can be ready when He comes back. The secret is in being ready, alert and on guard against anything that can pollute body and soul. We won't be down here forever; we will be going home soon. Do you have a home where God has promised, or are you yet to secure eternal dwellings for yourself? Remember, the Son of Man came as man so I would have no excuse for sin. His power is able to defeat sin if I trust Him, and when He returns, He will take me home. All of these are words spoken by God Himself, and if there is any truth to what He had said in the past, you know that this one too will come to pass. Now you know; are you ready? His time of favour is here.
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