Do Not Be Caught Off Guard

Jesus Said, “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!'” (Mark 13:37). In John 14:2-3, He promised, “. . .I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.” At the ascension of Jesus as the disciples gazed after Him into the heavens, the heavenly messengers said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come again in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Knowing that He will return as He promised, we should never be caught off guard, we should never sleep on duty; we should be alert at all times, we should “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13). The day of grace is sure to end. The day of the Gospel opportunity has its limit, and one day the Gospel of grace will be preached no more. Therefore, Christians should be active, alert, alive, busy in the service of the Lord so that when He does come “that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap” (Luke 21:34).
The multitudes of unbelievers are sleeping, walking in darkness, thoughtless, careless, unconcerned about their eternal destiny. Apostate church members are slumbering. They are of the night. True believers, children of the day, should always hear the echo of the words of Jesus: “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 25:13).