Being Prepared for the Future

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:42-44.

The theme of watching or vigilance is prevalent in Scripture. In Ezekiel’s call (Ezekiel 33:7), he is told, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel.” Jesus continues this warning in one of His last speeches to His twelve disciples, saying, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42).

Keeping watch is forward-looking, not backward. It involves anticipating something that is approaching. This concept is integrated into several passages of Scripture.

In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the five wise virgins expected the groom to arrive at any moment for the wedding. They brought extra oil for their lamps, preparing for potential delays. Their foresight and thorough preparation distinguished them from the others.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul teaches the church in Thessalonica to remain awake and sober as they await the Lord’s return, unlike those who live as though nothing will change.

In an extended discourse about the future, Jesus advises His disciples to keep watch, as they do not know the hour of the Lord’s coming (Matthew 24:42).

These passages highlight the alertness and preparation that followers of Jesus are called to embody. Early baptismal candidates during Lent focused on personal preparation for their new life in Christ.

If we are sincere today, we should spend the forty days of Lent not merely giving up chocolate, but reflecting on lives defined by Jesus, whose death we commemorate on Easter.

Prayer: Christ of the Resurrection, help us to dwell on what it means to be Your disciples and the cost of “taking up our cross” as You called us to do. May we not conform to the popular mindset, but remain vigilant and prepared. In Jesus’ name, we pray this. Amen.