Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion covers Mark 13:28-37 which covers Jesus’ command to be on the alert for His return.  We will focus on verse 33 which summarizes this section.

 

^“33  “Take heed, keep on the alert;  for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”

 

In these few verses, Jesus tells us to “be on the alert” twice and “keep on the alert” once and uses an example of “… a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.”  Mark 13:34.   

 

 

The two parables and conclusion of the judgment at the return of Christ, all in Matthew 25, provide further guidance.  Click here: Matthew 25 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

There are two main streams of thought. 

 

On the one hand, as I presented in the devotion yesterday, we can experience great comfort when we focus on the fact that God “will gather together His elect”.  Likewise, we read in Matthew 25 that upon His return, Christ will separate the sheep (the elect) from the goats (the non-elect).  “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 25:34.  One could think:  “Why worry?  Why be on the alert?”  I am a sheep (the elect).” 

 

But, on the other hand, we read in Matthew 25 about the five foolish virgins to keep enough oil in their lamps.  We also read about the slave “who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money”.  We also read about those who did not feed the hungry, who did not clothe the naked, who did not host the stranger, and who did not visit those in prison.  One could think:  “I better pay closer attention to what I do with my life!”

 

Romans and Galatians and other books of the Bible focus on faith and emphasize it.  James and other books of the Bible focus on works and emphasize it.  Obviously, both faith and works are important.  But, we don’t leave the conclusion at a dichotomy (a division into two mutually exclusive groups).  We believe that a true faith produces works.  We believe that a true faith is on the alert. 

 

We, the Church, are the bride of Christ.  We believe that a true bride will long for her husband to return.  She will carefully watch for all signs of his return.  A true bride will not forget about her husband.  A true bride will not be engaged in other things when her husband returns.  A true bride will be on the alert, ready and eagerly waiting for her husband.  We also believe that a true love is on the alert.   

 

2 Timothy 4:8
“in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”