until He returns

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:32

It would be amusing, if it wasn’t so disrespectful of Jesus, to line up all the false predictions of His return. Just a month again, as the American presidential election race was in full fever pitch, I constantly heard, read, and saw so many people anxiously convinced that once one party or the other secured the White House in the election, the return of Christ would HAVE to come. Both candidates have been framed to be the Anti-Christ in weird internet conspiracy theories. Sadly, I have seen evangelicals do this my entire life! It’s crazy. It’s sad. It’s unbiblical. And it disregards the direct command of Jesus.

Jesus taught His disciples in Mark 13 to be ready for the end of the age. And since it has not occurred yet as Jesus ultimately describes it, we must assume then that these words of warning apply to us today. Indeed, the teaching that nobody except the Father Himself can know when the end will occur needs to be accepted. Yet here we are, looking at a world in moral chaos (reality check: it always has been since Genesis 3) and we want so bad to predict the timing of future judgment.

So here is what I am thinking as I take in the caution Jesus clearly calls us to practice: Maybe we should just get on with making Him known in a world that needs the gospel and needs us to live like Him to show them what God’s grace is all about! We want to spare them from the worst, right? From Jesus’ conclusion in Mark 13:32-27 I consider these things:

• No one can know when “that day” will be. Stop trying to figure it out! (Mark 13:32).
• Since we can’t know, be sharp, stay focused on the gospel, obey Jesus and love others (Mark 13:33).
• The Master expects us to serve Him while watching for His return (Mark 13:34-46)!
• The tendency to drift into either laziness or hyper-eschatological nonsense are equal kinds of disobedience (Mark 13:36).
• Stay awake! The world wants to lull us into spiritual slumber. Jesus wants us actively trusting Him and watching out for Him (Mark 13:37).