Staying Awake

By Danny Saavedra

“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 (NIV)

Have you ever had to pull an all-nighter? For some, like my wife, when 9 pm hits, falling asleep is coming like a freight train . . . but not for me. My wife has to give me a curfew or I’ll stay up all night watching videos, playing a game, reading, or doing fun design stuff on my computer. But even I have my days where I’m particularly spent. I’ll find myself nodding off while watching a Marlins game, and my wife has to wake me up. Because sometimes, friends, it’s hard to stay awake and alert, especially on long, hectic, difficult days. With that in mind . . .

We’ve been working our way through Jesus’ discussion with His disciples about the end times. Have you ever wondered why Jesus shared all of this with the disciples—and us? Was it so we’d know everything that would happen? Was it so we’d theorize, try to link it all to our present time, identify specific names, and interpret things based on current events? Was it so we’d engage in arguments or write endless amounts of books, essays, commentaries, lectures, seminars, and sermons about when, where, and how exactly these things would take place? The answer to that is a big, bold, all-caps NO!

Consider that Jesus said, “not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son” (Matthew 24:36 NIV) knows when the end would come. How is it that even the Son doesn’t know? Part of being emptied (Philippians 2:5–10) means Jesus set aside during His time on earth certain benefits and privileges of His deity (kenosis).

During His life, Jesus operated within the limitations of humanity making Him “a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). He knew what God intended Him to know for the fulfillment of the work He was sent to accomplish (John 15:15). After His ascension, the Son returned to His fullness with all His divine privileges as a deity, and thus He, along with the Father and Holy Spirit, knows the day and hour.

But while on earth the Son knew what the Father intended Him to know for the purpose of His saving work, but the revelation of the day and hour was not pertinent to that work. That is so important. It’s our lesson and the very point of this discourse. Hear me, friends . . . it truly doesn’t matter when these things are going to happen.

Only two things matter. One is that Jesus is victorious in the end—and if we’re on His team, we have victory in Him and with Him. Two, that until then, we must be on mission! We must WATCH OUT to KEEP WATCH!

This has been His point since the beginning of this discourse, and He said it over and over again—particularly in Mark’s account of this discourse, where Jesus gives the charge to “watch out,” “be on guard,” or “be alert” eight times in 37 verses!

Jesus tells us these things so we won’t be caught off guard by persecution, trouble, calamity, war, or false teachers; so we won’t be found “sleeping” on the job we were given when the Master returns—“inactive in the exercise of grace, and negligent in the performance of duty; unprepared for his coming, and unfit for service” (John Gill).

He tells us so we’ll be prepared while giving us everything we need to know to accomplish the work He’s called us to. We’re to be on guard for these things to walk faithfully, persevere, live in reliance on Him, live on mission, and be about His work. We’re to be about His business of making disciples and occupying until He comes. We’re to be sober-minded and ready because it could happen at any time—and that’s all we need to know!

Pause: Why does God not tell us the day and hour of Jesus’ return? Why is it not important to know this?

Practice: As we move into the last few chapters of Matthew and the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus (the work of redemption done by Jesus), commit this week to staying alert and living on mission. Put yourself in His Word, in prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Walk in accordance and obedience to His Word and will, and be open to the work the Spirit calls you to.

Pray: Jesus, I pray for endurance, perseverance, and wisdom to be alert and ready. I pray for Your guidance and direction to be about Your business and for an open, available spirit to hear from You and walk in Your will. Amen.