REVELATION 16:15: “(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)” (ESV)
OBSERVATION: Am I ready? As I read these words a popular Christian song comes to my mind. The chorus goes:
“So people get ready,
Jesus is coming soon
we’ll be going home.
People get ready, Jesus is coming
to take from the world His own.”
Yet, the reality is that Jesus is also coming with judgment. Judgment is not a popular topic. It almost got Jeremiah killed several times. For other prophets it did end in death. Why is that? No one wants to think about judgment. Everyone tries to escape the consequences of their actions. However, there is a day of reckoning coming for all those who live upon the earth. That day will come like a thief in the night. It may seem like it will never come, but it will.
Have you ever thought about what went on in the minds of the men and women who were alive while Noah built the ark. They were going to work each day, they were getting married, building homes, having children. Everything was going on – business as usual. Then, there was this crazy man who was building this great vessel – and on dry ground at that. How ridiculous! Surely if you are going to build a boat you would build it near a body of water. And this crazy man was warning everyone, judgment is coming! A mighty flood is coming! What would you think?
Today, when someone talks about the end of the world and the coming judgment they are marginalized as crazy, just like Noah was. Cartoons portray them standing on a street corner, wild hair blowing in the breeze, with a sandwich board sign over their shoulders reading – “Repent, the end is near”! Yet, they may really not be crazy at all. In fact, the ones who may be really crazy are the ones who mock and go on with business as usual – without repentance.
In this midst of the bowls of wrath in Revelation 16:15 we hear the heart of Jesus as He declares – “Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” If ever there was a time to eschew sin, to rend our hearts, to turn away from everything that opposes itself to the wisdom and knowledge of God – it is now! Jude writes:
- “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1:21-23 ESV)
Their is still time to turn to Jesus Christ! Their is still time to repent. Jesus cries to each heart that will hear and open its’ door: – “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36 ESV) For the believer in Jesus Christ we await the blessed hope of the trumpet call. The Rapture of the Church is coming before the great judgment. Now is the time to embrace Jesus Christ and escape all these things that are going to take place. Can you hear the song’s refrain?
“So people get ready,
Jesus is coming soon
we’ll be going home.
People get ready, Jesus is coming
to take from the world His own.”
Lord, help me to stay awake and to abide in Your righteousness until I hear the trumpet’s call!
In Jesus Name!
Kirk's Journal 