8/11/10 Mark 13:32-37

32 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with an assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

(Parable of the ten bridesmaids who did not watch for the coming of the groom)

Thoughts: Is it possible that Jesus would say that the Mayan Doomsday prophecy (end of the world 12/21/12), is doomed to fail?  No one knows the day or hour- not even the angels or even Jesus himself! The point of Jesus is not to ignore the end of the world, for he tells us to watch and be ready (36,37).  The point is to not be consumed with the exact day, but to live your life in a way that would glorify God.  Each moment is a gift, and any moment could be our last here (we take our mortality very much for granted, but life is fragile).  When Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew Jesus would come back tomorrow?  Luther replied he would plant his garden like he planned.  The point was we should seek to be faithful in our daily tasks, glorifying God, as a way to get ready. One other small point.  The Day of the Lord is a day of woe to many, but to the believers we do not fear it.  One of the last words of the Bible are "maranatha" (come Lord Jesus!- Rev. 21:20).  Our hope does not lie in the pain or comforts of this earth but in Christ.
 
Prayer: Come Lord Jesus.  Come to me today to strengthen me with your grace.  Come Lord Jesus.  Give me a future and a hope.

John Calvin abridged: First Christ tells us to be alert (as opposed to lazy) then to keep our lamps burning (as opposed to the darkness of ignorance).  We are to pass through this life as pilgrims not looking for a fixed resting place except in heaven.