Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Three Day Lent  -Transformation

portion: Matthew 24:36-46

.. no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. (Matthew 24 : 36)

It is only appropriate to meditate on the second coming of Jesus immediately after the Advent season. We know that the second coming of Jesus is imminent but Jesus very clearly states that no one knows the day or hour. The Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour. We have to be ready! Tomorrow is an uncertain proposition. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). The Bible makes this point on several occasions. Only today has been placed in your hands. Tomorrow, James is telling us, is the most deadly word in the Bible. Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:13–14) . So get ready and live ready. 
When we go through the story of Noah, we find that the floodwaters came quickly and without warning to everyone except Noah and his family. Once the rain started, there was no opportunity to prepare for what was to follow. “.. they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship” (v. 38).  Jesus compares the normalcy of their daily lives with the normalcy that will prevail before the Second Coming. Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage! Who can find fault with that! The fault is not that people are doing these things, but that they are so caught up in the routine of daily living that they take no thought for their spiritual lives.  It isn’t that Noah’s neighbors had no warning. He surely called them to repentance so that they, too, might be saved. The situation was very much like that of people today. There are people preaching the warning, but few take them seriously. “and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away” (v. 39a). The day that the water started rising was a surprise for these people. At first, they were mildly concerned. Then they grew anxious as water crept toward their homes. Then they became frantic as everything washed away. And then it was over. By the time they were sufficiently aroused to do something, it was too late. The time for preparation was long past. 
“so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (v. 39b). Many people will be surprised at the Second Coming—surprised and unprepared. They will find that the time for preparation is long past. Like Noah, we need to get ready before the rains start, for his coming will be as unexpected and unpredictable as the arrival of a thief at night. 
 
                                                                      PRAYER                                    

Heavenly Father, We now close our eyes and remember Your promise to return and put all things right. Give us the grace to prepare ourselves to be called good and faithful servant. Give us grace to prepare a way for You in our hearts, our community and our world
Amen

  Thought for the Day
Buckle up!  We don’t want to be thrown out, nor do we want to be found wanting. Be on guard.

Latha Mary Ninan
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church
New York

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