September 11, 2001, was just another same ol' same ol’ day in NYC, and the Pentagon. Food had been taken out of the freezer for dinner that night to defrost. Parents dropped their kids off at day care, hugging them good-bye, and promising them McDonald's for dinner. Husbands and wives went their own way kissing each other good-bye and planning to watch a few sitcoms that evening. Then the planes came.

Jesus Is Lord - and He's Coming Back!

The critics have scoffed since the beginning. Look with me at a few verses from the book of 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:3-4 - First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed." (THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

1 Tim 6:13-14 I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. (THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The scoffers can scoff, the critics criticize, and the jokers joke, but Jesus is coming back! And He's on His way!

I don't believe we are far from His return, but I can't tell you when it's going to happen.

I don't know when the Lord is going to burst through the clouds with the trumpet so loud, we may have to put our hands over our ears.

Well, if you don't know Alan, what members of the human race can we ask?

The bible says, "No one knows…."

Well then, let's do this - let's inquire of the angels. Surely they would know wouldn't they? After all, they're in heaven and probably overheard some news. Let's check with Gabriel and if that doesn't work we can ask Michael the Archangel. The bible says - "No one knows…nor the angels…"

OK, then let's go to the source - let's ask Jesus - If anyone knows it's going to be Jesus, right? But, the bible says - "No one knows…nor the son…"

Well, since God is all-knowing, we will have to ask him won't we? And the good news is God knows the date and the time - but He ain't telling!

Let's look at Matthew 24. We’ll read verses 36-44…

42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 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. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (NIV)

We do know it's going to be a day probably a lot like today!

Matthew 24:37-39 - As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. NIV

It will be life as usual! People will be eating, drinking, and even getting married. Normal everyday life; just like in the day's of Noah.

December 7, 1941 was just another beautiful morning in Hawaii. But then came the Zero's. The bombs. The disaster.

November 22, 1963, was just another day in Texas. It was a cooler day as fall was now into winter. Until that rifle shot hit its mark in Dallas.

September 11, 2001, was just another same ol' same ol’ day in NYC, and the Pentagon. Food had been taken out of the freezer for dinner that night to defrost. Parents dropped their kids off at day care, hugging them good-bye, and promising them McDonald's for dinner. Husbands and wives went their own way kissing each other good-bye and planning to watch a few sitcoms that evening. Then the planes came.

In each case we were stunned - shocked - surprised. If only we had known we could have prepared.

Matthew 24:40-41 - Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (NIV)

That might be the point - Jesus wants us to be prepared for what is going to happen - but he wants us prepared now!

Jesus offers sound counsel for the Second Coming in these next few verses. Let's consider what he has to say and take it to heart. The first piece of counsel is in verse 42….

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. NIV

As Christians, we are not sure when the Lord is coming back; we are unable to interpret the signs of the times. It does seem Jesus' return must be close. We cannot imagine the world getting much worse than it is. But we can keep watch.

Watch for his return, but also, we ought to keep a watch on ourselves.

To be alert to how we are living, the choices we are making, the faith we want to have growing, the dedication we are developing.

Perhaps a little suggestion in the scoffers’ words have caused us to wonder: Is He really coming back?

Then we begin to take for granted that He's coming back, but we don't believe deep down in our heart that it's going to be now, soon, close at hand, but more like, eventual, later, one of these days, after I'm gone…

Jesus is telling us not to let our guard down even for a moment, but to watch, for Him and to watch ourselves.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." (NIV)

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (NIV)

Sound counsel - but there's more. Look with me at verses 43-44 - 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. NIV

Can you sense the urgency in Jesus words? He wants us to not only be ready for his return, but to be sure we are ready.

We must be ready!

If America had been ready on December 7, 1941, it would not have been a day that would live in infamy.

If the Secret Service had been ready for November 22, 1963 - those of us alive then would never have remembered where we were when the shots rang out and a President died.

If we had been ready on September 11, 2001, those planes would never have lifted off the ground.

I'm getting a bit lax, and someday it might jump up and bite me. I used to carry an Epi Pen. That’s a needle with epinephrine that I could give to myself in the event I consumed by accident some crab, prawns, or shrimp. You see I'm allergic to those things and they cause my throat to swell shut and I can't breathe. I don't carry it anymore, I don't even have a new one, and the old one is expired. I'm taking for granted that I won't eat anything I shouldn't.

Foolish? Yes, but not as foolish as not being ready for the Coming of Christ. I could probably get to a hospital in time, but if we're not ready for Jesus' return -what are we going to do?

Let me pry the lid up a few inches in our spiritual life by asking: Are you ready for the return of our Lord?

Is there something in our lives that needs to be taken care of so we can be READY? The Lord has reminded us often, the Holy Spirit lays it on our heart in every invitation song we hear.

When I was much younger I was a fireman at the Cole-Collister Fire Department in Boise, Idaho. Each evening as we called it a night, we placed our turn-outs right by our bed. We had our jacket and helmet in place on hooks by our trucks, and the keys to each vehicle in the ignition.

Why? When the Fire Alarms went off, and lives and properties were on the line, we had to be ready to go. If we were late, well….we just couldn't be.

When it comes to eternity we must be ready - reading and waiting - ready and watching - ready and eager - ready and hoping - ready and excited - ready and growing closer to Jesus.

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. (NIV)

Sound counsel - but there's more.

Yes, you're correct. The answer is, "When we least expect it!"

Does this give us any kind of a hint? It sure does. But it's of little help. He will come back when we would not expect him too.

So what do we do?

We wake up each morning looking outside and say - This is not only the Day the Lord has made, but this may be the day the Lord Returns! Lord, I want you to know that I am ready.

My Son Andrew, and I were chatting and he told me he hopes the return of Jesus will be awhile. He's newly married, having a house built, and his career is in the 2nd year. I tell him just like I'm telling you - "Expect the unexpected. Be ready."

God the Father is on His time table - not ours!

Things have already been set in motion…

The date is set…

The hour has been determined…

He's coming back…

Expect the unexpected…

Max Lucado has said about the return of Christ: "For the Christian, the return of Christ is not a riddle to be solved, or a code to be broken, but rather a day to be anticipated." [Experiencing the Heart of Jesus - Leaders Guide - page 138. Nelson Pub]

A day of anticipation! Are you ready?

It all starts with making Jesus Christ Lord. Surrendering our will to His and being saved.

It continues as we are living not only for but with Jesus daily. Growing in Him, rejoicing in Him, overcoming, praising, worshipping, packing for the trip, and storing up treasure in heaven.

Keep Watch - Be Ready - Expect the Unexpected!

Copyright © 2005. Alan Walker is minister of the Arcata Church of Christ in Arcata, California. Used by permission. Permission is granted by the author and by The Preacher's Study to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or any place beyond the local congregation is prohibited.