Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)

An Hour That You Do Not Expect

Human nature is against surprises. Springing something on the unsuspecting can be fun or disturbing. Life is filled with unexpected events that change the course of the world. An earthquake devastates a region with sudden upheavals that take the lives of the unsuspecting. Tornadoes rip through a region, bringing destruction without warning. Health concerns happen immediately with grave consequences. Young and old are struck down in a moment with no warning. There is yet to come an event that comes without announcement. The coming of the Lord will be as a thief in the night who does not alert the victim to his coming. In the quiet of a normal night, a thief will descend upon his victim to catch him unawares.

The language of a thief in the night is the language of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that He would return for final judgment. Paul and Peter wrote about Jesus’ return with His holy angels as a real event. One certain characteristic of the coming of Christ will be the unannounced and sudden appearing of the judgment of God upon all mankind. Human nature is uncomfortable believing in something that can come without warning. Many refuse to believe Jesus is coming back for judgment. As the Son of God, Jesus declares the will of the Father in warning of His return. It has been more than two thousand years since the promise of His return, which lulls the hearts of men into lethargy, leading them to believe that Jesus could not return today.  

There is no reason for anyone to be caught unprepared when the Lord returns. Everyone will be surprised because Jesus will come at an hour no one expects. In the days of Noah, the world was eating, drinking, and enjoying the carnal pleasures of life as if it would go on forever. The fact that men lived for hundreds of years lulled them into a false sense of security, leading them to believe the world could never come to an end. It did. While they were eating, it started raining. In the middle of their pleasures, the fountains of the deep broke open. They did not believe Noah’s testimony, who warned them of the coming judgment. The flood came at an hour they did not expect, and it was too late when they realized the truth. So it will be when the Lord returns.

The world is so busy running the race of the fleshly desires, it does not realize the coming day of the Lord. No one can predict when the Lord will return. Jesus told His disciples that He did not know. What He did know was that when the Father said it was time, it would be an instant, in the twinkling of the eye, and the heavens and earth would be destroyed. Those who live in Christ will be surprised but prepared. For those who are not in Christ, they will be surprised and horrified. They will also realize it will be too late. There will be nothing they can do because they were unprepared for the unexpected return of the Lord.

Jesus told His disciples to be ready. That same message is for the world to hear today that provisions have been made through the blood of Jesus Christ to ready the faithful for the unannounced return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The day will come as a surprise. Those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ will admire the coming of the Lord and His glory. The majority of the eight or more billion souls on earth will be terrified and fearful as they stand before God, failing to prepare for His coming. He is coming back. Be surprised but be prepared.