Zealously watching for Christ is not just a good idea, it’s a commandment from our Saviour. In not doing so comes with great consequences. Jesus warns on many occasions about the dangers of being caught off guard by His return. There are dangers in thinking His coming has been delayed or there is still plenty of time.
Jesus tells just He is coming at a time we think not, and at an hour we do not expect. Therefore we are always to be watching and praying lest that day take us by surprise.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42
Not only are we in danger of being caught off guard and unprepared for His return, we are in danger of slipping back into sin if our eyes are not on Christ. Instead, we can begin to be lured back into the world, back into our old habits. Jesus tell us those servants are evil and their portion will be with the hypocrites, the non-believers, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:48-51
We must be sure to never take our eyes off our Lord, never stop watching and expecting his return. We must be careful of thinking we have it all figured out with end of days time lines and charts, thinking we know when His return will or will not be. More importantly, we must not let our guard down and allow sin to rule in our lives again, thinking our master has delayed His coming. Messiah is coming back, but at a time we think not and we had better be ready.
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. Luke 12:45-46