Matthew 24:36-44; Luke 17 : 20-37
“Temi! Temi, Where is Temi!!” As a teen, when a person couldn’t be found for a while and then someone finds this person after some searching, a joke about rapture would usually follow. “Ah! I thought rapture had happened and I didn’t go with it”, I would hear someone say jokingly. Where did that come from? It seems to have originated from a Bible account of Jesus talking about two persons being together; one person taken and one left. My question now is do I want to be taken? Where are the taken ones going to? I don’t want to be taken. Am I ready for the experience?
NO ONE KNOWS WHEN
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only
Matthew 24:36
What day is not known? Verse 42 helps us to know -“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” So it’s about Jesus’ second coming. Looking more closely, we see that we don’t know the exact day and hour but there are signs to tell that the day is close. How do we know it hasn’t happened already? Has He come and gone already? We know it hasn’t because the following are yet to occur:
- …all the tribes of the earth … see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24: 30)
- For as lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day (Luke 17:24)
- For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
These do not appear secret; instead visible, loud; and dead people rising? That would be intensely intriguing to see!
More than seeing it, it would be great to be a part of those the angels come to gather to meet Him. (Matthew 24:31) Am I ready?
DO I WANT TO BE TAKEN?
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41
There are two categories of people; some are taken and some left. One question I like to ask is where are the taken ones taken to? It’s easy to assume let’s look at the text again to find answers. Are there other persons that were taken in the same discussion?
- For as in the days … until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away… (Matthew 24 : 38-39).
- Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. (Matthew 24: 40)
Jesus says in the days of Noah, some people were taken away; as in those days, some will also be taken when He comes again.
Those taken in the days of Noah, where were they taken to? Luke helps us to understand better He says “… until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27)
- …flood came and took them away (Matthew 24:39)
- … flood came and destroyed them all (Luke 17:27)
Again, do I want to be taken away? Or more plainly, do I want to be destroyed?
Matthew says they were in a field; they were at the mill grinding something; Luke even adds in a bed (probably resting) to the list. Both parties are doing the same thing but one is ready, one isn’t. Are we ready?
HOW SHALL WE NOT BE TAKEN?
And as it was in the days of Noah…
Luke 17: 26-30
They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all
Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed
It is not a sin to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant or build. Genesis 6 : 11-12 informs us that the people were corrupt and filled with violence.
- “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of the eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 2:5)
- “… And He said, ‘I will not destroy it for the sake of ten [righteous]” ( Genesis 18 : 32)
In the days of Noah, and in Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot; ten that wanted to do the will of God could not be found. Wickedness was that prevalent! Jesus didn’t address their wickedness in Matthew and Luke’s account; these people were doing everyday life things – surviving.
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Luke 17: 33
The main message is — who owns our life? Do we go about our business like those expecting their Redeemer?
Consider this scheduling:
5:00 am - Wake up
5:00 - 6:00am - Prepare food for work
6:00 - 6:30am - Dress up and Pack for work
6:30 - 7:30am - Enroute to work
7:30am - 5:00pm - Busy at work
5:30 - 7:00pm - Enroute back home
7:00 - 8:00pm - Seek food then eat it
8:00 - 11:00pm - Watch something or chat with a friend
11:00pm - Sleep off
Do you notice anything?
A day with little or no God? A day filled with so much activity, wherein you forget to meditate on God’s Word or speak to your heavenly Father may not be deadly. Imagine days, a week, a month, some months, filled with so many activities and very little or nothing of God. We may cry that we want to know God more but if we do not intentionally decide to communicate with Him, how would we? “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” {Philippians 2:13)
Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left
Luke 17: 36-37
And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together”
Will you choose to “lose” your life to God today? Will you ask Him to help you be ready for the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus?
No! No!! What is this I see?
Another Deadline?
My mentors say: "Girl, be a good manager of time."
Faithfulness, diligence, I must be diligent in my tasks!
"But... but... Is that all there is to life", I ask?
He makes my heart beat fast.
She talked and again, I smiled.
To be understood, comforted, motivated and corrected
By family, friends, love, so close, though we inhabit very far apart
Yet... yet... Is that all I keep so close, at heart?
My God owns my life and my desires;
He sees His children's hurts and their cries.
To live without Him is to suffer an aimless life.
May my King return and not find me seeking to hide
-Temiloluwa.I
Little Tittles 