Who Knows?
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24.36-39).
Jesus taught a needed lesson in this text that I believe pertains to all generations. Regarding the anticipated second coming of Jesus, we have no way of knowing when it will be. From a practical standpoint, there is much wisdom from God in withholding this information from us. Christianity is not about a last-minute cram session when we can supposedly “get right” with God while simultaneously living daily in this world to gratify our needs, desires, and purpose. Instead, serving Him is a daily pursuit that seeks to live out HIS kingdom priorities with a focus on HIS eternal purpose rather than ours.
But this article isn’t necessarily about that idea. It is about the understanding and acceptance that we live in ignorance concerning numerous things about God. Consider the following challenges given to us by God.
- “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matt. 6.33).
- “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” (Matt. 7.12).
- “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matt. 45-46).
- “But whoever loses his life for my [Jesus] sake will find it” (Matthew 16.25).
- “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12.1).
- “…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit for every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1.10).
Personally, I am both inquisitive and skeptical by nature. I need to know “why” before I fully embrace anything. The inquisitive side of me will search and think about why God demands such complete devotion from us within the above thoughts. Some things I understand. Other things I am left in ignorance. For example, I will never know the full impact on myself and others regarding the acceptance of these demands. The following questions cannot possibly, by the nature of the question, be answered by me.
- How does FULLY embracing these ideals affect my personality and my mental health?
- What impact does a life lived FULLY for God have on my children?
- What impact does a life lived halfheartedly for God have on my children?
- If I truly put God before everything in my life, how would this affect my spouse and my marriage?
In Noah’s day, according to Jesus, the people were willing to just live a normal life as if God’s warning had not been given. By the time they had an answer to the “why” question, it was too late. The same will be true regarding the salvation of many. But it is not just about that. Every time a person decides, “I don’t really have to be THAT SERIOUS about Christianity,” there is no way to know the full impact on oneself or others. Instead of waiting until it is too late, trust God now by FULLY EMBRACING His instruction. It may have more of an impact than you can possibly imagine (see Ephesians 3.20).