Here Jesus is still talking about the end of time. He tells us that when He comes again, it will be just like the days of Noah -people consumed with self-indulgent living and not even aware of God. They were unaware of God, but God was not unaware of them. And when God had enough, He sent the flood.
Jesus then has a warning for the church, which He likens to a servant that the master puts in charge of the household while he is away. In this story, the servant begins to think the master is never going to return and begins using the household resources for himself and begins mistreating fellow servants -then the master returns. This, Jesus says, is how it will be when He returns.
We should not think that God is being tricky or manipulative; that's not the case. God has given us grace and mercy and compassion. And He has entrusted to us His Kingdom. He has given us a double mandate -to love Him and others and to make disciples. He has gifted us with every resource we need to accomplish our mandate. In fulfilling His purposes for us, we find meaning and purpose and fulfillment in our own lives -we were created for this. And yet the vast majority of humans reject His love, His forgiveness, His mercy and His grace, leaving the mandate unfulfilled -pretending that it doesn't matter and that He won't care. Hoping that Jesus won't actually come again. This is exactly how Jesus said it would play out.
And to those of us hoping to be found faithful, He says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." There will be a day -it is going to happen -our Lord will come.
I woke up thinking about Mark chapter 13, where Jesus explains to the disciples how it will be on the earth at the End of time. The important thing is being faithful because the end WILL come. May we all be good witnesses of His wonderful Love.
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