Jesus was telling His disciples about His Second Coming. They had asked when it would happen (Matthew 24:3). It was a sensible question: if we know when something important is going to happen, we get ready for it; we can make a special effort, look good for an evening, be fresh in the morning, prepare an excellent presentation at work … some of the time. But God wants us to be ready to welcome Jesus every day. He is looking for an eternity-long relationship with us and not a special effort on one day.
 
Jesus said that only the Father knew the date. Some say that this was an admission that He was not God in the flesh. They are wrong. When God the Son came to earth He chose not to have all the attributes of God; if He had retained eternity and infinity He could not have died (Philippians 2:6-8). It was to be a divine secret that cannot be disclosed until the Last Day. God reveals all that is necessary for us to live holy lives (Deuteronomy 29:29). Telling us the date of His return would remove the urgency to get right with God and witness to His grace.
 
So, when Jesus comes again, only those with a living relationship with Him will be hungry to see Him, and be ready for Him. The others will assume that God will never come to trouble their self-filled lives. It was like that before the flood when only Noah, his family and the animals were saved. Everybody else thought that they could do whatever they liked with their lives; they thought they were accountable to nobody and did not care about God.
 
That seems to be a fair description of our modern world; a world where money rules and self-satisfaction is the goal. Even the trimmings of religion seem designed to increase a sense of well-being without repentance and lifestyle change. Even the church has got sucked into this dangerous spiritual stupor; draining it of true worship and vibrant witness. And outside the church are millions who have never been told that Jesus is coming back as King and Judge. Hell is just around the corner for many but they do not know it. Firstly we need to wake up. If we are not eager that Jesus should return today we have a problem … if what we are doing now is bigger than what God will do through all eternity, that is serious cause for concern. Worship and witness are the two key expressions of holiness. Let us ask the Lord to give us a new desire to be with Him for ever, and live now as though He will return today.