“Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” Matt 24:42
On several occasions, Jesus addresses His return to earth [e.g., Matt 25:31-34] and His frequent admonition was to ‘be ready at all times’, i.e., be alert to this could-happen-at-any-moment event. His warnings are sobering, and a full appreciation of them might lead one to develop some anxiousness about life. Much of our daily living is occupied with what can be described as mundane, repetitive tasks. In reality, much of life requires routines, to enable us to live and work efficiently, so it is therefore not difficult to become forgetful about the need to be ‘alert’ to Christ’s return. But what does being ‘alert’ actually mean? and why are we to be alert in the first place?
In a nutshell, an evaluation of our entire life occurs at Christ’s return or when we appear before Him after our death [II Cor 5:9-10]. The scriptures declare that our behavior, words, and even our motives will be made known [I Cor 4:5]. To me, such a thought of appearing before the risen Christ is very sobering indeed. Living our life in accordance with the way of the Master, seeking to please Him in all areas of our life, appears crucial to hearing His ‘well done good and faithful servant’ [Matt 25:23]. Maintaining ‘alertness’ to Christ’s return, or our appearance before Him after our death but prior to His return, means being alert, in the interim, to opportunities to be genuinely good, as well as do good, here and now [e.g., Heb 13:16]; to continually seek to submit our life to Him, and to seek transformation of our character to be more like His [Phil 3:10, Rom 12:1-2].
The word alert is commonly used in association with some potential danger. Vigilant is a close synonym. Because we are not aware of the day of either the Lord’s return, or [normally] the day of our own death, it makes great sense for us to be ‘watchful’, ‘alert’, and vigilant about an event that closes the door on further opportunity to serve Him and share with others the powerful blessings of knowing Christ.
However, there are also numerous passages of scripture spoken by Jesus as well as the apostles addressing the issue of living without anxiety [e.g., Matt 6:25-34, I Pet 5:7, Phil 4:6]. Whatever being ‘alert’ in the biblical sense means, it surely does not mean living with great mind-disturbing anxiousness, either about the things of this life, or about Christ’s return. Paradoxically, we are to live peaceful and alert lives, but not slothful ones. Alert and peaceful lives but not unfruitful ones. Vigilant and peaceful lives but not so distracted as to miss the main event. Alertness means taking advantage of daily opportunities to do good to others and defend and promote the Kingdom of God around us, which, in my view, IS the ‘main event’ in this life [Phil 1:20-21;3:7-15].
Thomas Jefferson allegedly said: “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” For the serious Christ follower, the ‘price’ of our hearing ‘well done good and faithful servant’ is perpetual vigilance in our preparing to see Him via seeking and serving Him in this life.
Jesus refers to those who fail to prepare in this life for meeting Him, either at His return or as a result of one’s death, to be foolish [Luke 12:16-21; Matt 25:1-13]. Accordingly, we can ask ourselves: am I an alert servant of Christ, or a neglectful, or distracted, or foolish, or slothful, one? Although the scriptures clearly declare [and it is important to remind ourselves] that there is ‘no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ [Romans 8:1], the scriptures also warn us that your and my daily choices made in this life will profoundly impact the outcome of our personal ‘meeting time with the Master’ [II 5:9-10; I Cor 4:5]. Therefore, may we each be ‘alert but not anxious’ as we daily seek to know and love Him more deeply, and serve Him more wisely.
“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do what I say?” [Luke 6:46]
CJS
Oh Curt, what a profound reminder of the way we are to live our lives. Years ago Hebrews 4:12-13 became one of my favorite verses to the point I would dwell upon it many many times throughout the day and it remains to be so powerful as God Himself still leads me to this. Your writing has brought those verses to the forefront of my mind…..everything I say and do is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom I must give account. Only through the daily renewing of my mind can I live a life worthy and still I fall short. Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you in your writing so that He would bring those scriptures to remembrance.
thank you Georgene for your comments and sensitivity to awareness of Christ’s return and the need for alertness to opportunities!
So good, timely, & needed, Curt. I love, miss, & admire the Spirit in you. Lord willing, we plan to visit Oklahoma & you & M next year.
Would love to see you and family. Praying for your ministry.
How true. I feel anxiety is just part of life today and we need to learn to surremder to Christ who is always there to guide us.
I agree fully with your comment Mona.
The word “alert” in the original language means “to be vigilant” “to be awake”. Certainly Christ calls us to always be about His business. He bought us with His blood and we no longer belong to ourselves. Therefore, to be accumulating earthly goods, accolades or positions of power for their own sake is only vanity. This past month I have experienced the homegoing of two friends. One was our former neighbor who lived across the street from us. She died early one morning from a stroke. The other was a man from our church who was in my small group at our recent men’s retreat. He was in his early 60’s, athletic and in good health. He died one morning of a heart attack. Their sudden departures reminds me to be “alert” and to always be seeking to please the One who is my Lord of Lords and King of Kings. As His ambassador, I do not know when He will call me home to give an account of my stewardship.
thanks Dan for your comments. Very sobering testimony about your two friends passing rather unexpectedly. Such events only continue to reminds of the brevity of life as well as its uncertainty and thus the continual need for alertness and taking advantage of opportunities to defend and promote the Kingdom.