Stay Alert!

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows — neither the angels in heaven nor the Son — except the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming. It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming — whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (Mark 13:32-37 HCSB)

I tend to live by my calendar. If it isn’t on my calendar it probably won’t get done. When I begin working on a task I tend to become very focused and forget anything and everything else that I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve mentioned that I work in technology, so when I get pulled into fixing an issue then I’m very focused on finding the cause and resolving it. However, if I’m in the middle of fixing the issue and I’m supposed to have a meeting or make a phone call then I tend to forget about the meeting or call because I’m so focused on the issue. So, I set alarms and reminders in my calendar to refocus my attention on those things that need to be addressed in that moment, like the meeting or phone call.

But what about those things that aren’t on a calendar? Those things that don’t have set days or times? Can you plan and prepare for those times? That’s what this passage is all about. The disciples had asked Jesus what they should look for regarding the destruction of the Temple. What are the signs when these things will happen? How can we be prepared? Over the last several weeks, we’ve looked at these events and the implications they have for the disciples and for us. Jesus has emphasized over and over that they were to be alert and watching. As the parable says, when the fig tree branch gets tender and you begin to see leaf buds appear then you know that summer is near.

However, we now reach the final event and warning and it gives us pause. We are told, “now concerning that day or hour no one knows – neither the angels nor the Son – except the Father.” The phrase “that day” is a Biblical phrase of epic proportions. Notice, it is not plural as in previous verses – “those days” – but is singular. When it is used this way in the New Testament it always references the day of God’s visitation and judgment. Jesus tells them that they could know the signs and anticipate the days leading up to the destruction of the Temple and associated events. However, they cannot know or anticipate “that day” of His return and impending judgment.

What gives us pause is that He tells them that neither angels nor the Son knows when that day will come – only the Father. What? Jesus doesn’t even know? How is that even possible? This is hard for us to grasp. While it is certainly possible that this limitation is due to His humanity, I believe it is more an indication of Jesus’ submission and obedience to the Father and His will. This will be clearly evident as the events of the next few days of His life play out. Ultimately, He will submit Himself to the Father’s will even as He asks “if it is possible, let this cup be taken from me.”

Paul reminds us in Philippians 2, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7 HCSB)

Why does He tell them that the angels don’t know and He doesn’t know the day or hour of His return, the day of God’s visitation and of judgment? This isn’t knowledge He’s withholding, it is knowledge He doesn’t have. Only the Father knows. So, they must remain vigilant, watchful and alert. They must be God’s servants just as He emptied Himself of His heavenly glory and took on the form of a slave – a servant who is submissive to the will and plan of God. He then tells them a parable emphasizing these very qualities: “It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.”

I’ve mentioned before that I am a procrastinator. I tend to work better under a deadline. I prioritize my tasks and work under a schedule that is designed to complete the work ahead of the deadline. I also know that things don’t always go as planned. So, I always plan for a little extra time. If I think it will take me two days then I plan for three.

However, Jesus’ words ought to give us pause because we can’t faithfully live for Him that way. We can’t put things off because we don’t know when He’s returning. In the parable, He’s given His slaves authority, assigned each one his work and told the doorkeeper to stay alert and watchful. We don’t know when He’s returning but we know what He charged us with doing – now we must remain alert, be watchful and DO the work!

He gave each one his work… Let that sink in a bit. The Master knows His servants, their skills and their abilities. He assigns each one his work. Your Master knows you and He knows what you’re capable of doing and what you’re incapable of doing. He knows what authority you can take on and He knows what you can and can’t handle. He knows your skills and your limitations. Do you?

We don’t like talking about our limitations or weaknesses. It’s like that question asked in many job interviews, what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? We don’t hesitate to talk about our strengths but we sure don’t like talking openly and honestly about our weaknesses, do we? In fact, we’re even told to answer that interview question by talking about a weakness that we can put forward as a strength. For example, I am a very trusting person and I tend to give people every opportunity to correct a mistake they’ve made. I want to build them up and improve their work so I will go above and beyond in giving them a chance to correct the situation and succeed. A weakness that I’ve worded as a strength.

What are your weaknesses?

In the very next verse, Jesus says they need to remain alert because they “don’t know when the master of the house is coming – whether in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.” It is easy to read this and simply see it as a reference to the four watches of the night. However, it may also be a reference to the times when major events will happen in the days ahead. Times when these servants will be challenged and may want to abandon their assigned posts and work. Times when they would need to be very alert and watchful. Times when their weaknesses would be brought to light and exploited by the enemy.

What do we do about our weaknesses? How do we address them? Do we ignore them? Do we try to reword them into a strength? Or do we honestly and openly deal with them? The church is often criticized for the hypocrisy that exists in her. Do we make excuses for that hypocrisy or do we strive to address it? While we can never achieve perfection in this life, we are called to constant evaluation, confession, forgiveness and growth. I may not reach perfection, but I must continually strive for it.

“Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12 HCSB)

The Master has given each of us our work and we must do it to the best of our abilities. We must strive to continually grow and improve in our knowledge, understanding and obedience to Christ. We can never sit back and rest, for we don’t know when the Master will return. When the challenge comes, whether in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster crowing or in the early morning, we must be alert and not found sleeping.

It doesn’t matter what task you’ve been assigned, do it in such a way that God is glorified and Christ is honored. It can be the simplest or lowest task, but do it in such a way that people know you are doing it for God. It’s not about what task you’ve been given but who has given it to you. You are working for HIM! It doesn’t matter whether you’re sweeping floors, washing dishes, teaching children, managing finances or leading the church in worship, do it in such a way that God is glorified and Christ is honored.

Have you ever performed a spiritual growth assessment on your life? The idea of being alert is not just about watching in order to know when the Master is coming. We must also be alert concerning the work we’ve been assigned. We need to know what we’re doing but we also need to be constantly getting better at it. The idea of being caught sleeping carries with it the idea that we’ve grown complacent and careless. Does that describe your walk with Jesus, complacent and careless?

Each day passes like the one before it. We await His return but it feels like it may never happen. We no longer feel the urgency of the gospel because we no longer live expectantly. We no longer live in expectation of His coming. We’re growing sleepy, complacent and careless in our work for the Lord. Maybe we need to begin praying in the same way our New Testament closes: “He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20 HCSB)

Listen to His words to them: “And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert! ” (Mark 13:37 HCSB)

What I say to you, I say to everyone: Be ALERT! He said that day would come like a thief in the night – unexpected. If you knew when the thief was coming then you’d prepare and lie in wait. If you know He’s coming like a thief, then prepare and be alert! Are you ready for His return? If not, get ready! Be alert! He’s coming.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!