Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.  Matthew 25:13

I promised to bring donuts to the meeting.

I forgot.

Up ahead…

A bakery…

Out of my car…

Up to the door…

And there’s the sign…

Back in 20 minutes?

I don’t have twenty minutes …

I start back to the car…

Wait…

Maybe the owner posted that sign 20 minutes ago.

Maybe the owner will show up in the next 20 seconds…

But it could be 5 minutes …

Or 10 minutes…

Or even 20 minutes…

I have no idea when the owner will return.

Should I stand by the door and wait?

Should I give up and leave?

I wouldn’t have this problem…

If I had bought pastries last night…

If I had been prepared…

Then the owner’s uncertain return wouldn’t matter…

I stop and think…

And realize it doesn’t really matter anyway…

No one’s destiny will be changed if there are no pastries at the meeting…

But the return of the bakery owner is not the only return with an uncertain timing…

Jesus tells us…

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.  Revelation 22:12

Soon?

When is soon?

“…concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.  Matthew 24:36

What should we do while we wait?

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.  Matthew 25:13

And what should we do besides watching?

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  Matthew 24:44

What does it mean to be ready?

… abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.  1 John 2:28

How do we abide in Christ?

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:6

 Christ tells us…

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  John 15:10