And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Matthew 25:6
Last time we considered the sudden return of Christ. Today we will consider the surprising return of Christ. The end of the world will come with joy and expectation for the believer but will be a terrible surprise for the unbeliever.
At that great day of the Lord most will wish they had done something different before the Lord returned but it will be too late. The time will be at hand, the hour of salvation will be passed, and those who are not in Christ will desire for the mountains to cover them and the hills to fall on them (Hosea 10:8).
The Lord Jesus affirms the surprise with reference to the worldwide flood that came in the days of Noah (24:39). Noah warned men to repent. He told them of the pending flood. He spent 100 years preaching and building the ark to keep himself, his family, and many animals safe. But nobody outside his family listened. Nobody saw it coming until the flood was upon them, the ark door was shut, and the waters carried all away to their doom.
Jesus told us that same scenario will happen again. Most will not listen to his warnings. Most will not believe that His return is imminent. Most will mock and ridicule Christians for trying to remain unpolluted from the world. Most will not think of Jesus Christ until they see Him descending in power and glory at the last day. They will be surprised.
In one sense, there is no sin in being surprised by along-awaited event coming to pass. Who among us has ever experienced Christ’s coming? It will be surprising and sudden for the Christian in the sense of jolting and glorious. However, for the Christian, Christ’s return should not be surprising in any unexpected sense.
The surprise for the foolish virgins couldn’t have been more different. They trembled at the surprise and suddenness of the Lord’s return. They were afraid for they were not prepared. They were distressed for they had no oil in their lamps! So will the surprise be on all who have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a day of weeping and gnashing of teeth. They are condemned already for not believing (John 3:18; Hebrews 3:19; Hebrews 4:6) and they will be condemned in that sudden and surprising day of the Lord.
If you are claiming Christ and going to church while living in sin you will be very surprised at Christ’s return. Contrary to the teaching of many you cannot continue serving sin and have any hope of salvation. Light has no fellowship with darkness. You cannot continue your friendship with the world, it’s lusts, and pleasures, and expect to enter into God’s kingdom. The adulterer claiming to love his wife while in the very act of sin is a liar just as the foolish virgin claiming to love Christ while living in the lawlessness of the world. We cannot love God and the world. It is impossible. It is a denial of the power of Christ and His powerful gospel.
If this describes a reader today, cease sinning, repent of it and repent when sin springs up each day. Take hold of Christ by faith and hold fast to Him who is all powerful to save to the uttermost.
Many on that day will say “Lord, Lord” and he will tell them to depart from him because they were workers of iniquity. If you reject Christ’s righteous commandments you have rejected Christ and will be very surprised at His return. If you love God, keep His commandments.
A great cry is coming. Will you be jolted from sleep with joy and gladness or surprised with fear, trembling, and judgment? Watch therefore for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man will suddenly come!
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:15-16)
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