Like a Thief
One of life’s necessary evils is that of physical security. Businesses can spend between $1,000 and $10,000 for a security system in addition to a $300 monthly fee to help deter theft. The average homeowner may spend $500 for a system with a $50 monthly fee. We put locks, bolts, bars, and video doorbells on our houses in an attempt to prevent thieves from stealing our stuff. Then there is the threat of electronic and identity theft we have to guard against. Almost every vehicle is equipped with door locks and an alarm. Even with all of these precautions, statistics say that there is a break-in every 26 seconds for a total of 2.5 million burglaries per year in the US. The conclusion? It’s very, very difficult to predict when a thief will strike.
The Lord has always known this about the thief and it’s no wonder that He used the metaphor to describe Christ’s second coming and the end of the world. Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (Matthew 24:36-44). He went on to say if the master of the house knew when the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into (v.43) and concluded by telling His disciples, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (v. 44).
The thief will take advantage of us when we become lax in our watching. God tells us to always be ready and watchful for the coming of the Lord. Paul warned the Thessalonian church by saying, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6) Because we have faith, love, and the hope of salvation, we can watch with much anticipation for that Great Day when Jesus comes back to bring us to Himself (John 14:1-4). With the wonderful expectation of Christ’s return, we can be encouraged, comforted, and built up together.
Jay Launius
2022
Maud church of Christ
Maud, Texas