Today’s Gospel
Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.
– Matthew 24:44
Reflection
Two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11). All those who truly believe in the Lord have been longing for the Lord to return and rapture them into the kingdom of heaven. Everyone firmly believes that the Lord will come again in the last days, but how will He come and how will He appear to us? Will He only come on a cloud? The Lord said, “For in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes” (Matthew 24:44). What is the meaning of these words? Since He said that we wouldn’t know the time when He comes again, this means that the Lord would come quietly but not just appear openly. Then how should we welcome His return? As a matter of fact, the Bible verses have shown us the path, such as, “Behold, I come as a thief” (Revelation 16:15). “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6). “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). All of these verses show us that the Lord will come quietly and secretly as a thief in the last days and express His words to knock on the door of our hearts. Wise virgins who are watching and waiting will follow the footsteps of God and attend the wedding feast of the Lamb because they can recognize God’s words as the truth, see God’s appearance, recognize the Lord’s return. It can be seen that there are two ways of the Lord’s return: Coming in secret and appearing on a cloud openly. That is to say, the Lord will come secretly first and speak words to seek God’s sheep. Those who hear God’s voice and then accept and obey are those who receive God’s salvation in the last days, and follow the footsteps of the Lamb. Those who have heard the testimony that the Lord has returned yet neither seek nor investigate, and instead condemn and resist the Lord’s return, are all foolish virgins, tares, and evil servants who are revealed. When God completes the work of the last days, He will publicly appear to people and punish all those who resist God during His work.
Please read this passage of God’s words, “Since we are searching for the footprints of God, it behooves us to search for God’s will, for the words of God, for His utterances—because wherever there are new words spoken by God, the voice of God is there, and wherever there are the footsteps of God, God’s deeds are there. Wherever there is the expression of God, there God appears, and wherever God appears, there the truth, the way, and the life exist.”
