I recently read Matthew 24 and 25, “The Olivet Discourse,” a long and sometimes confusing answer to the disciples’ questions:

As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, his disciples came to him and pointed out the beautiful architecture of the temple. And Jesus turned to them and said, “Take a good look at all these things, for I’m telling you, there will not be one stone left upon another. It will all be leveled!” Later, when they arrived at the Mount of Olives, his disciples came privately to where he was sitting and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what sign should we expect to signal your coming and the completion of this age?” (Matthew 24.1 – 3, TPT, emphasis mine)

The disciples may have thought that was one question: that is, when the temple is destroyed, Jesus will come back and that will be the end of the age. But it’s at least two questions since the temple was destroyed, as Jesus predicted, in 70A.D. But we are still here.

No matter how we understand all the detail in Matthew 24, Jesus’ application is clear:

So always be ready, alert, and prepared, because at an hour when you’re not expecting him, the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24.44, TPT)

The day I read this, the local paper reported that a well-known Colorado Springs citizen passed away, and as far as I know, he wasn’t even sick.

Tom Osborne died in his sleep Wednesday morning. He was 65. The local sports and events community is stunned.  – Paul Klee, Colorado Springs Gazette, March 10, 2021.

We don’t need eschatology (the study of the end times) for verse 44 to make sense. It may not be the end, but certainly, my end can come any time Jesus wants it to. Best I be ready at all times.

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (1 Thessalonians 5.4 – 11, ESV, emphasis mine)