Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 17 : 20-37 "HOW PREPARED WILL THE WORLD BE WHEN THE SON OF MAN RETURNS?"
Day 214 – Luke 17
Text: Luke 17 : 20-37
HOW PREPARED WILL THE WORLD BE WHEN THE SON OF MAN RETURNS?
Jesus was teaching His Disciples about an important truth. He was telling them that one day, He would return to this earth. His Second Coming would have grave significance for the world. Would the world be at all prepared for His Return?
The answer that Jesus gave was most revealing as it was startling.
“And as it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.
They ate, they drank, they married wives,
They were given in marriage,
Until the day that Noah entered the ark,
And the flood came and destroyed them all.”
Luke 17:26-27
It is significant that Jesus mentioned Noah in His illustration of a sobering truth. Jesus believed in the historicity of the Scriptures. He believed that there was a great deluge that destroyed all but the household of Noah.
Several things may be highlighted as we study the significance of what Jesus said.
1. The world will NOT be prepared for the Return of the Son of Man!
2. The world, being what it is, will continue to pursue its own interests. The focus is on the life that is found on earth. There is no focus at all on eternal matters.
3. Chances are that as many scoffed at Noah when he built the ark, so many would scoff at the doctrine of the Return of the Son of Man
4. Relatively few would be saved, since they ignored the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“As it was in the days of Noah…so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man” …What solemn and sobering words these are! The world will continue to be the world. It would not change and respond in repentance and embrace Jesus as Saviour!
AN EVEN MORE SOBERING ILLUSTRATION
Jesus went on to give a second illustration to His Disciples. Once again, He drew His illustration from the Scriptures.
“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:
They ate, they drank,
They bought, they sold,
They planted, they built;
But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom
It rained fire and brimstone from heaven
And destroyed them all.
Even so will it be in the day
When the Son of Man is revealed.”
Luke 17:28-30
Once again, Jesus noted that the world would continue as it always has. It is preoccupied with mundane matters. There isn’t any thought of God at all.
The mention of Sodom is not without significance! The city represented wickedness. God judged the people who lived in Sodom because of excessive wickedness.
Jesus was warning the fact that the world would continue to be secular in its outlook. It had no interest in things spiritual. The reason why the world is unprepared for the Return of Christ is simply because it has rejected Him.
When Jesus returns to earth the next time, He would not come as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. He would return as the Son of Man in all His power. He would come as King and Judge!
HOW READY ARE YOU FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST?
How well do you know the Doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ? How prepared are you for the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Let us take time to consider the word of advice from the Apostle Peter in his second general epistle.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us,
not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the Day of the Lord will come
As a thief in the night,
In which the heavens will pass away
With a great noise,
And the elements will melt with fervent heat;
Both the earth and the works that are in it
Will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,
What manner of persons ought you to be
In holy conduct and godliness,
Looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of God…”
2 Peter 3:9-12
The Apostle Peter was right to emphasize that we must allow the Doctrine of The Day of the Lord to impact us deeply! We must seek to have holy conduct and godliness. We must ever look for the Return of the Son of Man.
However, let us not just await the Return of our Saviour in a selfish manner! Does God seem long delayed in keeping His promise to send Jesus back to earth? It is only because He is longsuffering. He does not wish to see anyone perish. Let us be challenged to share our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with a great sense of fervour and urgency.