Be Watchful and Ready

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:42–44 (NIV)

A winter storm is coming. The sky is quiet, the air is still, and the temperature is freezing. I can almost smell the snow in the distance as clouds slowly roll through. Even though I’m cold, everything feels peaceful, calm, steady, and unchanged.

Jesus said His return would be like a thief in the night, unexpected and sudden. Much like the moments before a winter storm, life may feel quiet and ordinary, as if nothing could go wrong. Then, all at once, everything changes. The familiar landscape becomes unrecognizable.

When storms approach, we prepare. We check weather reports and radar. We buy food and water, charge our devices, and brace for power outages. We secure our homes and adjust our schedules because we know what’s coming, even if we don’t know the exact moment it will arrive.

In the same way, we are called to prepare for the return of Jesus. Scripture tells us His coming will be sudden like a thief in the night, and when He gathers believers for the great harvest, it will be like the greatest power outage the world has ever known.

This is not a call to fear, but a call to readiness. We should run out and hurry for the Bread of Life as if it’s the last loaf of bread in the grocery store. We should keep oil in our lamps like we keep gas in our vehicles tank so we are not left stranded in the darkness.

Preparation isn’t about panic—it’s about faithfulness, obedience, and daily living with eternity in mind. Open your Bible, pray, be thankful, and prepare for the Son of Man to return as if you’re waiting for the first snow flake to drop.