Live Ready
In Mark 13:24–37, Jesus offers a sober reminder that He will return, and we must live like we believe it.
Too often, we swing to extremes when it comes to the end times. Some are so consumed with charts and conspiracy theories that they lose sight of Christ. Others grow so disinterested that they fall asleep spiritually, living as if He’s never coming back. Jesus warns against both dangers.
In vivid prophetic language, He describes cosmic signs that will precede His return. But more than giving us a timeline, Jesus gives us a call: Stay awake. Be ready. Live alert.
The early church struggled with this too. Some Thessalonians became so convinced that Christ had already returned that they stopped working and stirred confusion. Paul had to remind them that the “day of the Lord” would not come with predictable signs but like a thief in the night (2 Thess. 2:2; 1 Thess. 5:2–5). Jesus gives the same message in Mark 13: no one knows the day or hour, not even the Son.
What should we do in the meantime?
Stay faithful. Stay awake. Live with an eternal perspective.
Jesus says He will return with great power and glory to gather His elect from every corner of creation (Mark 13:27). Not one of His people will be missed. But we must be ready, not asleep in apathy or distracted by speculation.
The parable He tells is striking: a master leaves on a journey and commands his servants to stay alert because he could return at any time, even in the middle of the night. The message is clear. We don’t know when the curtain of history will fall, but we do know how the story ends, and our role is to live today in light of that ending.
At Calvary Baptist, our mission is to carry hope, build intentional relationships, pursue Jesus, and make disciples. That’s not just a slogan, it’s our way of staying awake. Every act of love, every moment of witness, every prayer of faith is preparation for His return. Let’s not wait for tomorrow to serve Him. Jesus is coming back. Don’t sleep on it.
