Saturday 13 September, 2014

32 “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all those things happening, you know that the end is near. It is right at the door. 34 What I’m about to tell you is true. The people living at that time will certainly not pass away until all those things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away. 36 “No one knows about that day or hour. Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows. 37 “Remember how it was in the days of Noah. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. 38 “In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking. They were getting married. They were giving their daughters to be married. They did all those things right up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39 They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill. One will be taken and the other left. 42 “So keep watch. You do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 You must understand something. Suppose the owner of the house knew what time of night the robber was coming. Then he would have kept watch. He would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.

Integrity is sometimes defined as “doing the right thing when no one is looking”. The truth is that God is always looking, but, if you are like me, we don’t always live focused, disciplined lives.

None of us know how many days we have left on this earth. These verses are a real challenge from Jesus to live each day with integrity and purpose.

Lord, thank you for this passage of scripture, time is a valuable resource that I want to use wisely, help me to continually set my eyes on eternal things and not on my own selfish desires.

Written by Shelley Witt