Revelation 16 - 6.24.26

Scripture

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev 16:15)

Observation

Jesus is going to come again. This time, He will be coming as the King of Kings and will gather all of his servants who are faithfully waiting for Him. 

The Bible uses the imagery of a thief several times referring to the second coming of Christ. In this verse (Rev 16:15), Jesus reminds us once again that he is going to come like a thief when nobody expects Him to come. We need to be alert and live our lives carefully expecting Him to return any moment. We need to remain “clothed”. Our clothing is Jesus Christ. The Bible exhorts us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Rom 13:14). Those who are not ready for Him will be shamefully exposed. 

Paul writes that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord. (2 Thess 1:7-9)

Jesus reminded us to be on our guard always, as we don't know when the Lord will come. 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. We need to be ready allways as we don’t know when Jesus is going to come (Matt 24:42-44). It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing His will when he returns (Luke 12:43).

Application

It is easy to set our eyes onto the busyness of everyday life, and lose sight of what is most important. Let us be eternity-minded. He has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). 

Let us be intentional about obeying God and living a life that pleases Him. Let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our true and proper worship (Rom 12:1). Let us not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2).  Let us set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2).

Let us live our lives everyday and every moment, intentionally fixing our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). 

We don’t know when Jesus will come. But He will surely come. Since we do not know when He will come, let us be ready all the time.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus to us. Help me to be ready for you Jesus, when you return. Teach me what it means to be clothed by you all the time. Help me to be living my life faithfully, in obedience while I wait for your return. If you would return during my lifetime, let me be prepared to join you. Make my life a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you. (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen

Asha Chacko George