A professional thief goes to great lengths when planning a burglary. He studies the security system; he watches and monitors the building and the routines of the people. He also knows that what he is coming to steal is a priceless and genuine jewel. Why then, does Jesus use such an analogy in describing how He will come and take His beloved ‘Church’? Because, as you do not know the hour or day a thief is coming, you also do not know the hour or day Jesus is coming for His Church.
In Revelation 16 verse 15, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” These are words to remind us that we need to be ready for Jesus. Whether we pass away or remain at the time of His coming, if we are NOT ‘caught up’ to go with Him, we will then be seen as someone who said we were of Jesus but now left exposed. We will be then left, like the ‘woman’ in Song of Songs, (chapter 5) who had her door shut and did not open to her beloved at the correct time. We will be running about out after the event and searching and explaining to all what had happened and that you had missed your beloved. The woman in Song of Songs had ‘hung’ her garments up – she was not dressed ready. (Song of Songs 5:3)
Jesus is coming like a thief, unannounced to steal the most precious valuables – His beloved! If you have given everything up for Him, counted all as loss for Christ, you are priceless to Him.
This promise of Jesus is echoed by Peter, Paul and John. They had it on ‘good authority’ that Jesus is coming back for His Bride. We too have heard this and can accept and believe this Word. Jesus said it, He will DO IT! J.C Ryle writes in His Expository thoughts of Matthew Gospel, “let us walk by faith and not by sight, let us believe on Christ, serve Christ, follow Christ and love Christ, so living whenever Christ may return, we shall be ready to meet Him”. ( circa 1870)
Jesus is coming soon.
