Elephant in the Room — The Impending Return of Jesus - Tuesday
Today’s Verse
Revelation 16:15
“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!” (ESV)
When I was in high school, my friends and I got together one night to play basketball at a local gym. After getting absolutely destroyed by a group of college kids we played against, I went to the locker room to take a shower before heading over to my girlfriend’s house.
Pitching my duffel bag into one of the empty lockers, I realized I’d forgotten the small lock I usually carried to protect my belongings. However, with no one else in the locker room with me at the time, I decided to take my chances.
A few minutes later, I stepped out of the shower to dry off. Reaching for my towel, I realized it was no longer on the rack where I’d left it.
Uh-oh. This wasn’t good.
Panicking, I convinced myself I must have left it in my duffel bag and tiptoed across the room to my locker. Unfortunately, I opened it to find that not only was my towel no longer there, but ALL of my clothes were missing as well.
This couldn’t be happening…
Frantically searching for anything that could be used as a cover, I scanned the room in disbelief, trying to determine what to do next. I finally noticed a small, white hand towel someone had left behind. Unfortunately, let’s just say this was the kind of towel that was only big enough to cover the front OR the back… not both.
Making the obvious (yet still regrettable) choice on which side to conceal, I did my best to cover up and sprinted towards the lobby, awkwardly passing through an aerobics class of laughing mothers along the way. Humiliated, I made my way to the front desk to find my buddies holding my duffel bag in their hands, laughing hysterically. Funny, guys. REAL funny…
Jesus describes his return as a thief in the night, coming when we least expect it. Even though we can’t predict exactly when that day will come, we can prepare by clothing ourselves in Jesus’s righteousness.
Our feeble attempts to dress ourselves with our own works are as pathetic as a hand towel on a terrified high schooler. However, what Jesus has done on our behalf is more than enough to cover us. When the time comes for his return, Jesus doesn’t want us to stand naked.
And speaking from personal experience, neither do I.
APPLICATION
Say a prayer today as you get dressed for your day. Stop and thank Jesus for his righteousness and what he has done on our behalf.
PRAYER
Father, prepare our hearts for Your return. Let us make no attempt to focus on our own goodness, only Yours.
