Mark 13:33 - Stay alert! Don't know time of the return

[mikechristianforumsusr]

Scripture
32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!
Observation
Jesus is teaching about His second coming. It is the one promise of God that has yet to be fulfilled. Of course his Apostles wanted to know when it would be. However, Jesus could not give them an answer, saying only God the Father knows the time. It's not for the Apostles (or us) to know the time. In fact we need not know the time because it is our responsibility to always be prepared. If we are prepared, we don't need to know when it will happen.
Application
This pinged me today because it reminded me of other studies I've done about how, in our day to day lives, we always talk about wanting to be "connected" with others but we rarely do so. And no, social media does not count! We never really connect with others until we need something from them. Need furniture moved? Need to borrow a car? Need some money? When we need something then we connect with others. On the other hand, spend time with someone and talk about their day? Send someone a real message on their birthday (not a facebook post)? Take someone out to dinner? Invite someone over for game night or to play with the kids? Send a message saying, I'm just thinking about you? These kinds of things are much, much harder. In my experience, people rarely do them.
But this is exactly what Jesus is saying we must do! We need to be connected to God. We need daily prayer. We need to build a relationship with Him. This will allow us to always "be on guard" and to "stay alert". That way, if Jesus' return happens in our lifetime, we'll be prepared. Our first interaction with God won't be, I need something from you (eternal life). No! Instead we would have spent our lives building a real connection so when the important stuff happens, we don't have to worry because we can ask with certainty.
Prayer

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Of the day when the final judgment will burst upon the world, no ones knows.

The day isn't known to Jesus in his humiliation. God's Son has renounced his right to this knowledge, for people, lest they ask and bother him with pleadings concerning the day and the hour.

Here's a secret which's hidden in God's omniscience. The sects' calculations as to the date of Christ's coming are vagaries, and those that follow them are foolish.

This is brought out in a parable. When a household's master is called away he'll leave his house in charge of his servants. The porter will be warned, lest they be asleep at their post. Thus Jesus has given to each one of his servants gifts with which they are to serve him. Jesus will return soon, and so it's necessary for every servant to be about their business with vigilance. The Master may come in any of the night's four watches, and his coming must find no one sleeping in security.

The picture reminds us of the custom of watching in the Temple. This was in the hands of certain priests and Levites, whose business was a vigilance. At any time during the night, the Temple-service's chief might make their rounds. And woe to them that was caught asleep at that time.

More important, however, is the necessity which is laid upon Christ's disciples not to become drowsy in the Master's work or in watching for his coming. Let us write upon our hearts that one word: Watch!

The unbelievers think it a joke to ridicule our beliefs about Judgment Day's coming. Those scoffers are the first ones, during a storm or earthquake, to implore God's mercy. It's safe to stand on God's word and to heed his warning.

 

[Unnamed Guy]

Jesus is coming! Look busy!