Daily Lesson for August 25, 2015

Today's daily lesson comes from Mark chapter 13 verses 32-37:

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

No one knows the day or the time, not the angels, nor even the Son, but only the Father -- and also people trying to sell books.

Okay, that was a little snarky; but it is exasperating that books keep being written about the imminence of the end of the world and the anti-Christ being some possibly identifiable oil magnate in Russia.

This is not what Jesus meant when he said, "Stay awake."

Yes, we are to be awake, and vigilantly watching  for the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds -- in other words, Jesus' metaphorical description for the end of this age and the beginning of the next.  But we are not to be out speculating as to some date or time or precipitating event. That is a waste of time at best and at worst can lead millions astray.  Jesus said, when you see the fig tree get tender and the leaves bloom you know summer is present -- but until then there's no use trying to wish it any closer. Summer is going happen when it happens and no sooner; that's what 5 years of living in Vermont taught me anyway.

Until the final day comes, we need to keep short accounts, say, "I love you," a lot, and don't say or do things or not say or not do things we'll regret. We're to try to live like each day may be our last -- because nobody knows; I mean nobody.