Blessing 3: Blessed is the one who stays awake
Revelation 16:15 (AMP) (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)
We do not know the day or hour that Christ will come back. We need to always be prepared for that day by remaining obedient in our faith and repenting of our sins.
Behold, I come like a thief. Jesus will surely return, but the exact date no one knows, not even Jesus Himself; only the Father knows. In the same way, no one knows when a thief will break into one’s home.
Mark 13:32-37 (AMP) “But of that [exact] day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. “Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert. Therefore, be continually on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— [stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared. What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’”
Luke 21:36 (NLT) Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NLT) “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
The metaphor of I am coming like a thief when it comes to His judgment, is interesting. But at the same time, it is scary. Thieves break in and steal when a person is not prepared. The author emphasizes the importance of being ready and prepared. There were multiple instances where even the disciples were unprepared, and the worst thing happened (Jesus was arrested). It motivates and encourages us as Christians to be ready. God is still gracious enough to give us time to prepare and be ready. 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.