Mark 13:24-37 — 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34 It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. 35 Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’”
Perhaps, after hearing Christ’s teaching about alertness in the last section of Mark 13, you have realized you’ve lost urgency and alertness in your spiritual life. Ask yourself: In which condition would you like to be found when Christ returns? Even before that Great Day, what kind of influence would you like to have on others, whether our children, friends or family? Is it an influence that propels those around us to fight against the sinful desires in their lives and live out the will of God or is it an influence that beckons others to find a spot on the couch with their own pillow and blanket in order to join you in spiritual slumber?
We have a choice or rather we make choices every day, whether to promote spiritual alertness in our lives or spiritual slumber. We can never blame circumstances nor the busy schedules of lives, for much of those are the result of choices we made as well. We must discipline ourselves for godliness and put as much effort into our obedience to Christ as we do in other areas of our lives. Spiritual slumber is such a slippery slope and the scars can be nasty, even having widespread detrimental effects in the lives of those under our influence. In contrast, listen to what William Barclay concluded about how to think with regards to obeying Christ’s teaching in this section: “It gives us the great task of making every day fit for him to see [our lives] and being at any moment ready to meet him face to face. All life becomes a preparation to meet the King.”