God’s discipline of Israel has always been, and will always be with the sole purpose of winning back His wayward son. Yet the nations the Lord uses to chastise Israel will not be held guiltless. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

Though we will not be the object of God’s wrath, we shouldn’t try to minimize how the chaos will affect us. Jesus says that men’s hearts will fail them from fear. We will be tested. But will we endure?

Be ready. Stay alert. Know when the Master is coming. Know what the Master is like. Get oil before the Bridegroom returns.

The Lord is urging us not to be voluntarily ignorant about His return. Not simply because He wants us to ace an eschatological pop quiz, but because our Father wants us to walk in light of His decrees. The nature of His return reveals to us more fully the nature of His character. This is about knowing Jesus better. Those who know Jesus don’t get cut to pieces when He comes back.

Jesus, our Great Shepherd, clearly wants His disciples to discern the season of His return. And He surely does not want us to be led astray from what He is teaching. We are responsible before the Lord for how we steward this crucial subject. But how are we to do so if no one knows the day or hour except the Father?