Stay Awake, Stay Ready

“Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42, NRSVUE)

We spend money on our automobiles, our homes, and our lives, planning for the unplanned. We insure our cars against accidents or stray stones hitting the windshield. We protect our homes against fire, flood, and theft. We have medical and dental coverage, and even life insurance. We find a way to protect and preserve everything we value.

We insure the things of our material realm—cars, homes, health. But Jesus reminds us that the most valuable thing we have is not physical at all. Our souls cannot be insured by money; they must be guarded by watchfulness, by living awake to God’s real presence.

In Matthew 24:43, Jesus tells of a thief taking advantage of an empty house. Even if the homeowner had insurance, the theft could have been avoided by being watchful. Security systems and insurance are only good after the fact. But being awake in the moment is what prevents loss.

Unlike accidents or disasters, Christ’s return is not a possibility but a certainty. The timing is unknown, but the promise is sure. That’s why our readiness matters. We don’t prepare for Christ’s coming as if it might not happen. We prepare because it surely will. Faith is not insurance against the unlikely — it is readiness for the inevitable.

And readiness is more than private devotion. To keep awake is to stand against abuses of power, to resist complacency in the face of injustice, and to strive for the dignity of all people. It means staying alert to God’s kingdom at work — and joining in through acts of mercy, courage, and truth.

Lord Jesus, awaken us to Your promised return and to Your presence among us now. Keep us vigilant not only in prayer but in action — resisting injustice, honoring dignity, and living as people of hope. Teach us to stay awake in love, until the day we see You face to face. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim