"And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out, and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."] And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us today. If you have recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please reach out and let us know. We would love to pray for you as you begin your new journey and rejoice in joyful, exuberant celebration. We have seen a tremendous increase in areas once believed to be impossible to reach, evidence of just how critically important your prayers are in shining the Light of God's love into some of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. If you haven't recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, could I encourage you consider crying out to Him today? While there's still time. Many people are desperately craving Jesus Christ and the True Gospel, even if they are unaware of what they're searching for, they just know something is missing from their life and nothing fills that persistent feeling of emptiness, that internal void, despite having material success, a clear sign that one’s life is out of alignment with God. In men, this emptiness, is particularly associated with the ego, the mask worn for approval to cover up the layers of buried hidden truths and suppressed emotions from unprocessed trauma to avoid judgment. Attempting to fill an internal void with external things like money, status, relationships, or distractions such as sexual conquests, only provides temporary relief. Nothing screams spiritual misalignment than a life marked dysphoria, the profound state of being unwell and a dissatisfaction with life. That soul crushing feeling that your entire world is being turned upside down and the walls you so carefully built to protect you are crumbling down around you, it is terrifying but it's often the pathway to genuine spiritual transformation. The familiar must be shaken, or even broken so the divine can be embraced. It's often in the disorienting, world-upending moments of life, whether through crisis, conviction, loss, or divine calling, the temptation to run back to the ruins of familiar and save what you can, clinging to the old way of life begins to rear it's ugly head, however, turning back in the hour of transformation is the quickest way to miss the deliverance God has prepared. I know, I was there. Some of you are experiencing that unrelenting feeling of your world being turned upside down right now. The question is are you willing to let go of that old way of life to fully embrace what God is preparing for you?
Sadly, many churches are filled people who are proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ. however, they themselves are spiritually dead on the inside, dead in their trespasses. These "Sunday morning Christians" proclaim Christ with their lips, singing hymns and praying publicly to maintain a religious appearance to soothe their consciences but upon closer inspection, their lives quietly whisper a very different gospel—one plagued with comfort, complacency, covetousness and compromise with the same cravings, the same entertainments, the same ambitions that drive the dying world, living as if God does not exist during the rest of the week. They are so steeped in arrogance, self-exaltation, self-promotion and materialism they can’t even understand that they are not able perceive the true Gospel, and I must say, it has become very difficult, in not impossible, to penetrate these hard-hearted rebellious peoples with saving truth. The world then, is divided into those two kinds of people, those who belong to the Kingdom of Light and those who belong to the kingdom of darkness, the contrast, between those who have genuine salvation by faith in Jesus Christ and those who do not, living like Lot’s wife—forever glancing backward, hearts tethered to a life God has already marked for judgment, regardless of what they may profess.
The church is not called to reach the lost by blending in, we're called to stand in stark opposition to the world, by displaying a transformed life, because there is an irreconcilable contradiction between light and darkness, there can be no fellowship, no comfortable coexistence. Light never compromises with darkness—it exposes it. The Gospel repeatedly invites us to self-examination without accusation, calling us to detach from the world, and embrace genuine spiritual life. A church that is alive, a church that is consistently proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ, a church whose people are boldly and unashamedly living the Gospel out loud before a watching world will always be under attack by those who do not know Jesus Christ because that kind of church will never compromise with the world. Satan is a liar, whose intent is to obscure the truth and lead people astray, false teachers are purveyors of Satan's lies, by misrepresenting the Word of God, skillfully mixing truth with error to gain trust and spread harmful heresies as if it were the truth, skillfully mixing truth with error to gain trust and spread harmful heresies as if it were the truth, crafting a false gospel that tickles itching ears of the hearer—promising ease, prosperity, and affirmation of sin rather than condemnation
It is therefore, inevitable that counterfeit Christians, those speak the Christian language fluently, quote Bible verses accurately but misapply their true meaning, will be drawn to a false gospel that tells them what they want to hear. So, in a world that is growing ever darker by the hour, wherever you have the truth, you will most assuredly have the encroachment of error. Counterfeit Christians love the language of faith but quickly resist against its strict moral demands. They embrace a version of Christ that removes all the difficult demands, the condemnation of sin and no repentance, no humiliation or denying self, no narrow gate, just affirming existing sinful lifestyles, so they cling to version of Christianity that costs them nothing and consequently, produces nothing. They have no understanding of the power of Christ to truly change their lives, so they cover their evil fruit with biblical knowledge and associating with those who fail to see their Christology is faulty, they are just as comfortable in the church as they are in secular environments. There will always be counterfeit people among the true, the godly, pretending to be just like them. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helps us to be discerning; and, as we grow in spiritual wisdom and knowledge, we will be able to more easily recognize when someone is playing church, not walking truly with Christ.
Genuine threats to the true church do not arise from teachings that are explicitly, overtly, and recognizably opposed to the Bible, that is anti-Christ, and anti-God. It is the subtlety of the false teaching of a liar, which on the surface appears to be biblical but is filled with damning error that is the greatest danger to the church, because pulls away undiscerning souls. The true Gospel results in righteousness, godliness and moral integrity, and an active obedience to God's Word. Therefore, it's important for us to understand what doctrinal error is, and what it produces. Christ Jesus came into the world to expose sin, deliver sinners from the power of darkness bring them into His glorious light, granting eternal life to all who would believe. I am convinced, that in every church, there are people who do not know Jesus Christ in a personal and saving way. I encourage each of us to thoughtfully reflect on our own lives, and carefully examine our lives to be sure we are in the faith. Self-examination serves to identify areas, often hidden, where thoughts, feelings, and behaviors fail to align with God’s Word and His will. Unconverted people are in the church community are acting out of the flesh rather than the Spirit, biting and devouring one another by spewing hate at each other incessantly, across various online platforms, consuming one another, with various sorts of hostility, ultimately undermining the unity of the community. Like or not, Christians are commanded to behave in a certain way, regardless of personal preferences. These commands are not optional, or friendly suggestions, but are clear instructions from God given to those who follow Jesus Christ, summarized by Jesus in Matthew 22, "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." If you love your neighbor, you will not commit adultery, murder, steal, bear false witness, or covet what they have. And, if you love God as you should, "with all your heart, soul, and mind, you will one another and your enemies, as God loved you through Christ. That's why love is the fulfillment of the law, as Paul states in Romans 13:9-10. I am amazed how readily we pray for the physical, emotional and financial needs of others and how hesitantly we pray for the salvation of the lost and the self-deceived, which aligns with God’s desire for all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, and helps to break down those spiritual strongholds, often built on Satan's lies and misconceptions. Christ Jesus voluntarily gave totally Himself, "as a ransom for all," He didn't just pay a ransom where somebody’s kidnapped, you go pay a ransom to get them back, He freed us by paying a substitutionary ransom, He literally took our place, becoming the victim that we might be set free. How else can we prove ourselves to be the children of God unless our behavior is blameless and pure, free from legitimate accusation or reproach from outsiders, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, living a life that matches the transforming faith claim to believe? So, we hold fast the Word of God, and our behavior is consistent with that Word. Being "a child of God without fault" represents both a status granted through faith and a profound obligation to maintain consistent Christ-like conduct that is beyond reproach. In other words, if you’re going to confess Christ, then you best undergird the reality of that confession with your conduct lest you be considered a hypocrite, who cares more about outward appearances than inward character and integrity, which serve as a silent but powerful testimony to those observing from our faith from the outside.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always we are so grateful for Your Word, that is sharper than a two-edged sword that divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow. So, we come before You with trembling hearts, knowing that nothing is hidden from Your gaze, wondering if we are following Christ with our whole heart, or are we like Lot's wife, secretly looking back. Search us, O God, and know our hearts, shine the blazing light of Christ into every corner of our lives, reveal every idol, expose every hidden compromise, strip away the masks we so comfortably wear to conceal our true identity. Lord, prepare our hearts for the day when the Son of Man will be revealed. We pray that Your Spirit would convict sinners, so that they might be warned today about what is soon to come. We ask and pray these things, all in the mighty, matchless name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the only name under Heaven by which men can be saved.
Amen.
Today's Message: Will The Day We All Long For Come-Part 3
We live in a world that mocks God and dishonors Christ, churches and Christians celebrate what God calls sin and mock's His design for marriage, sacred truths are reduced to stand up comedy punchlines and the cross is treated as fashion accessory rather than the power of salvation. Churches sit empty while stadiums and concert venues overflow with roaring fan cheering for idols. I don't know about you, but I refuse to settle for that kind of world. I want to live in a world that honors God and exalts Christ—one where His name is lifted high, His Word is treasured, and His people reflect His likeness, even when facing opposition, before a world expects hypocrisy. Scripture corrects any expectation that this present world will fully reflect that reality before Christ returns, Jesus Himself warned us in Matthew 7:13–14, that His followers would live as a minority influence rather than a dominant force in a corrupt culture.
This is a very peculiar time for the church. Everybody wants to embrace everything. The church has become a marketplace of ideas, with countless notions about truth. Any Christian who holds fast to strong convictions and a strong sense of theology about what is right and what is biblical, is often shouted down, called intolerant, unloving and bigoted rather than being recognized as a devout protector of the flock for trying to warn God's people of error. While we are certainly not the first generation to face this kind of resistance, we may well be the generation for whom compromise feels most tempting because it wears the mask of love, tolerance and unity. Yet, Scripture does not give us permission to compromise, to blend in, in fact, it commands the opposite, calling us to stand firm—to be peculiar people, God's own prized possession, set apart from the crowd, redeemed by the blood of Christ to be holy as God Himself is holy, to be a faithful witness within a fallen society. According to Romans 1:25, what we are witnessing is not new—it is the ongoing outworking of human rebellion against God. At the same, Truth must never be separated from Christlike love. Jesus Himself was full of grace and truth, never compromising either. Nor should we. We must therefore ensure that any offense comes from the truth itself—not from our harsh tone, self-righteous pride, or our lack of compassion.
The reality is Christianity is filled with broken people people: some people you see sitting in the pews on Sunday are not even Christians, whose focus is earthly and self-centered. While others see the church as stage—just another opportunity to perform, to grab attention, seeking validation to feel worthy by showing off their perfectly posed children as a reflection of their "excellent parenting skills," or modeling their latest outfit. Some people are genuine Christians, but they too are wrestling with the same strongholds as everyone else, but they are just too afraid to show it, for fear of being judged by those who appear to have it all together. Yes, some Christians backslide, some can be pretentious, some are playing a part and many Christians don’t even realize what it truly means to follow Jesus. But. the truth is, everyone is walking their own individual spiritual journeys and not everybody is at the same place. Spiritual growth is not a race, it's a journey, shaped by distinct intentions, personal experiences, and individual responses, but hopefully are all moving toward the same destination, even if the route and timing of getting on the "right path" are entirely different. Jesus taught in Matthew 13:24–30,
that within the visible kingdom there would be both the wheat and the tares, meaning genuine and false believers. Our responsibility is to proclaim the excellencies of God, while remaining distinctly different, living counter-culturally from the world around, including many of those within the visible church. But Christ loved the church, so much He gave His life for her, despite knowing her many flaws. And, in spite her many flaws, the church still remains God’s chosen instrument to proclaim the Gospel message to a future generation, it may be your children, grandchildren, a neighbor, a fellow student, a co-worker or a random stranger. It doesn’t have to be that difficult or complex. If you know the Gospel well enough to be saved, you know enough to tell someone else how to become saved. You just need to be able to articulate it clearly. And that means you need to read and study the Word of God, which frankly, you should be doing anyway, right? To borrow from Peter's words in 1 Peter 3:15, "Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you."
Open your Bibles with me, to the Gospel of Luke chapter 17, verses 31-37, and please keep them open if you would, follow along with me as I read, not merely with your eyes, but with an open minds and receptive hearts, as we continue looking at the greatest even in human history, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His own words, concerning His own return, meant not only to inform us, so that the church might sit under His authority and interpret His words with reverence but to cause us to carefully examine ourselves. This is, as you may have discovered by now, a very sobering passage because it stresses urgency, separation, and preparedness for His return, because that when His coming arrives, there will be no time to look back, no time for delayed repentance, no time for speculation over possessions, no time for spiritual posturing. It will happen suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning, exposing those who truly belong to the Lord, as it will reveal what is truly in the heart. This is a piercing reminder that proximity to Christ is not the same as readiness for Christ. Luke 17:22-37.
"And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out, and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."] And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."
Let's look at verse 31, "On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out, and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back." The language Jesus uses here is very clear, straightforward and unmistakable, He isn't really looking at the eternal kingdom which follows that judgment, but it's looking at the devastating, massive, far-reaching judgment in which only a few will escape, as external sameness will no longer hide inward difference. The Jews didn't understand any of that. They assumed when the Messiah came, He would establish His kingdom and it would be an opportunity for them to be proud, as He would finally put an end to the humiliating oppression that they had endured for so many centuries. This will be a time of judgment that will be seen by and experienced by the whole world, as part of the Second Coming, part of loving His appearing, but admittedly, a part we dislike, because it's bittersweet. There's a joyful bliss as He finally puts an end to all the sin and rebellion, the mockery, the dishonor and the reproach, the verbal attacks and persecution that has become so familiar to us. But, there is also going to be a sorrow, a sadness in this passage because not everyone will rejoice at Christ’s appearing. Many of those coming under the Judgement and it's horrifying terror will be those we know and love, our family members, our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers who heard the Gospel, but have rejected Christ. However, that uncomfortable tension should not lead us to fear in a hopeless way, but should move us to pray more faithfully, to cry out for the softening of hardened hearts, and motivate us to witness even more powerfully. As I've stated many times over the years, I really don't believe that many Christians understand the absolute holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. I believe this is one of the greatest failures of modern evangelism, that has lead to a truncated gospel that tends to emphasize God's unconditional love and and accepts everyone just as they are, while simultaneously rejecting the uncomfortable truth about His perfect righteousness and the gravity of the necessity for Justice against a sinful humanity and the inevitable wrath that must come upon the wicked, yet it is the backdrop for understanding His divine grace. Many Christians think God is not bothered by their sin, or a lifestyle that is indistinguishable from the world, so they never feel the need to repent and turn away from it. The grim reality is, that God hates all sin, and it is an infinite offense that demands justice. The holiness of God ensures that wrath is a necessary response to unrepentant sin, which is not contrary to His love but is consistent with holy nature.
Jesus uses metaphoric imagery of people on their rooftops or in the fields to underscore the urgency surrounding divine judgment when divine judgment arrives, there will be no opportunity to retrieve material possessions, emphasizing that His followers must remain ready, perpetually prepared to flee at a moments notice, without hesitation, clinging to what is temporary and must be left behind can only lead to spiritual loss. We are living in a culture that promotes dual illusionism; on one hand, programing people to keep looking back, rather than engaging with current realities, while simultaneously operating under the illusion of infinite time, always believing there will be more time, a combination of distraction and emotional avoidance that lead to stagnation. But Jesus says that "On that day," the day called the Day of the Lord, the day when Christ appears, the only safe direction is forward in obedience. I believe it is imperative that the church must treat Christ's Second Coming as a central truth rather than merely a side issue, when the Bible presents Christ’s return as imminent, climactic, and revelatory, meaning it will clearly reveal where people's hearts are. The larger issue is not the location, but the loyalty of the individual. That's why I am convinced that before we preach love, mercy, and grace, we must first preach sin, law, and judgement. Unless the hearer first understands the Bad News, the Good News of mercy and grace is unintelligible and ineffective.
Then, in verse 32, He says "Remember Lot’s wife." The reminder is brief, but the implications are enormous. Lot’s wife teaches us that a person can leave Sodom physically yet still belong to Sodom spiritually, escaping with her feet, but not with her heart. John teaches us in 1 John 2:15-17, to "Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever." Genesis 19 tells how Lot was warned to flee with his family before the cities were to be destroyed for their great wickedness, as they were escaping, Lot's wife turned and looked back, despite the warning, longing for what God had condemned, and she became a pillar of salt. Christ's return is not some sentimental novelty, it is a judicial reality to execute final justice, vindicate the righteous, and punish the wicked. Throughout Scripture, Lot’s wife has become a vivid symbol of disobedience and hesitation, and highlights the dangers against earthly attachments. The phrase "Remember Lot's wife is intended to produce repentance not longing for the old life, the emphasis here is not on details but on a general attitude; "Don't turn back to what God is rescuing you from, leave everything in this world behind, everything is going to be destroyed." In 2 Peter 2:20-22, he uses the metaphor of a dog returning to its vomit to describe the peril of reverting to former sins after escaping corruption. In Genesis 19:26, Lot's wife, who was turned to salt for looking back at Sodom, is intended to illustrate the danger of longing for the world after fleeing judgement. I encourage you to examine your own life and your attachment to this world, is the trajectory of your life one of departure or of deepening roots in a world that is soon to be destroyed?
The steadfast grace-driven obedience to God's commandments will make His people a visible, undeniable testimony to the world. Being a "Christian" is not merely about church attendance but about a transformative relationship where we are known and identified by reflecting His character. Christ’s return exposes hidden loves. The command "remember" is a call to examine what still has a hold on us.
Verse 33, "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." Here' Jesus says that whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. That is the Christian paradox: you do not keep your life by clinging to it; you keep it by surrendering it to Christ. As Christians, we are called to become a faithful witness of undivided devotion. This is where every individual in the body of Christ must hear and heed the warning personally in an age where we are tempted to preserve comfort, reputation, possessions, and control, but Christ is coming for a repentant, obedient people who are alive, alert and longing for His glorious return! Lot's wife is a picture of what happens when a person's heart is more emotionally committed to the old way of life than to the coming kingdom.
Verse 34, "I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left." I believe this is one of the most sobering statements Jesus ever said, that on the night of His appearing, two people can share the same bed, and yet only one is received while the other is left . That means that proximity to Christ is not the same thing as possession of true saving faith and having a heart prepared for Christ's return. The phrase "on that night," means ordinary life will be moving right along while eternity suddenly and unexpectedly breaks in! Think about that for a moment. It will be just as in the Days of Noah, when people were eating, drinking, sleeping, grinding, marrying, planning, working, and then, unexpectedly, the judgment came. Everything in the world will be completely normal right up until the very moment it will never be normal again. Night is the time when the day is over and most people feel settled and safe, assuming things will continue as they are until morning. Jesus is saying the uncomfortable Truth, that His return will separate the true from the false. The world is not going announce Christ's Return to fit into your schedule. So, you'd best have a prepared heart for a time of judgment, because it's going to reveal the true condition of the heart. The power of the verse is in its intimacy: same house, same bed, same hour, same moment, but completely different destiny. This is one of the most overlooked Truths about Christ’s return, it is not only about chronology; it is about distinction, separating the true from the false, the righteous from the unrighteous. I strongly encourage you to make sure that you know for certain which side of that line you fall...before the time comes. Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:21-23, that many will say to Him, "Lord, Lord," and yet be denied because they were workers of lawlessness rather than doers of the Father’s will. This should completely alter the way we preach, pray, parent, and serve. It’s one thing to believe in Christ, lots of people believe, it’s something else to believe unto salvation, to the saving of the soul. I strongly encourage you to make sure that you know for certain which side of that line you fall...before the time comes. The separation will be extremely painful for those who have never truly surrendered to Christ. If Christ were to return at this very moment, would you be prepared for His return?
Verse 35, "There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left." Details matter, grinding was ordinary, repetitive, daily work, Jesus is saying that the world will be doing what the world always does right up until the moment it is confronted by the glory of His return! He will not wait until the time when the pauses long enough to notice Him, He will suddenly, abruptly break into our daily routines. Many Christians today appear to be living in the shadow of the cross, passionately singing songs about heaven, God's glory and Christ's return, yet, they are so attached to the pleasures of this age that Christ’s appearing feels distant, even abstract, neglecting to die to self, or willing to embrace suffering when necessary. The cross reveals the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life for what they are, putting a true value on all things. What are you prioritizing over Christ in your life? Salvation is not merely about belief, it's about the inward reality of true allegiance. I believe this is where the deeper meaning of "preparedness" is going to press hard on the church. Jesus is not inviting us to speculation; He is demanding self-examination.
Verse 36, "[Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left."] You will notice the brackets around this verse, that's because this verse doesn't appear in the older manuscripts in Luke. It got imported from Matthew 24. A scribe likely threw it from memory and attributed it to Luke. It is in all the ancient manuscripts in Matthew 24:40. But this verse was not in Luke, that's why the brackets are there. Our Lord is again, pointing out, in very simple language, just how divisive His Second Coming is going to be, as if being a Christian today is not divisive enough, right? People are always asking me why I emphasize sound doctrine back by sound living so much. In fact, someone recently told me that my preaching needed to be less doctrinal and more experiential, the Bible is to be "felt in the heart." I would argue that knowledge and experience are inseparable, without the Truth of sound doctrine in the mind, the heart cannot truly experience love God. Of course, proper application is also required, knowledge, however, provides the framework. Truth must be in your head before you can have it in your heart. Are you grinding, serving, working, building, and living with your heart anchored in Christ, or are you merely playing church, preoccupied with the things of this world? The point is there will be some taken and there will be some left. The question is, take where and what does it mean to be left? Many people assume this is talking about the rapture, the ones taken are caught up to be with the Lord. But that's incorrect. The language here is best read in light of Noah and Lot, where the wicked are swept away in judgment while the righteous are preserved, the ones taken are caught up in Judgment, similar to how the wicked were swept away in Noah's flood. The warning for the church today is to live ready, live prepared, in humility, not just merely informed. Those who are left will be left on earth, escaping Judgment and will go into the Kingdom.
That brings us to verse 37, "And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered." Spiritual death will draw judgment just as the physical death of a carcass will draws vultures. Jesus responds to the question, "Where, Lord?" with an image rather than a literal location. Though brief in context, the meaning of this verse functions much like a proverb, carrying apocalyptic force; where death is present, scavengers will gather without fail. The vultures are not merely random imagery; they are intended to depict the certainty of divine reckoning over a corrupt and decaying world. Judgment is coming, though nobody knows the day or the hour when all this is going to begin. But, it will all begin with the rapture of the church, that's the next, sign less event on the prophetic calendar. I can't emphasize enough, that this separation will be eternally divisive, everlastingly divisive, eternally separating families, not just down to the household, but right down to the bed. What Jesus is saying is simple and straight forward, wherever the corpses of the spiritually dead are, that's where I have been, and that's where the vultures can be found devouring the dead. They always gather where death already exists. The only question that remains is, will you be "taken" or will you be "left"?
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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