Luke 17:26-37

Luke 17:26-37 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

Life consists mainly of eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, and dying. On the day Jesus was crucified, people were living their usual lives, anticipating tomorrow to be just like today. But the kingdom of God invaded Earth's domain on the day when Jesus was resurrected. On that day He brought the kingdom of God to whosoever will receive him as Lord. On that day, the world was turned upside down spiritually when faith in Jesus Christ and his works of grace and mercy replaced law and judgment.

Now, when Jesus comes again, people will be participating fully in life as they were at his first coming without understanding what that day will bring. However, his second coming will culminate the age of faith. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) In that day we will see him as He is; faith will no longer be needed. When He comes the second time, He will come as Lord, the judge of all unrighteousness. The days of receiving his grace and mercy and living by faith will be over as He begins his righteous reign.

How then should Christians live as we await his return? When Christ returns, we as humans will be participating in the routines of the day. We also will be eating, drinking, working at our jobs, raising families, and the like. But our lives will be different because Jesus Christ will be in our lives since we have accepted him as Savior and Lord. Therefore, his kingdom will occupy our lives. As we look for his return, Christians will live as servants of the Most High. We will look after the needs of others and not just ourselves. We will be in constant worship and prayer. We will gather together to encourage each other. We will function as His body here on Earth, as we follow the example described by Paul: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)

What should we avoid? We should not go to the nearest mountaintop, hide out in a cave, or go to the hinterland to wait for Christ's return. We should not try to save our lives by isolating ourselves from the world and its needs. Many in past centuries have done just that by fleeing civilization and moving away from people to save their lives from impending destruction. Such behavior caused people to lose their effectiveness in this world. In reality, they were hiding out from the people God loves, for God so loved the WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son for them. Jesus came to Earth to save sinners, not to isolate himself from them. As the body of Christ, we are to be on the highways and byways, reaching people for the Lord. We are to be in their midst, calling them to the feast, calling them to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So do not protect, preserve, or save your life; instead, lose your life in Christ's work as you spread his gospel of hope. Don't waste your life in inactivity, tarrying somewhere, but live it fully for Christ. When the Lord calls, He will call those He knows, those who know and serve him. The others will be left where the vultures will gather.