The words of the preacher echoed in Tim’s ears. “No man knows the day or the hour.” He followed his grandfather on autopilot, mulling over the sermon they just heard.

            “What’s on your mind, son?” asked Grandpa Jake. “You haven’t said a word the whole walk home from church. That’s not like you. Why, you didn’t even pay attention to that big fat frog jumping in the creek over there.”

            Tim glanced toward the creek, but the frog was long gone, having disappeared under the ripples. “I’m thinking about what the preacher said about no one knowing when Jesus is going to return. I don’t understand. Why is it such a mystery? Doesn’t God want us to be ready?”

            Grandpa Jake stroked his chin for a moment, then pointed down the street to a little café. “Let’s get a little lunch and we’ll talk about it.”

            They made their way to the café and chose a table outside. Grandpa Jake settled in with a cup of coffee, then turned toward Tim.

            “What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and God told you Jesus would return to take all the believers to heaven at midnight?”

            “I’d tell all my friends. I’d tell everyone I know about Jesus and what they needed to do to get to heaven. I wouldn’t worry about what people thought about me because I’d be gone at the end of the day.” Tim grinned. “I also wouldn’t bother going to school or doing any homework.”

            Grandpa Jake chuckled. “No, I suppose that makes sense. What if you knew Jesus wouldn’t return for another 500 years?”

            “I guess I’d do my homework,” Tim said. “I’d live my life. Go through school, go to college, get married…”
            “What about telling people about Jesus?” Grandpa Jake asked.

            “I’d still do that, but it wouldn’t be as urgent.”
            “How much would you think about Jesus returning?”

            “Probably not much, because it wouldn’t even happen in my great-grandkids’ lifetime.”

            “Well, there’s your answer.”

            Tim stared at his grandfather. “My answer? I don’t understand.”

            Grandpa Jake leaned back in his chair as the waitress set a BLT and bowl of soup in front of him. Tim waited for the woman to place his hamburger and fries at his place, then folded his arms, expecting more of an explanation. Grandpa Jake bowed his head.

            “Dear Lord, thank You for this meal we are about to receive. Please bless the hands that have prepared it, and thank You for this time together. Please help Tim to see You are never early, and You’re never late. Your timing is always perfect. Amen.”

            “Amen,” Tim echoed. “Now are you going to explain or not?”

            Grandpa Jake let out a full belly laugh. “Not much for patience, are you?” He lifted a spoonful of soup, blew on it, then put it in his mouth. “Ahh, that hits the spot.” He pointed his spoon at Tim.

            “God wants us to live for both possibilities. He could send Jesus back for us tomorrow. With that very real possibility, it should instill in us a sense of urgency to tell others about Him. We never know whether our conversation with someone might be our last. On the other hand, if He should delay, you still need to do your homework and prepare for your future. If you knew it would be a long time, you wouldn’t live with the sense of urgency that He could come anytime. God knows exactly what He’s doing by keeping us in the dark.”

            Tim swallowed a mouthful of burger. “I see what you mean. How did you get to be so smart?”
            “Years of getting it wrong. Did you know I had a brother?”

            Tim shook his head, chewing a french fry.

            “I did. But the last conversation I ever had with him was an argument. We were young and stupid, and I don’t even remember what we were arguing about, but he drove off and didn’t make it home that night. He’d been drinking and wrapped his car around a tree. I blamed myself for years. Maybe if we hadn’t fought, he wouldn’t have been drinking. But I’ve stopped beating myself up over it. I know now God took him for a reason. I don’t yet know what the reason is, but I trust the Lord. Since then, I consider every conversation I have could be my last, and I don’t want it ever to be an argument again.”

            “Wow, Grandpa, that’s really sad. I’m sorry you lost your brother.”

            “Our parents taught us to love the Lord, so while my brother wasn’t making the best decisions in the last days of his life, I’m confident I’ll see him again in heaven someday. Maybe then I’ll finally be able to apologize for being pig-headed.” Grandpa Jake took a bite of his sandwich and a swig of coffee before continuing. “Some things you have to learn on you own, but I hope I can spare you some pain if you can learn a little from my mistakes.”

            “I will,” Tim said, “I will.”

Dear Lord, we don’t know when You’ll return, and we don’t know how much time we have left on this earth. Sometimes we focus so much time, energy, and finances on things that don’t make a difference in Your kingdom. Please help direct our efforts so we spend our resources on endeavors that will draw people closer to You. Help us to love the people You’ve placed in our lives today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Matthew 24: 36-44

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.