Now concerning that day and hour no one knows ​— ​neither the angels of heaven nor the Son ​— ​except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. —Matthew 24:36-44

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on the end provides a proper perspective for our lives.

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows ​- ​neither the angels of heaven nor the Son ​- ​except the Father alone.” —Matthew 24:36

Jesus is encouraging us, in thinking about the end, to

in God.

“As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” —Matthew 24:37-42

Jesus implores us to be

towards the end.

“God comes to us in our pain, in our doubt, in our families, in our work. There’s no place that God may not turn up, no time when God may not sneak in… And every time God comes to us and we receive God, we’re further and better prepared to meet God at his final coming - the arrival that will complete everything we understand as history.” —Eugene Peterson

“But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” —Matthew 24:43-44

Jesus invites us to be joyfully and lovingly

for the end.

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear.” —1 John 4:18

Motivated by

, with the end in view, we learn how to live!

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For further study:
Scripture: Matthew 24, 25; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; James 4:14
Resources: “The Message: Devotional Bible” by Eugene Peterson

Community Group Guide:
How do you remember hearing about the end of time?
What emotions do you experience in thinking about the end of time?
How does trusting God help with the fear we experience?
In what ways can you develop attentiveness to the end of time?
What ways can you be prepared and help prepare others?
How does thinking about the end give us perspective for our lives?
How are we helped by being motivated by love instead of fear?
What was it like having space provided to meditate on the end?

To prepare for next week: Read and meditate on Matthew 25