The Days that are Imminent

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

Jesus identified the establishment of God’s kingdom rule on earth here as… “the days of the Son of Man”. He did not reveal the day and the hour of His return to judge sin and establish His millennial rule here on the earth… “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). But in today’s text, Jesus described the approach of His return by drawing comparisons to two familiar historical events where God intervened and delivered true believers from impending judgment. He wanted them and us to know that because of the deteriorating condition of fallen mankind His disciples should live as if His return is always imminent (def.: Literally, shooting over; hence, hanging over; impending; threatening; near; appearing as if about to fall on; used of evils; as imminent danger; imminent judgments, evils or death – from Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828). Christ used this powerful history lesson to prepare the first disciples, and to exhort diligent disciples in every age to recognize the signs of their times and to live and work every day in the light of the days that are imminent.

Christ’s return is imminent because fallen mankind is always concerned with earthly care. In the very shadow of Noah’s preoccupation with building the ark, people were devoted to “eating and drinking“. Jesus warned disciples to resist the tendency of the heart to worry over temporal needs like food and clothing… “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:31-32). When we make a priority of seeking His kingdom, Christ’s providence in our lives raises the world’s awareness of the imminence of His kingdom… “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Christ’s return is imminent because fallen mankind is always captivated with earthly companionship. In the presence of the very real sign of impending judgment, the people of Noah’s day continued to be preoccupied with human relationships… “marrying and being given in marriage”. Earthly relationships are important, but they must not replace the deepest need in the human heart, the need for fellowship with God… “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). When we make a priority of investing in our intimacy and fellowship with God, Christ’s presence overflows from our hearts, grabs the world’s attention, and increases their sensitivity to the imminence of His kingdom… “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).

Christ’s return is imminent because fallen mankind is always consumed with earthly commission. In Lot’s day, right up through the warning of impending judgment by God’s angels, people continued… “buying and selling, planting and building”. They were driven to build and maintain their personal and precious but temporary worldly kingdoms. Jesus cautioned disciples to avoid the worldly treasure trap… “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). When we make a priority of pursuing kingdom treasure, our anticipation and excitement for blessings beyond today can redirect the world’s attention toward the imminence of His kingdom… “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27).

As we grow up into Christ, living in anticipation of soon His return can make others more aware of…

The Days that are Imminent.