Some envision the end of the world as annihilation in thermonuclear destruction or in a human race that chokes to death on its own fumes of progress. Some imagine a collision of the planets. Others view this event as the freezing of the world because the sun has burned out, or as the overheating of the world because solar energy has moved in too close. Still others look for a specific day or hour when the earth and its inhabitants will be no more.
    For us and countless other believers, however, the words of today's gospel sound a clarion call. We are invited to watch for the signs of the times. As these signs begin to take place, we are looking for the blessed advent of our Lord and great redeemer, Jesus Christ.
    However, the curtain has not yet been lifted on the last act of our human drama. It may be five minutes to midnight and the zero hour. But that hour has not yet struck. The symphony is still unfinished; the last movement is yet to be played.
    Those last signs will come in one form or another, in one way or another. The events, once started, will not go away nor be dismissed. The end-time events described in the gospels will in their own way unfold upon the stage of human history. And there will be no turning back the clock to another day, week, or time.
    By God's grace and mercy, we shall stand in that multitude without number before the throne and before the very face of God for the first time! When all else has passed away, we will welcome the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ who has indeed delayed his coming, but who now finally comes to receive us.
So that we do not miss anything, wait patiently and keep awake!

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2007 Augsburg Fortress.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.