May 24: SIDE-BY-SIDE
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:37-39
Jesus fervently taught His disciples about His second coming. It was no secret that He would be returning for His people, for this marks the completion of salvation for all of the saved. At exactly the right time, He will appear in bright glory and majesty to gather His elect, both those who have died in faith and those still living. It will not be too soon, and neither will it be too late.
As Noah was building the ark, he was also preaching. God generously provided 120 years (see Genesis 6:3) for the people to understand His purpose: a golden opportunity to forsake their evil lifestyles. His longing was to bless and guide them in the wake of repentance. Some of them ignored Noah, while many others mocked God’s messenger. Noah’s knowledge of the coming flood in combination with his distress over wicked lifestyles – worse with each generation – propelled him to warn the people of the danger they were in. But instead of receiving God’s warning, they contemptuously accused the preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) of judging!
Jesus continued: “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” (vv.40-41) This illustration is of people apparently doing the same thing, yet meeting opposite fates. It is intended for His followers to gain discernment regarding faithfulness to the word of God. The phrase in the field can symbolize God’s mission field. In this side-by-side scenario, both are working to win converts, but one is teaching a mix of truth and error while the other reaches out with plain Biblical truth. Two women…grinding at the mill is a prophetic reference to churches. Both are handling the word of God, but only one is rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
It is a precious thing to live in readiness for the return of Jesus! From prison, Paul urged young Timothy to continue faithfully in his pastoral work in the church at Ephesus. He must learn to be careful to avoid false teachers, keeping constant guard, lest his youthfulness be rendered a liability. Paul warned that people would desert the truth to satisfy their itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3). This pattern still marks our days – rather like on steroids! It is a time of growing opposition and glowing opportunity.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8