A thief gains his advantage by striking when people least expect it, and the thought of a burglar breaking into our house while we sleep is terrifying. We try to secure ourselves against this possibility with double dead-bolt locks, bars on the windows, burglar alarms and more police. Jesus promised us that the Day of the Lord would come suddenly, and this “thief in the night” cannot be stopped. There is no defense against the supernatural day of His coming!
But unlike thieves in our world, Jesus will only take what is already His. Only those who disregard Jesus’ warning have any need to be concerned. Fear has no place for those who are prepared.
People are victimized by thieves when they carelessly leave themselves unprotected. Scripture declares that people in pursuit of their own pleasures, living life indifferently to consequences, open themselves up to the destruction of the ultimate thief, the devil.
As we heed Jesus’ warning, let us prepare ourselves for His coming, “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet. 3:12).
