II Thessalonians 1:10
“when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”
The Lord has built mystery into the event of His Second Coming. It was obscure enough inwhich every generation expected it to be soon. Today is the same. There is enough chaos and concerning events that this generation expects the end.
Why did God design it this way? He understands our nature. Ever since the fall, we have attempted to hide from Him. Adam and Eve hid as He sought to meet (Genesis 3:9). They thought they were going to get in trouble. So also, we have the same sense, so we push the God thoughts from our minds.
We feel safe when young, as we reason that we’ve got decades before we have to deal with eternity issues. Then the Second Coming confronts us. All of the sudden we’ve no longer got decades to choose. Jesus says things like, “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). There is a sense of immediacy.
It’s been two thousand years and millions of people have turned to the Lord because of the Second Coming. God is a genius. Peter warns against those who say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” But he brings up Noah’s flood. That generation mocked him. They learned the truth of the flood when it was too late (2 Peter 3:4,5).
Lord, thank You for this built in warning device You’ve given. May it keep us close to You.