READ: Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2
Key Scripture: Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Let all who live in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming.
It is close at hand— (Joel 2:1).
THOUGHTS
Many years ago, towards the end of the last millennium, the parousia (which means the second coming of Christ) was constantly talked about. You could hear from the pulpit, "Repent for the kingdom of God is close at hand." It was even strongly believed that the world would end with the millennium. On the last night of the millennium, people who had never stepped into the Church slept in it. They wanted the Lord to meet them in the Church. But after the year 2000, the emphasis on the day of the Lord waned. Other ideas are now being emphasized. Well, Jesus says the day of His coming is unknown, and that He will come like a thief in the night. How does a thief come? He comes unexpectedly. Jesus will come unexpectedly. We need to be prepared so that it would not take us unawares. What preparations are there to be made? We need to repent of all our sins and enter into a meaningful and lasting relationship with Jesus.