The Thief

"But of this be assured: if the householder had known at what time the burglar was coming, he would have been awake and alert and watching and would not have permitted his house to be dug through and broken into" (Luke 12:39).

This verse is slipped into a larger story about a group of servants being watchful for their master's return from a wedding banquet. I've read the story a number of times, always focused on Jesus' admonition for believers to be watchful and ready for His second coming.

Yet, Jesus makes mention about a "burglar," a thief, and the potential for the owner of the house to be caught unaware. Why didn't the householder know when the thief was coming?

He hadn't sought godly wisdom to discern such threats, nor was he equipped with the godly love to handle them. He only had worldly discernment, which is spiritual blindness, and worldly love, which is weak and non-confrontational.

So, he was a sitting duck, faced inevitably with watching his home "dug through and broken into," with seeing his life ransacked, abused and destroyed.

If the householder's life were grounded by a personal relationship with Jesus, he would certainly be prepared to see His Savior face to face on the day of His return.

If he had a revelation and understanding of the nature of the world we live in based on the spiritual truths taught by Christ, he would certainly be girded for battle against the enemy of God with the bold love of Christ -- the love that identified the Pharisees as "whitewashed tombs" and rebuked Peter, "Get thee behind Me, Satan."

Part of what makes heaven so incredible to look forward to is that there is no longer a thief. There is no longer an enemy that will approach or seek to take what God has given or to divert us from seeking that which He offers (Luke 12:33).

But as we pass through as pilgrims on the earth, we cannot naively ignore that this is an "evil world in which we live" (Luke 1:3).

It may sound like a pat answer to complex issues, but there is a relatively simple and truthful answer to the question "Why do so many bad things happen in this world?"

Because there is an enemy of God at play and we are the pawns in his twisted game. And sometimes, because of our own sinfulness and self-centeredness, we let him get his way. When we do, the only possible result we can expect is devastation.

Evil seeks to devour, and we are currently being hunted.

You will never suit up in your armor and prepare yourself for battle until you realize you are the prey.