Avoiding Folly and Getting Ready for the Lord’s Return

Gary Clayton shares why Christians should avoid folly, live righteously, and look forward to the coming of the Lord

Many years ago, when I was a young Christian, both in terms of age, experience and understanding of God’s Word, I worked for a Christian film distributor which allowed potential customers to watch films so they could decide if they wanted to hire them or not.

On one occasion, we showed the 1970s Christian horror classic Thief in the Night. It’s the one where Jesus’ followers disappear from the earth due to the Rapture.

After a quick shot of some clouds, the film cuts back to an electric razor left dangling in the bathroom, an overflowing food mixer, and an abandoned lawnmower – all left behind by the believers who’d been whisked off to heaven.

Unfortunately, when it was time for us to change the reel, my colleague and I decided to hide once we heard the customers coming to find us.

Before we did, however, we left the phone dangling from the hook, and the large, noisy film-checking unit and electric fan running unattended…

Now, I’m not going to unpack the different theological views concerning the Last Days but, remembering my lamentable behaviour many decades ago, I can’t help thinking about how foolish we Christians can be.

1 Corinthians 13:11 says we may have talked, thought, and reasoned like a child but, when we became adults, we put the ways of childhood behind us. I’ve hopefully improved since then – particularly when one considers the fact that the Lord could return at any moment!

But when the Son of Man comes, will we be like the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, who came prepared, or the five foolish ones, who weren’t ready for the bridegroom’s return?

The Bible contains more than 230 references to ‘fools’, ‘folly’ and ‘foolishness’ – the biblical concept of folly encompassing stupidity, spiritual blindness, moral deficiency, and wilful sinfulness.

That’s why Proverbs 15 says the ‘hearts of fools are not upright’ (verse 7). Their mouths not only ‘gush folly’ but also feed on it, with folly bringing ‘joy to the one who has no sense’ (verse 21).

Because the way of a fool seems right to him, Proverbs 12 tells us that his heart ‘blurts out folly’ (verse 23) and he is easily annoyed (verse 16).

So it’s hardly surprising that the Bible contains warnings about those who build their house on sand (Matthew 7:26-27); trust in riches rather than God (Luke 12:16-21); fail to make use of their talents (Matthew 25:14-30); or listen to God’s Word and then forget it (James 1:22-24).

There are also warnings for those who aren’t ready for the Lord’s return:

• Matthew 24:42-44: “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

• Luke 21:29-34: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the Kingdom of God is near… Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.”

• Revelation 16:15: “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Two Peter 3:9-10 reminds us, ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness… But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.’

So let’s ensure we don’t spend our lives playing hide and seek like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after foolishly disobeying God (or me hiding from the customers who wanted to see Thief in the Night).

Instead, let’s live holy and godly lives, making every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with the Lord, looking forward to His return and speeding its coming.

Gary Clayton is married to Julie, the father of Christopher (20) and Emma (17) and works for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). To learn how MAF planes bring Christ’s love to the areas of Africa that need it most, visit www.maf-uk.org