AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME ON ALL

The Lord Jesus has just finished talking to the disciples about what was to befall their city, which indeed took place at the hands of the Romans less than forty years later, vv. 20-24. He then goes on to tell them of His second coming, at the end of the great tribulation, ‘in a cloud with power and great glory’, v. 27. The suddenness with which that day will come is likened to the snare of the fowler that overtakes a bird or an animal unawares. However, this will be true of those who dwell on the face of the earth, men and women who are attached to this world. Such will have no thought or care for God, and their names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13. 8.

In view of the suddenness of that event, the Lord then gave the disciples a personal, practical and heart-searching warning: ‘And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day may come upon you unawares’, v. 34. Such a warning applies not only to the disciples at the time, but also to all believers in every generation. No believer should consider Himself immune to any of these areas of backsliding. The Bible abounds with examples of sincere men of God who were over­taken in such sins. Noah, who walked with God before the flood, became the victim of drunkenness and shame. Abraham, the faithful friend of God, lied about Sarah his wife. Lot, who may not have partaken of the horrible sin of Sodom, fell into incest under the influence of alcohol. David, the man after God’s own heart, in a moment of carelessness, committed the heinous sins of adultery and murder. ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall’, 1 Cor. 10. 12.

Surfeiting and drunkenness may not be a particular problem with many of us today. But the cares of this life often appear as legitimate concerns and could end up becoming sins that so easily beset us, Heb. 12. 1. The Master’s remedy for this is watchfulness and continual prayer, v. 36. ‘Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not’, Luke 12. 40.