“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36) Jesus warned His followers to be watchful, to stay awake, and to guard their hearts so that they would be prepared when He comes back. The greatest danger is not just outright sin but being weighed down—burdened by the distractions and anxieties of this life to the point where we stop watching, stop longing for His appearing, and stop being spiritually ready for it. Jesus said these 3 things make us unprepared for His return: Dissipation – This refers to reckless indulgence, wasted living, and the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. It dulls our spiritual sensitivity and shifts our focus from eternity to temporary gratification.Drunkenness – This can be more than just alcohol, and can be anything that clouds our judgment and numbs our awareness of spiritual realities. These are addictions, habits, and coping mechanisms that keep us from being sober-minded.Cares of This Life – This is perhaps the most subtle and dangerous trap. Worry, busyness, financial struggles, family concerns, or anything that consumes our mind – these can steal our focus from Christ. These things may or may not be sinful, but they weigh the heart down, making us distracted and/or complacent to the things of God. Jesus warns that if we are not careful, His return will come suddenly like a trap—not because it is meant to be one, but because many will be too preoccupied with this life to see the signs and be ready. We can’t look at life only through the lens of a window and get preoccupied with everything else and not give any attention to our own state. We have to be mindful to look in the proverbial mirror at ourselves, examining our hearts and weigh our reflection with the Word of God, otherwise our hearts will be weighed down with other things. Stay Awake and Pray In saying to stay awake, Jesus continues the command for us to be watchful. Watching means living in readiness, with hearts eager for His return. Those who watch will not be caught unaware, but those who are preoccupied with the world will be unprepared and ensnared. We cannot do what Jesus told us to do in our own strength. That is why He told us to pray for strength – the strength to endure, to overcome distractions, and to remain faithful and stand before the Son of Man. The apostle Paul echoed this prayer for strength in Colossians 1:11-14: “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This is our source of joy and gratitude – we have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints, we have been delivered from darkness, and we have redemption and forgiveness through Christ! The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and when we hold on to that joy, we will not be weary or distracted—we will be awake, watching, and ready. Endure with Joy, Strengthened by God Waiting is not easy. Being watchful and spiritually minded in the waiting is even harder because the world is filled with trials, temptations, and distractions. That’s why we pray that God gives us His strength to endure with patience and joy. On our own, we don’t have the strength, we need Him. So let us take Jesus’ words to heart: Do not be weighed down by the cares of this life – instead, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)Do not be distracted by temporary pleasures – instead, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith (1 Peter 5:8-9a)Do not be caught off guard by His return – instead, after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)Watch yourself and pray so that you may have strength! If we keep our hearts fixed on Jesus, His return will not be a trap – it’ll be a triumph. We will not shrink back in fear, but we will stand with joy before the Son of Man, knowing that our redemption has finally come. Let’s heed the admonition here and watch ourselves.
