This evening I heard a very interesting advertisement for an upcoming show.
Tune in next Monday night for a surprise visit from (blank). They mentioned
the name of someone famous. You can fill in the blank with any name you
want. The name wasn't important. It was the concept that next week we will
be surprised to see this person. Really? Didn't they just tell us who it
is? They must have figured the only people who will be watching will be us
old guys who will have forgotten who it is but tune in because we want to be
surprised.

It reminded me of people who will be surprised by the sudden second coming
of Jesus. While we have not been told when He is coming, like the TV
announcement, we are assured by so many people He is returning. It should
not be a surprise. He tells in Matthew 24 He is coming again. He tells us
in John 14 He is coming to take us home to be with Him. In Revelation He
tells us that He comes quickly. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15 and I
Thessalonians 4 that He is coming again. It is not a secret nor is it a
surprise. We are encouraged, like in the TV ad, to watch. Jesus tells us
in the parable of the ten young ladies to be ready. For the young ladies in
the parable being ready meant having enough oil and for us being ready means
being filled with the Holy Spirit after accepting His gift of eternal life.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is not that He is coming but that He hasn't yet
come. And yet we shouldn't be surprised because He does tell us why He is
waiting. Please see II Peter 3 for the answer.