I was 253 days into retirement from the Army on September 10, 2001. It was a beautiful Monday as only a Washington Monday can be in September – just a hint of the autumn that would soon be upon us and a remembrance of the summer almost gone. It was a day like any other day when the world is at peace, when people are going about their daily grind, and we are more concerned with family and friends and work and vacations than we are about discontented Muslims in some far-off and distant land plotting the restoration of the caliphate in Spain and Portugal and the overthrow and American hegemony in the world. As I say, it was a Monday like any other. I went about my daily routine and when evening came, I watched the evening news, read a little, and retired for the night.

Then came the morning. My alarm was set for 0600 and when I awoke that Tuesday morning the radio was saying something about a plane that had struck one of the twin towers of the World Trade Building. Must have been some sightseeing plane that had gotten in trouble, but no the newsreader said it was a passenger plane. And then the second plane struck the other tower and I knew we were under attack and a new war had begun.

We went from peace and calm to war and chaos in an instant. And that’s how it will be in the time before The Return.

Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour (the time of The Return) no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:36–39, ESV)

And Paul wrote, “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3, ESV)

No one, at least no one of whom we are aware, knew an attack was coming. It just came, as it were, out of the blue. So will it be when Christ returns. Those who are ready now will be those who are ready then. So, as it is written, today, if you hear his voice calling you to repentance and renewal, answer the call. Don’t be caught unawares and unprepared for what is coming on the world.