Today’s verse is from the Book of Revelation 3:3. Let’s examine the portion in four versions of the Bible.
Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. (version NLT)
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (version KJV)
So remember all the things you’ve received and heard, then turn back to God and obey them. For if you continue to slumber, I will come to you like a thief, and you’ll have no idea at what hour I will come.(version TPT)
So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.(version AMPC)
In verse 1 of this chapter, we read. You are supposed to be alive, but in reality you are dead. We have read, heard and received instructions from the Bible, and we need to hold them dearly. We have heard them again in church, through preaching, bible readings in church, even through praise and worship songs. In spite of all this, we have either chosen to be alive or dead to the instructions by taking them seriously or lightly, living a life in obedience or disobedience to them.
We have to give up hypocrisy, indifference, casualness and foolish ways so that we are alive!
If we are immersed in the world around us, if we accept the wrongs of the world as the default nature for us, we are in for a shock when the day of Judgement comes in our life.
If we do not keep remembering the instructions from the Bible, with the intention of following them, the thinking, reasoning and lifestyle of the world surrounding us will become the acceptable norm for us. This will be a trap we do not want ever to be in.
Let us be alert, awake to the teachings of God as a lamp always before us, guiding us and leading us. Else what we see on Netflix, social media channels or the fear mongering of the news channels will start ruling and controlling our thinking and actions.
This passage is a warning. Many hear the Word of God, but not acting on it is a dangerous place to be in. Read the strong message given in the verses given once again. Be quickened by them.
