At 7 on Wednesday morning, March 2, we screeched to a halt on EDSA when this huge pink bus obstructed our lane.  I was about to let loose some verbal road rage when I saw a sign on the bus’s rear window:  “Be prepared.  Jesus Christ is coming soon.  May 21, 2011.” I blinked, uncomprehending.
Were they making a declaration that Jesus Christ is coming for sure on May 21, 2011?  I was nonplussed.  Did not Jesus Christ say that no man knows the exact hour of his coming?  Were we not instructed to live in constant watchfulness like a faithful servant because we will not be told the exact hour our Lord will come?
Jesus Christ warned us that in the last days, there will be false prophets and false Christs.  If any man tells us that Christ is there, we are not to believe it.  We are not to be deceived.
I am happy that people are talking about Jesus’ imminent return.  This gives us an opportunity to preach the gospel.  I am anticipating the any-moment return of Jesus Christ.  The thought of his coming excites me.  But I will not spend time trying to figure out the exact date or time that he will come.  That is not my job. My job is to be ready for his return.
I do see one positive outcome when people predict the exact date of Christ’s return.  It helps us discern between the merely curious and the true believers. The merely curious would be eager to know the exact date because they think that when Christ comes there will be a big spectacle, not so different from the homecoming of Manny Pacquiao after a successful title bout. They imagine that there will be a parade of some sort such that the merely curious need to know the exact date. They need to know the exact time of Christ’s return because they think they need to know where his motorcade will pass so that they can elbow for standing space on the street so that they can watch the fleeting parade.
True believers however don’t need to know the exact date or time.  They know that Jesus Christ will come for the express purpose of claiming his own.  They are assured and guaranteed personal audience with Jesus Christ. When He comes, all true believers will personally meet Jesus Christ.  Thus, it doesn’t matter to them when the exact date of his coming will be; whenever his coming is, true believers won’t miss it.
The next time you see a poster that proclaims the date of Jesus Christ’s return, sit back and relax.  When Jesus comes, he will come for each and everyone of his own, he won’t forget or overlook any of them.  Their names are written in the book of life and that is the guarantee.