Burglars in the House! — by Bermie Dizon

This is something I will never forget while pastoring in San Fernando, Philippines, years ago. All of us in the family were asleep when my wife woke up because she sensed a presence in our bedroom. Her eyes were wide open, and she saw a man in the shadowy darkness of our room. When the man saw my wife was awake, he quickly grabbed her bag near the door. My wife immediately shouted to wake me up and told me that a burglar had entered the house. We quickly shut the bedroom door, locked it, and pushed a heavy dresser to block the entrance. 

In fear, my wife started shouting so our neighbor across the street could hear us. We heard some scrambling outside our room. The burglars ran out. Our neighbor, who happened to be a policeman, came in with his handgun. But by then the burglars were gone. He called for backup, and after investigating, they discovered that six burglars had entered our home. They had accessed the house by opening a small window in the kitchen, and a smaller person had opened the back door. 

The burglars took almost everything we owned—kitchenware, the television, and even my rubber shoes! And believe it or not, they even stole my Bible! The only thing they left was the piano, which they couldn’t carry. The police told us we were fortunate they didn’t kill us. In our city, many burglaries result in victims being murdered, especially since most of the thieves are high on drugs. In the room with us were our three children: a 5-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl, and a 1-year-old baby. We are so grateful that God kept us safe. 

When I read the scripture about the thief in the night, I now have a deeper understanding of how sudden and unexpected things can happen without any warning. 

The metaphor of the “thief in the night” is a powerful and vivid image used in the Bible to describe the sudden and unexpected return of Jesus Christ. It’s not about being a thief but about the unannounced nature of a burglar’s arrival. This analogy, found in several New Testament passages, serves as a reminder to believers that the timing of the Lord’s return is known only to God. It calls us to stay vigilant, watchful, and spiritually prepared at all times. 

In our Christian journey, it’s easy to fall into complacency. We may begin strong in our faith, eager to follow Christ and live according to His teachings. But as time goes on, the distractions and pressures of daily life can cause us to lose focus. We may drift, becoming more concerned with temporal matters and taking our eyes off eternal ones. 

Just as we never expected burglars to break into our homes in the middle of the night, the image of Christ’s return as a thief in the night challenges our complacency. Those burglars didn’t announce their arrival. They came when we least expected them, catching us unprepared. In the same way, Christ’s return will be sudden and unannounced, and those who are not spiritually ready will be left scrambling. 

This doesn’t mean we should live in fear or anxiety, constantly looking over our shoulders. Instead, it calls us to live with intentionality and purpose, cultivating a life of consistent faithfulness and obedience to God. Jesus warns us in Matthew 24:42, “Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Our call is to live each day as though Christ could return at any moment. This means staying connected to Him through prayer, studying His word, and being active in our faith. It also involves regularly examining our hearts to ensure that our lives reflect his love and truth. We must guard against spiritual lethargy, understanding that our walk with Christ is not a sprint but a marathon that requires endurance and vigilance. 

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” —2 Peter 3:10 (NIV) Just as we safeguard our homes, let us safeguard our hearts. Although we do not know the exact date or time, Christ’s return is certain and will happen at the precise moment God determines. Stay ready, remain vigilant, and remember that we are called to be faithful in all seasons.

Excerpted from “God in Every Step” now available at Amazon.com. Bermie Dizon is a husband, father, grandfather and retired pastor living in Southern California.