However, that sort of thinking lead me down wrong paths. It made it so salvation was more like a gamble. Sure, I shouldn't be doing wrong things now, but as long as I get everything in order by the end, it will all turn out alright. After all, how many deathbed conversions have I heard celebrated by various ministers? Certainly, they tell us not to take that sort of chance, but then, that means everything is simply up to chance.
Instead, Jesus--although referencing the coming of the Lord--is telling us to wake up, to be present in the current moment, not some distant future. He is warning us about letting time escape us now, losing relationships now, breaking trusts now, damaging our souls now. Time and again, He warns us of getting stuck in repetitive ritual, of living our lives like people sleep-walking. We need to be alert not just for some distant heaven, but so that we don't miss out on the life that He has given us today, on the chances that we have to make our world better today.
The time to "Be watchful!" is now, not because the Lord is coming, but because He is already here, living in the lives of those around us--living within us, ourselves.