Those of us who grew up on Aesop's fables, would have read the story "The boy who cried wolf."  While the moral of the story is about the severe consequences of lying, for which we must seriously pay heed to, we might also want to take note that a repeated message that does not come true will be ignored over time.

I recall my earlier years in church when there was a hype about the last days.  We are engrossed with the sermons and messages to prepare ourselves as we see the signs of the last days appearing. More than 20 years past since Y2K and the end is not in sight.  Admittedly our senses may be rather numbed now, even though the signs of the last days continue to be manifested, howbeit in stronger intensity and clarity.  Is this akin to the cry wolf effect?

We may feel justified that the boy in the cry wolf story obtained what he deserved and that he should learn from his mistake.  But if this had happened in real life, would it not be a very painful lesson, one that is taught with at least the loss of a sheep's life?  In our case, if we become insensitive, just like the people in Noah's time, will we similarly be caught off guard and perish? How great a loss that will be.

Jesus cautioned us to be discerning when He taught in (Matthew 24:23-24).  Like in the case of cry wolf, while it is true that the mischievous boy did raise false alarms to taunt, to amuse and to ridicule, this does not negate the fact that one of the alarms may be true.  We may also encounter this when we are in shopping centres, in school or office, when the alarm rang.  It is prudent to wait and see if there is a real fire or emergency before running out of the building.  While every second counts, it is better to assess the situation and to act calmly with the information received.  There might be a message to tell us what and where the emergency is, for example fire at the second floor, and we avoid rather than run into the danger.

Since no one knows when the end will come, what shall we do? Jesus ended off His message by not only telling us to be ready (Matthew 24:44) but also how to be ready.  In the subsequent parable, the key is for us to continue faithfully carrying out our work as servants of God.  Let us be faithful and wise, be diligent and steady in our service, thereby maintaining our vigilance.