Day 800: Being prepared - 1 Thessalonians 5 vs 1 - 11

1-2 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security”, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4-5 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

6-7 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9-11 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. ! Thessalonians 5:1-11 (English Standard Version)

Today's reading reminded me how many years ago, when my wife and I worked in Christian book ministry, we came out of the store one day to find that our car parked outside had been stolen. It was a strange, totally unexpected experience. Having encouraged Christians at Thessalonica that believers who died before Christ's return would be raised to meet the Lord in the air together with Christians who are alive at that time, Paul reminds them to continue to be ready for that awesome day. What is a big thing about that day? (3-4)

It will happen suddenly and take the world by surprise. Paul's teaching is based on Jesus' words to His disciples when He spoke of the end times. He said “Concerning that day and hour no-one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Therefore, stay awake, for you don't know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would've stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “ (Matthew 24:36-44)

The emphasis isn't on whether a thief is quiet or noisy, but the total unexpectedness of his breaking into one's house. What is the big difference between followers of Christ and other people? (vs 4-5)

Christians are not living in the darkness of ignorance about these things. Just as a homeowner would've stayed awake if he had a heads-up that a thief was planning to break in that night, and he would not have let his house be broken into, so Christians have a heads-up that Christ is coming back to usher in the great judgment day of God. What should this lead to? (vs 6-7)

It should lead to a life of being prepared and keeping alert. Paul uses the picture of how so much wrong doing is associated with the darkness of night. Not only is it a time for thieves, it's also a time for drunkards. It's also the time associated with deep sleep. So it's a suitable picture for someone to be caught unawares. Paul isn't saying Christians must keep awake 24/7, or do shifts to take turns in watching for that day. What does keeping awake mean? (vs 8)

It means to live a sober life of keeping God's salvation and the hope of eternal life in our thoughts, and seeking every day to grow in our faith in Christ and love for God's people. We mustn't grow tired of hearing these truths and begin to drift back into the ways of the world. Why is all this so important? (vs 9-11)

The return of the Lord Jesus Christ will not only be a day of great rejoicing for believers, it will also be a day of God's wrath on sin and sinners. Wrath is an old fashioned word we don't hear too often today. One dictionary defines it as “strong vengeful anger or indignation, and retributory punishment for an offense or a crime.” It means that God will show the world just how terrible sin is. But Paul says of believers “God has not destined us for wrath!” That should encourage us greatly to be sober and to keep awake for the return of Jesus.