Have you ever been caught totally by surprise by an event or occurrence? Sometimes these surprises can be pleasant, like a surprise birthday party or an unexpected visit by a dear friend. Other things that take us by surprise can be very unpleasant, such as when you find that you have been robbed, either while you were out or overnight while you were asleep. You come home from an evening out, or wake up in the morning and find that your valuables have been stolen. If only you had known in advance that the thief was going to hit your house, you would have made sure that your doors were locked, maybe even getting stronger locks. You would have made sure that the windows were all closed and tightly locked. You would also have been ready there to catch the crook, alert and prepared! In our Scripture passage today Paul warns us of the need to be ready when our Lord returns, and not be caught off guard and unprepared.
Many believers in the very early church thought the Lord Jesus would return in their lifetime. Paul taught them that no one knows when He will return. However, with that in mind, he also warned that we all need to be expectantly waiting and ready. Just as we don’t want to be caught off-guard when the thief comes, we don’t want to be caught unprepared when Jesus returns. We are to be living godly lives in light of His coming judgment on the world. Paul urged the Thessalonians, and us as well, to live each day prepared to welcome Christ’s return.
Just as in the Old Testament days, some preachers in Paul’s day preached only warm, fuzzy, feel-good messages to the people, rather than the need for repentance and to get one’s life right with God. We find the same today. They only speak of God bringing love and peace. There is love and peace for the believer and follower of Jesus, but when He returns there will be judgment for the lost (vs 3). That day will come suddenly, just as when a woman goes into labor.
Paul then contrasts the two groups of people that exist - children of the light and children of the darkness or night (vs. 4-5). We are all in one group or the other. Believers in the Lord Jesus are children of the light, as Scripture says, not of the darkness. Those of the night have not accepted the Lord Jesus, and engage in practices consistent with the domain of darkness. Believers have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred into the Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:13). Believing in Jesus removes a person from spiritual darkness (John 8:12, John 12:46). Unbelievers are called children of Satan (John 8:44), who is the power of darkness (Luke 22:53).
There is a difference between those who expect Jesus to return and those who do not, and live as such. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 9:5). He illuminates the path of believers. We need to walk as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). Christians are in the light, and should not sleep in spiritual indifference and a life of ease (vs. 6). The unsaved are in darkness, and will be jolted out of their deep sleep on the Day of the Lord.
Those who belong to Christ do not need to be afraid of the future, or the coming Day of the Lord. We can approach it with a sense of confidence because we will not endure the wrath of God (vs. 9). Christ’s coming will be a time of judgment and woe for the unbeliever, a time of His wrath. At the time of the Day of the Lord, God will intervene directly and dramatically in world affairs. Christ will judge sin, and set up His eternal kingdom. Believers are children of the Light, and will not face His wrath. God’s wrath will include times of agony and tribulation. Believers are spared this.
Knowing all of this, believers should be watching for Jesus’s return and living with that end in view, serving Him faithfully. In the meantime as we wait, the Savior’s return should inspire us to keep living for Him and working, not slacking off feeling that it won’t happen for ages. Just like that unexpected thief, it could happen at any time. Are you prepared?
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