Don’t Get Caught With Your Pants Down

Sometimes when comparing two things we do so by saying that the difference is as day is to night. There is no similarity, opposites that even dim wit would understand.  War and Peace, Love and Hate, Happy and Sad, Light and Darkness are examples of extreme differences. We are fully aware of such opposites. 

In first Thessalonians 5, Paul mentions the difference between night and day in reference to those who are Christians, and those who are not. He warns us that a time is coming when destruction is coming upon the world and the day of the Lord, Jesus’ second coming, will surprise those who are not ready to meet him. He says, “For you yourselves (Christians) are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 

There have been times while working outside late in the day, being so caught up in what I was doing, that darkness sneaked up on me. There were tasks I could not finish. That happened to me a few times when I was a kid playing in the woods. It’s pretty scary being in the woods when it is dark. But those who are lost can’t imagine how horrifying it will be for them when Jesus comes and sudden destruction comes upon them.

Paul, speaking to the believers in Thessalonica,  writes, “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.”  Paul also mentions that God intended for all people, every person he created, to avoid the darkness and destruction. “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Now we wait for Jesus’s return. In the meantime what are we to do? I’m glad you asked. Paul gave us a to-do list while we wait. Here are some of those things.

Encourage one another and build one another up, 

Be at peace among yourselves. (Those fellow followers of Christ)

Encourage those who are struggling in the faith.

Help the weak, 

Be patient with everyone

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, 

Always seek to do good to everybody. 

Rejoice always

Pray without ceasing, 

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Do not quench the Spirit.. 

Abstain from every form of evil.