(I just noticed something interesting - you conspiracy theorists and end times date setters can make of it what you will. This is post #666 for this blog. That's right. 666. I'm sure that has some prophetic significance, right?)Jesus could come today.
Well, he could!
No, I'm not predicting it. In fact, I'm sick to death of the crazies who ignore the Scriptures that promised us that no one would know the day or the hour and keep embarrassing the church (and those of us who believe in the imminent return of Christ) with their ill-informed, anti-biblical predictions.
Paul made it pretty clear in 1 Thessalonians 5 that Jesus would come "like a thief in the night." They seldom phone ahead and set an appointment.
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
It is going to be a big surprise, that fateful day when God's end times work begins and the judgment of God is poured on in the terrible "day of the Lord."
But Paul says something strange in the next verse (4) that is confusing.
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
Wait a minute. The day is coming like a thief in the night, but we are not to be surprised as by a thief? Huh? The solution is simple. Paul was not confused. He was making an important point. You are never going to know when the end is going to come. The Early Church expected it every day, but its now been two thousand years and no Jesus. But that doesn't matter. I am supposed to live today, tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that in constant watchfulness, readiness, waiting for Jesus and living my life to the fullest. We are not to sleepwalk through life, but should be living daily in the fullness of the Spirit walking in his power. Look at verses 5 and 6.
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Keep the lights on. Be awake. Be sober. Be ready. It may be today. It may not. But when that day comes when the trumpet sounds, don't let it catch you napping. Live each day in Christ.
Paul finishes his book with a long series of short admonitions. They seem to be separated from the previous passage, and usually have a separate heading. But what if they are not completely separated? Maybe these admonitions are also a template for living in readiness in an evil world? Maybe verses 14-22 are an instruction sheet for "thief preparations" - getting yourself ready for that day when the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
That's a pretty good way to live every day as you wait for the heavens to open, the trumpet to sound, the dead in Christ to rise, then we who are alive and remain to be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air!
Father, what a day that will be! Help me to be ready every day for that day. That great and glorious day.
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