1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 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 labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
When will Jesus come and take us to be with him (the times and the seasons)? We don’t know. Jesus told us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (Mat 24:42-44). People will feel like all is well and there will be a sense of peace and security and then suddenly, destruction will come upon them. The world is like a pregnant woman waiting for labour and those unbelievers left behind will not be able to escape the labour pains of the Tribulation.
But we are not in darkness that Jesus’ arrival should surprise us. We can live in anticipation because we know that day could come at any moment. We should not be living like those who ignore the imminent return of Jesus (asleep in the night) and carry on sinning and doing shameful things that need to be hidden (get drunk at night). Instead, we should be living as those who belong to the day, sober and putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
Are you living with the expectation that Jesus will literally return at any moment? When Jesus returns will you be ready to give account for how you have lived for Him as someone who has lived in the light? Or are you more like those who are living in darkness, asleep or doing things that you prefer remain hidden? Jesus is returning soon. What change do you need to make today?