Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Thess. 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ:
- When we observe things that are shocking, frightening, or grotesquely immoral, people within the church are often heard to comment that the end of time must be near, that surely the Lord Jesus is close to coming back. This is a pious reflection upon the words of Jesus Himself regarding the signs of the end – wars, earthquakes, and famines. [Matt. 24:7]
- In our day and time far more people are unbelieving and have no inclination to connect these things with the Last Day. They don’t believe in God or take His Word seriously – and so as our text notes, that day will “surprise” them “like a thief.” God’s Word is eager, however, to insure that we are not taken by surprise. And we recognize from God’s Word that much is at stake, that unbelievers will have no chance at repentance and salvation when the day arrives.
- Within the church there has always been a tension in regard to eagerly awaiting “the great day of the Lord,” and tending to the common earthly duties that are required to maintain life in this world. In the Gospel reading, Jesus indicates that His servants are to be living a full, busy, and productive life – especially in regard to His doing His will. However, we are all aware of how concern for earthly things can bring us back into the darkness, where we lose any concern for the fact that this world is headed for a cataclysmic end on “THE DAY OF THE LORD.”
- So it is important for us to learn and to remain mindful in regard to the “times and the seasons,” and the reality of Christ’s return in glory, so that when Christ does come again we may hear His commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . Enter into the joy of your Master.”
- It may be somewhat surprising to us, in view of what Jesus informs us of regarding the “signs” of the end, that:
I. The Day Of The Lord Will Come Unexpectedly, In What Most People Will Consider Good Times
Text: “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.”
Statement: What we need to remember is that there is no way to know precisely when Jesus will return. You remember His own words: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” [Matt. 24:36-39]
Application: We might think that this is a negative, that we will not have precise warning, but it is not so. Instead, it requires us at all times to be vigilant in our life of repentance and faith and love, and in tending to the work and responsibilities that the Lord has given us. Our lazy sinful nature might object to this, but it is good that our sinful nature has this curb – so that we do not drift into loveless abuse of our neighbors and into impenitence and unbelief. So, even when we are observing that there is growing evil in the world, war and natural disturbances, we also need to be aware that Jesus will return in glory at a time when most people think everything is good, with peace, prosperity, and security. So let us beware, for:
II. The Day Of The Lord Will Bring Sudden Destruction Upon The Worldly Minded, The Impenitent And Unbelieving, And There Is No Escape
Text: “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.”
Statement: One of the worst delusions that we are afflicted with is the firm belief in our power and ability to dictate and determine how things will turn out for us. Among the unbelieving is the certainty that regardless of what other people think God might do to them, or that even if there is a God Who thinks that He will cast them “into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” that they will surely be able to escape and to determine something different for themselves. Alas, it simply is not so. And that this optimism in our power is delusional, is emphasized to us at many times and in many ways in this life – especially in aging, illness, injury, and death.
Application: The reality of this – and the importance of us keeping this reality firmly in mind and believing it, that the unbelieving cannot escape God’s judgment – determines two things for us. First, that we pay close attention to our own life of repentance and faith, so that we are fully prepared for “THE DAY OF THE LORD.” Second, that we do all that we can here and now to warn others and to encourage them to repentance and to the gracious mercy, forgiveness, and clemency of God in Christ Jesus. If we don’t believe that there is no escape, we will have little or no compulsion to be keeping close leash on ourselves, and to be warning others. This is much like the servant who “buried” what was entrusted to him by the Master! And it didn’t turn out well for him.
Transition: But our text encourages us not to allow this to happen, by assuring us that:
III. Believers Are Not Destined For The Wrath Of God On That Day, But Rather To Salvation By God’s Grace – In Christ’s Death On The Cross For Our Sin And Guilt
Text: “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.”
Statement: This is the joyous assurance given to believers in Christ Jesus. “He that believes the Son has everlasting life . . . and shall not come into condemnation but has passed from death to life.” [Jn. 3:36; Jn. 5:24]
Application: It is this assurance, this reality of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and gift of eternal life that moves and compels us to fruitful and productive lives that are fully prepared for “THE DAY OF THE LORD.” And it is only in this assurance, living in daily assurance of God’s love, that we are moved to courage and joy and faithfulness to God. And so our text encourages us:
IV. In View Of God’s Love And His Gift Of Salvation, Let Us Live As Children Of Light
A. In Continuing Repentance And Faith – Knowing We Have Been Delivered From God’s Wrath
B. Living A Sober Life Protected By Faith, Love, And Hope Of Salvation
Text: “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.”
C. Continuing To Encourage And Build Up Each Other In The Fellowship Of God’s People, The Church
Text: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Statement: It is faith and knowledge of God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy that protects and prepares us to live a fruitful life as “children of the day.” One might even say that those who live in repentance, faith, and love are children of “THE DAY OF THE LORD,” for such a life is commensurate with what is coming, and is a visual demonstration of what is soon to come to us, the very blessings of the kingdom of God.
Application: This is far more important than knowing the day, or trying to discern from the things around us when it is “time” to begin getting serious about our life as children of God. No, it is already time to be serious – God has already entrusted us with His gifts and resources, and has already commissioned us to be productive until He returns. And really, what could be more blessed and enjoyable anyway?
Conclusion: So whether we are observing and contemplating things that are shocking, frightening, and grotesquely immoral, or whether everything looks good – there is peace, prosperity, security, people around us “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,” let us always be mindful of “THE DAY OF THE LORD.”
Let us give ourselves to living as children of light – for we know that our Master is not a “hard man,” but gracious and kind, merciful, loving, and generous. This is what He wills for His children to be, for us to be. Then “DAY OF THE LORD” will be full of wondrous joy for us! And this is His will for us, what He has destined us for! Thanks and praise be to God, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.