Living as a Lighthouse
February 18th, 2007
1 Thess 4:13-5:11
An Eye on the Horizon
In 1879 The greatest annual loss of life in the New England fisheries occurred, with 29 vessels and 249 fishermen lost at sea.
During that year many women found themselves on lonely widow walks with and eye on the horizon hoping for the return of their loved one.
A widow’s walk (or roofwalk) is a railed rooftop platform, typically on a coastal house, originally designed to observe vessels at sea. The name comes from the wives of mariners who would watch for their spouses to return. In some instances, the ocean took the lives of the mariners, leaving the women as widows; who would often thereafter gaze out to sea wishing beyond hope that their loved ones would return home and hence the name widow’s walk was born.
T.S. Whenever I see a widow’s walk I am reminded of a profound truth that Paul relates to the Thessalonians. A part of living as a lighthouse entailed keeping your eye on the Horizon; to be watching for the return of the Forgiver.
LIVING AS A LIGHTHOUSE ENTAILS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE HORIZON
T.S. Living with our eye on the horizon entails fullfiling two commands.
First, He challenges us not to be unaware.
I. Don’t be Ignorant About the Return
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
This is a hot tip. Insider information.
This truth holds a secret to be discovered that will set us apart as lighthouses evening in the most difficult times, the loss of loved ones. It will be the envy of others.
Katie Couric, NBC’s Today show host, lost her husband, 42, to colon cancer in 1998 following a six-month battle. She also experienced the death of her sister almost four years later. Katie shared with an interviewer about an inner yearning:
"I’m very interested in exploring a more spiritual side of me, and I’m in the process of doing that, both formally and informally. I really envy those who have a steadfast, unwavering faith, because I think it’s probably so comforting and helpful during difficult times."
T.S. Paul doesn’t want us to miss the importance of this insider tip—The Forgiver will Return
A. It is prescribed
15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
We don’t know everything about his return, scholars have argued for years about certain aspects of the Forgiver’s Return. Paul isn’t giving us an exhaustive treatise on the subject. BUT he does tell us some significant things.
--Lord Himself—the Forgiver
--Intentional (loud command)
--Celestial (beyond anything we can imagine)
--Ordered
--Culminating event
--Time is unknown
5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
The unexpected surprise of the event is the key element. We can never know when it will occur.
Imagine a Surprise party that is not on your birthday, your anniversary or any other date of significance. Imagine that it is the greatest party that you’ve ever attended. It is the party of all parties.
That is the idea stressed by Paul.
The forgiver will return and it will be a jubilant surprise.
C. Its hope is an encouragement
D.
4:18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Encouragement is used in two different ways in this passage. This is the first time Paul tells us to encourage one another with the truth that the Forgiver is returning.
Here it bears the idea of coming along side another in their time of difficulty darkness or crisis and we gently join with them in their grief while holding fast to the truth that even in the face of death this is not the end.
For this use of encouragement I love this picture.
LIVING A AS LIGHTHOUSE ENTAILS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE HORIZON
T.S. Living with our eye on the horizon entails fullfiling two commands. Not being ignorant of the truth of His retrun and then living accordingly.
II. Live Accordingly
5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.
This is a picture of Cheryl’s brother Bill when he worked for Friendly’s Rrestaurants about 25 years ago he was taking the garbage out one night when a man told him put his hands up. Bill was so surprised by the event, not even thinking it could be a hold up, he reached out and grabbed the man’s arm. “When the man asked, “what are you doing?” Bill looked down and saw the gun.” He immediately let go and raised his hands. He had been totally surprised by a thief and it could have cost him his life.
Bill could not have know what night a thief would be at the door, but he should have been aware that it could happen any night and he should have been acting accordingly. That is the way it is with the lord’s return
A. Avoid a surprise
3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
In the USCG I once spent a week at the NYPD search and firearm training course. There were taught how to search building a dship a compartment when we were expecting arm perpetrators.
We walked in a shooting crouch with weapons drawn. We proceeded with caution, expecting a surprise encounter at any moment.
T.S. That is the attitude Paul challenges us to have concern how we should live waiting for the Forgiver’s Return.
B. Reflect the relationship
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
The decisions we make should reflect the relationship we have we the forgiver.
Imagine that you are a stamp collector, and that over the years you have collected a large number of very valuable stamps.
Now imagine your house on fire. You are inside with your dog, your faithful companion for the last five years. He’s kenneled in the basement barking for help, the stamp collection is locked upstairs in a closet you have time to save one. Which do you save? For those of you who said the Dog, you understand that the relationship you have with the dog dictates that you choose to save it.
Paul indicates that our relationship with the forgiver dictates how we live as we wait for his return. Are you living that way.
C. Challenge Each other
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
For a second time Paul states that we are to encourage one another, but this time it is a different picture., It is the picture of a coach at our side challenging us to live right, do the right things, keep the right form.
It like how a physical therapist helps clients learn to live after surgery or an accident. To challenge each other with loving firmness to live accordingly as we wait for the forgiver.
SUMMARY
LIVING AS LIGHTHOUSE ENTAILS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE HORIZON
That means living with the awareness that the Forgiver will return and we should be live accordingly as we wait.
CHALLENGE
We measure our readiness by how the truth of his return impacts our living together.
Encourage One Another
Who in your life is impacted by your belief and hope in the coming of the Forgiver?
Who will be your 4:18 and 5:11?
My 4:18___________________________
My 5:11___________________________
