For you are all sons of light and sons 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. - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
There is nothing wrong with growing old and dying. The problem is too many people die and then grow old. "Some people die at 30; but are not buried until 60." - George Bernard Shaw.
Losing your memory and staying alive for a long time is not a bad thing, but losing your spiritual life while staying alive for a long time is.
You can pray like this in your prayers, "Ageless God, Deliver me, from dying the spiritual life and then growing old. O God, let me grow both spiritually and physically, not just grow old. Let me grow and stay awake and not cause you grief."
To die and then grow old -- to just go to sleep. This morning, we are talking about "The Day is Not For Sleeping". The days of life.
Listen to our text again. Verses 5 and 6 of I Thessalonians: "For you are all sons of light and sons 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."
It's all going to be a surprise. People will talk about peace and security, and destruction will come upon them. Paul uses the words waking and sleeping, and in two different ways. First, he uses waking to express physical life, and sleeping to express physical death. But then, the other way that he uses it has to do with the moral attitude of Christians. To be awake means watchfulness -- to be asleep means apathy.
So, in the verses that we are focusing on -- verses five and six -- he calls us "not sleep as do others, but to watch and be sober."
So, we are using the term as Paul used it in this particular section -- apathy, drowsiness, dumbness, as opposed to alertness, watchfulness, wakefulness, and we are [What is the warning for Christians to stay awake?] sounding the warning that "the day is not for sleeping." Christians are to be awake.
Today, I would like to teach you about some important days. It's easy to fall asleep -- at every level of our life. In this chapter Paul is mentioning some important days. We need to be aware of the days, so let’s meditate on them one by one. Psalmist praying like this, “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” - Psalm 90:12
1. The Day of the Lord:
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. - 1 Thessalonians 5:2
Paul begins by saying that he should not have to spend time writing to the Thessalonians about the "times and the seasons" (1 Thessalonians 5:1). Nobody knows the time of God, the God who comes among us like a thief in the night. Thieves do not normally call ahead to announce their impending visit. Instead, they strike without warning when we are unprepared or have neglected to take proper precautions.
Paul is talking about the Second Coming of Christ. He has reminded the Thessalonians that as to the times and the seasons for that Second Coming, they don't need to have him write about it. Because he says to them in verse 2: "For you yourselves know well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."
Last week we also meditated on the coming of the Lord from chapter 4:16. Paul answered by saying, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
We don’t know the day of Christ's return! Jesus answered himself in Mark 13:32, But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. The Bible says, when they say, “Peace and safety!” Then sudden destruction comes upon them, and they shall not escape. -v3) (Rev.3:3, 16:15, 2 Peter 3:10)
Paul pronounces good news for us, that nothing shall separate us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39).
2. The Day of Light:
You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. - 1 Thessalonians 5:5
In this portion, the Apostle Paul says that “you are the sons of the day”. He tells us there are two kinds of people, but it has nothing to do with our sleep patterns. Paul calls these two kinds of individuals people of the day and people of the night.
People of the day and people of the night. People of the light and people of the darkness. People of character and reckless people without self-control. People who live in expectation of Christ’s coming and people who live as if there is no tomorrow. Two kinds of people.
God has called us out of darkness and into God's wonderful light. Paul assures the Thessalonians and us that God has chosen us "for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The word of God is the good news that salvation has already been accomplished. We are called to spread the good news to those who don't know it.
And then Paul talks about hope. Hope is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. It changes the way we respond to others and to life's crises. When a loved one dies, we automatically mourn or grieve ourselves. Our grief is appropriate, but it is changed by the knowledge that death has been conquered by Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus said, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).
Paul compares the christian life to a soldier preparing for war. He writes, “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.” - Thessalonians 5:8. Always be ready and prepared to enter the Kingdom of God.
3. The Day of Wrath:
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
Dear friends, God did not appoint us for the day of wrath. Paul answered the same questions of the church of Thessalonica by saying in 1 The. 1:10. We are waiting for our Lord Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. God sent His son to save us, not to condemn us. The Bible says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17). He loved us and gave himself to us by offering and sacrificing to God to save us. Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Amen. (Psalm 2:12)
There is only one thing that will keep us awake as Christians -- that's a vision of our calling as disciples. Listen to verses 9 to 10 of our scripture lesson: "For God has not designed us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with Him.” He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
The Cross is there -- do you see it. "Who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live for Him." That's the vision that will keep us awake.
The vision of Christ -- dying for us -- giving himself in total love. That's the vision that will keep us awake. Paul says, He died for us, so that we live for him, therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thes. 5:11). And Paul continually speaks in this chapter ‘be at peace among yourselves.’
4. The Days of Peace/Exhortation:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23
In this scripture verse Paul mentions our three parts of life. Spirit, soul, and body. He is urging the people of Thessalonica and us to be prepared at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And let your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He assures us that he who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. He may establish our hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints.
"Recently a young man in his twenties was dying in an Atlanta hospital. He had AIDS. And believe it or not, his own pastor was so afraid of the disease that he wouldn't even go into the room to see the man. He actually stood outside the door , and yelled in a prayer while the young man was dying.
"Well, fortunately, another pastor heard a young female pastor who was still in seminary there in Atlanta about the situation and she got in her car and rushed to the hospital and went right up to the young man's room. He was barely breathing. And so the young woman went to his bed and pulled up a chair and cradled his head in her arms. And she sang and quoted scripture and prayed, more, and more, then the young man died.
"A few days later when the woman was back at the seminary, one of her colleagues said, "Weren't you scared? He had AIDS!" And she said, "Of course I was scared”. And the young woman simply replied, "I just imagined that if Jesus had received the call, he would have done the same thing." (Dr. Norman Neaves, "And Nobody Picked Up a Stone!", April 1, 1990).
Conclusion:
Well, what about you and me? The only thing that is going to keep us awake as Christians is to know who we are as disciples of Jesus. For Jesus died that whether we wake or sleep we might live with Him.
Paul writes, Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 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. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Will you be watchful and sober rather than asleep and apathetic? The Day of the Lord is soon. God will come whether you are prepared or not. Take the time to meditate His words, for you do not know the day of Christ’s return. Build a character of self-control, and do not be reckless. Believe in the truth and spread the good news to those who haven’t heard. Stay awake for the One who died for us that we may sleep in Him. Fill your hearts with holiness and lead a blameless life. Are you ready for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Amen.
