Rest Or Fire

Alba 3-3-2024

REST OR FIRE

II Thessalonians 1:1-10

A father had three very active boys. One summer evening, they were playing cops and robbers in the back yard after dinner. One of the boys "shot" his father yelling, "Bang! You’re dead!"

He slumped to the ground. And when he didn’t get up right away, a neighbor ran over to see if he had been hurt in the fall. When the neighbor bent over, the overworked father opened one eye and said, "Shhh. Don’t give me away. It’s the only chance I’ve had to rest all day."

Have you been in a situation where, because of everything going on, if it were possible you would take any opportunity that you could to just rest a little? Sometimes that is not possible, so you have keep moving on, hoping that eventually you will be able to get some rest.

That was the the hope of the church in Thessalonica. And the apostle Paul wrote to tell them that God was preparing a rest for them. They were also told that a judgment of hell fire was waiting for those who were causing them trouble.

This life gives us a choice: Rest or Fire. When we trust in God we can look forward to rest. If we don't, it will be fire. The way I see it, there is really only one good choice!

The Thessalonian church needed encouragement, and the second letter that Paul writes to them begins with encouragement. It is believed to have been written no more than six months after his first letter to them. In the first ten verses of Second Thessalonians we receive the same encouragement that was given to the church there.

Let's read: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”

Rest or fire. That really is our choice. So it is good to know that:

1. God Will Give Rest

What qualifies us to receive that rest? In verse three, these people who are promised rest have two qualities that put them in line for this promise. It says that their, “faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.”

These were Christians. There are two ways it was evident in their lives. First it showed by their love for one another. It wasn't just saying words of love, it was an abounding love, a love that was increasing day by day. The greatest love ever given came from God who gave us His only begotten Son. And by faith in Him we have eternal life.

Again, these were Christians. It was also shown by their faith in Jesus. They had pledged their allegiance to Jesus Christ. He was their Lord. He was their Savior. Their lives, their way of living, had changed. In spite of opposition they knew that there was salvation in no else.

They were like the apostles when many were leaving Jesus and He asked them if they also wanted to go away. It was Peter who responded saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Are you also convinced that no one else has the words of eternal life? That Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah? That He is the Son of the Living God? It is that faith, when held against all opposition, that allows us to claim the promise of rest.