“Now, brothers and sisters, 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 labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 NIV)

“The day of the Lord” is often thought of today as the end of the world, when Jesus will come in judgement and take his people home. Although there is an application to be made for us, throughout scripture this expression was not used to indicate the end of the world. Throughout the Old Testament we find this expression used when God was coming in judgement on a nation.

It very well could be that what Paul was warning those in Thessalonica about was not the end of the world but something that was about to happen. The phrases found in these verses are similar phrases Jesus used when talking about the destruction of Jerusalem (see Matthew 24:8, 42-44. 50). We don’t realise the impact to the Roman world the fall of Jerusalem had, particularly on the Jews and the Christians. Paul was warning them that this would happen and that it would have in impact on them. They needed to be ready.

“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children 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 awake and sober. 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 sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8)

There is also a day of the Lord for which we still need to be ready. The application of these verses to our life is that Jesus will come one final time and this time it will be global. This is not something that should surprise us as we have been warned in scripture. Because of this we need to live like we believe that it is going to happen, that Jesus is coming to take us home with him. Now is the time to be active, to be telling others about Jesus, and to be making sure that we are ready.

We belong to the day not the night. Our lives must be full of faith, love, and hope. These not only characterise us but they protect us. The picture is of armour: faith and love are the breastplate, that which protects our vital organs; our hope of salvation is our helmet that protects our head. Rather than getting caught up in sin and the cares of this life we must be on guard and ready at all times.

We must not only look to ourselves but we must look out for each other, as well. We need to be encouraging each other to stay the course, to keep on going even when it is difficult. Only by remaining faithful will we each be ready to spend eternity with Jesus.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

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Readings for next week: Matthew 26-28, 1 Thessalonians 1-5