Paul urges Christians to “children
of the light and the day.” In a
discussion about our hope, living in earnest expectation of the coming of the
Lord, he tells us to be alert, awake! This Advent season brings us again to
reflection on that great promise of all things made right, all hopes for
justice and peace realized, the fullness of our salvation revealed.
"I really don’t
need to write to you about how and when all this will happen… you know quite well that the day of the Lord
will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “All
is well; everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall upon them
as suddenly as a woman’s birth pains begin when her child is about to be born.
And there will be no escape. But you
aren’t in the dark about these things, … you won’t be surprised when the
day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you
are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness
and night.
So be on your guard,
not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for
sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light
think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as
our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through
our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us so that
we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his
return. So encourage each other and
build each other up, just as you are already doing." (1
Thessalonians 5:1-11, NLT)
The Christian life is one of great purpose. We are
participants, with all Christ’s Church, in the work of establishing His reign,
pushing back evil, as the Spirit strengthens us. It sounds like work demanding
great effort, and it is! Paul says we will not accomplish our Lord’s commission
if we’re living distracted, pleasure oriented, party lives. Inspired by God, he calls on us to be ‘sober,’
that is, to be well aware of what’s going on around us and engaged in
productive efforts to make a difference.
“But, Jerry,” you may be saying, “this is a season of joy, a
time to celebrate.” And, it is! Our celebration however is shaped by hope. We
do not ‘celebrate,’ as is so often the case, to escape the drudgery of daily
life. We rejoice because we are filled with expectation of His coming and the
assurance that our efforts are noted and will be rewarded. The Word says, “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let
nothing move you. Always give yourselves
fully to the work of the Lord, because you
know that your labor in the Lord is
not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:57-58, NIV)
Are you living like a creature of the dark, spending too
much time on trivial pursuits, drunk as it were on distractions?
Or, are you are living in Light, armored by the Spirit, and
eager for the appearance of Christ Jesus, our King?
Here’s the word from the Word. "Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have
need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive
the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will
not tarry. " (Hebrews 10:35-37, NKJV)
Encourage one another with these words.
_____________________
Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending
Lo, He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain.
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.
Every eye shall now behold Him,
Robed in glorious majesty.
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree.
Deeply wailing,
Deeply wailing,
Deeply wailing,
Shall their true Messiah see.
Yea, Amen, let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne.
Savior take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for Thine own.
Come Lord Jesus!
Come Lord Jesus!
Come Lord Jesus!
Everlasting God come down.
Charles Wesley | Henry Thomas Smart | John Cennick | Martin
Madan
© Words: Public Domain
No comments:
Post a Comment