Ready or Not

 

“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 ESV

 

The end will one day come. Jesus will one day return. And this will be a time of blessing for believers in Jesus.  But, at the same time, it will be a time of judgment for those who do not trust in him.

 

However, that being said, we don’t know when this will take place. Jesus stated very clearly that no one knows the day nor the hour of his return. And, for this reason, he taught that we must we watchful. He taught that we must anticipate his coming.

 

What we do know is that it will be sudden. Paul, in the above passage, tells us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. He compares it to labor pains coming upon a pregnant woman. When people feel that all is well, when they believe that they are secure, this day will abruptly come upon them.

 

That being said, there is a distinction between believers and unbelievers in this regard. We are not in darkness for that day to startle us. Even though Christians are equally unaware of when the Lord will return, his coming should not surprise us.

 

It should not surprise us because we are expecting it. It should not surprise us because we are watching for it. It should not surprise us because the return of Jesus is our hope.

 

We long for it as, at that time, our sinful nature will be no more. We long for it as, at that time, the consequences of sin will be a thing of the past. And we long for it as it marks the beginning of an eternity in the presence of the Lord.

 

Unbelievers, however, will be caught completely off guard. When they feel that all is right with the world, sudden destruction will come upon them. When they feel that they have all they need, the wrath of God will fall upon them.

 

Trusting in Jesus, then, we will remain watchful. We’ll anticipate the Lord’s return with a confident expectation. We’ll long for that day because of the blessing it will bring.

 

It will also motivate us to share the gospel with those who are perishing. It will motivate us to share our hope with those who have none. It will motivate us to do so that they also might look to Jesus in faith and receive the grace and mercy available to all who believe in him.