Thoughts for the Day

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober..... For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In our final look at Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians we should perhaps make bold the words "the day of the Lord" in the passage above. In the Hebrew scriptures, there were three periods of time - the 'present time' which was considered wholly bad, and the 'time to come' which would be a golden age. The time between the two was called the 'day of the Lord', and it would be a terrible time when everything would be destroyed and a new world would be created. Christians in the first century applied this to the Second Coming of Jesus. They thought that it would come suddenly; it would involve upheaval throughout the world; and it would bring judgement. After 2,000 years we Christians are still waiting for this to occur!

Paul looks at the Second Coming of Jesus using imagery, that is often found in poetry and in paintings. He says the Day of the Lord will come like:

• a thief in the night.
• war, when peace has been declared.
• labour pains for a pregnant woman.

He continues, using images of dark and light. Christians are children of light, those who do not know Christ are children of the dark. Then he uses images of those who are asleep and those who are awake, and those who are drunk versus those who are sober. Today, as inheritors of the promises of Jesus, Paul reminds us to be awake and watchful, to put ourselves right with God and to trust in His promises.

Lord Jesus Christ,
as children of light
keep us awake and watchful,
not sleeping and unaware of Your return.
May we walk in Your footsteps,
and stay close to You,
trusting that all will be well
when You return to claim Your own.
Amen.