[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]Although the Bible does tell us that Jesus is coming as a thief in the night, it also reveals to us that His own children aren’t supposed to be shocked and surprised by it. I’ll deal with this more as you read on, but suffice it to say that as the children of light, we are not supposed to be caught off guard as others will be.[/x_custom_headline]
[x_blockquote cite=”Matthew 24:42-44 NASU” type=”left”]“42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”[/x_blockquote]
The obvious point the Lord Jesus is making here is that had a person been properly prepared before a thief arrived, they would not be caught off guard and been ripped off.
In other words, they went to bed thinking that this night would be just like every other night, and failed to prepare themselves. Those who live their lives with a “business as usual” mentality have made no preparation for the Lord’s soon return.
The world is not watching for Jesus soon return, which will set in motion the seven year Tribulation Period, but unfortunately neither are most Christians. And because these believers are failing to be “on the alert,” as Jesus instructed us to do, they will be caught off guard when the rapture occurs.
[x_blockquote cite=”1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 KJV” type=”left”]“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”[/x_blockquote]
Sadly, the world has the mistaken idea that peace and safety will be how things will “turn out” in their lives, because they think it always does eventually. However, they are not factoring in that their ungodly lifestyles and their rejection of Jesus and His Word, have repercussions that will soon catch up with them during the Tribulation Period. No one will be exempt!
In fact, notice that it is sudden destruction that will come upon them, and not peace and safety at all. Something else to notice is that Paul uses the example of labor pains as with a woman with child to describe the Day of the Lord. But in this case, it won’t be something wonderful or beautiful that is born. Instead their sinful lifestyle will come to full term.
But to get back to my original point, we must also notice that those believers who are living right, and walking in the light as He is in the light, won’t be caught off guard at all. Instead, from the above passage of scripture we can see that Jesus is coming like a thief in the night to those who are not ready, not to everyone.
The more we live right and stay in the Word, the more in tune we will be to the things of God and the happenings in the Spirit. This is true, because as the scriptures tell us, we are the children of light!
To walk in darkness you would have to purposefully extinguish your light. And those who walk in darkness have allowed themselves to be lulled to sleep through their ignorance of what is soon to occur on this earth, not to mention their eternal destination.
It is also important to point out here that “sleeping” in chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, was a reference to Christians who have died. But here in chapter five, it is a reference to those who are not vigilant, alert and watchful. One writer stated, “The vigilant Christian is neither slack nor self-indulgent in matters of darkness.”
[highlight]Many people today are asleep when they should be diligently watching. And many people today are drunk with their self-indulgence, when they should be using self-control.[/highlight]
The concept of “drunkenness” in this passage is simply a representation of godless behavior. And as I am sure you can also attest, there are far too many people who are now completely intoxicated with the attractions of the world. However, sober thinking Christians are not being sucked in to the deceitfulness of the world and its ways.
Make sure you are clear on this: You cannot fellowship with darkness, and walk in darkness, and still be ready for the Rapture of the Church.
Jesus is soon to catch His Church away. Are you ready?
Stay out of darkness, and live your life as the children of light!
