Are You Ready? - I Thesssalonians 5:1-11

Have you ever been in the armed services, stationed over seas, on ship or in a restricted area that your family could not enter? Or have you had a son or daughter, wife or husband that served in such an assignment? If you have you will know the intensity of the anticipation on the day they are expected to return home. If you have not, you can surely use your imagination to appreciate the joy that any family feels when they are reunited after a long separation. In most cases, there is a set date of return, and there is a plan established to welcome your loved ones home. As the due date draws near the anticipation becomes more intense and you make sure that everything is ready to welcome the loved one home.

Jesus Christ finished his work on earth and left this earth behind as he ascended into heaven to complete all the preparations necessary for his believers to have a home in heaven when their work on earth is completed. The question for us to answer is: Are we ready for him to return and received his own unto himself there in our new home? There is no doubt that the most important question you will ever answer is the one used as the title of this lesson for today: “Are You Ready”—for the rapture?

Many of the writers of the New Testament refer to the ‘day of the Lord’ and in every case, they are discussing the actual time when Jesus Christ will return to this earth. He may return today; or a million years from today, NO ONE KNOWS, but HE WILL RETURN. The Lord assured his apostles that “As they would see him go away into the heavens—He would return in the same manner.” He also assured them that no one would know when that time will be. Many, if not all of the Thessalonians, assumed that he would return soon, they expected to be alive at the time of his return. This was true with the Christians in the church at Thessalonica. Paul had taught them that they should live each day in expectancy. During the time that had passed since Paul was with them, some of their Christian brothers had died, and those still living became concerned about what would happen to those who were asleep in Jesus.

In chapter four, Paul explained that those asleep in Christ would rise first and would be with Christ when he returns—and that those still living should not be concerned about their deceased friends. Then in the fifth chapter he continues by explaining that no one knows the specific day and time of Christ’s returning. Paul said that there was really no need for him to write about the time and date because Christ’s return could be compared to a thief in the night. This term ‘thief in the night’ refers to the fact that no one knows what night, or what time of the night, that a thief will come to steal. Paul indicates that these people should already know this to be a fact; he must have thought that he had already made it clear to them.

Down through the ages, even during the last century, there have been false teachers that claim to know ahead, the time and date when Christ will return. There have been times when people believed their leader to the extent that they either sold or gave every earthly thing they owned to people who did not accept the false teacher. We have read the news, and know of these actions. What we do not know is just how many people have and will suffer because of the false teaching. Personally, I believe that this false doctoring has caused the true church much damage. There are many nonbelievers who have witnessed these atrocities, and it has caused them to refuse to believe the true teachings of the bible. If these skeptics remain lost, the bible teaches that their blood will be on the hands of the false teachers.

Only the cult minded false teachers make efforts to determine the date of Christ’s return; we must not be misled by anyone who claims to know. Paul tells the Thessalonians and us that no one knows; and he also says that even the true believers will be surprised the moment He appears. The Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly like a flash of lightening. We see the lightening flash with no warning—the thunder has the lightening as a warning; but Jesus is Light and not thunder.

Listen carefully people [most especially lost people] no one knows when Jesus will come back to this earth!!! Everyone that desires to meet Him, and go with him to heaven must be ready at all times, today and every day that we live. Think hard and clearly about this matter. Let us suppose that he will return today as I write—or today as you read this—how would he find things at your house? How would he find you living? ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM? The truth is that we must be prepared to welcome Him each moment of our lives.

Please allow me to become nosey-rosy and ask you some very personal questions. Your truthful answers will give you a good barometer by which you can know if you are ready. How long has it been since you talked to him in prayer? How often do you pray? What emphasis are you placing on a] reading the bible; b] attending church; c] participating in an organized bible study; d] returning his tithe to Him; e] witnessing to the lost; f] and intercessory prayer?

What would Christ likely find you doing? Would you be] watching a dirty movie? b] reading a pornographic magazine? c] telling a dirty joke? d] spreading some juicy gossip? e] criticizing your pastor or the church? f] attending church or the country dance hall? g] This is the biggie: Would you be doing anything you like to do, even though it [in itself] is not sinful, when you really should be involved in some kind of Christ-like event that is taking place at the same time? If so it is a sin. I think that we will all agree that it is not a sin to play golf or go fishing period…But they become sinful when we are participating in order to serve our own selfish desire at a time when we have an obligation to be about our Master’s business. The bible says that we are to have no other gods before Him.

The bible uses the term “day of the Lord” to identify a ‘future time’ when Jesus Christ will intervene personally and dramatically with what ever is taking place at that moment. Two will be plowing, one will be taken and one will be left behind. Two may be in a car, driving down the interstate, one will go one will stay. A mother and her daughter may be preparing lunch; if they have been born again they will both go immediately into the presence of Christ; however, if either is a non-believer, she will remain in the kitchen to face judgment. The “day of the Lord” will include both blessing and punishment Jesus will do both—He will judge sin and set up his eternal kingdom.

Paul uses the terms day and night to refer to the condition of the person he is addressing. Day means light, and night means darkness. Since darkness is actually the absence of light; and since Jesus is the Light of the world, he uses darkness to represent anyone without Jesus in their life. We should always be alert as if it was day. He says that those who sleep [or do nothing] and those that get drunk, both are operating in the dark—that is without Christ who is the Light. He tells us again that Christians are day people [they operate in the light of Christ] and therefore we should put on the whole armor of God…and be ready for the battle against darkness or sin. Paul refers to Christians as soldiers and in that day and time soldiers wore a special individual shield of armor on each part of their bodies. Paul is telling Christians that they are fighting a spiritual war and they too must wear armor; if you want to know what each piece of armor was called and its purpose you need to go to Ephesians 6: 13 to 17.

When God created you, He had a special purpose for you to fulfill in your lifetime. One thing is for sure he did not intend that his children should suffer his wrath. His preference is that they receive salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. His wrath is reserved for those who reject him by making their own decision to live selfishly without Christ.

Christ died for one specific purpose and that was to save lost people so that we can live with him forever. Paul uses light and day to make his point. Christ is the Light of the world. Those who accept Christ are living in the day [light], and those who reject him are living in the night [darkness]. Paul congratulated the Thessalonians for encouraging each other and he makes it clear that Christians of all ages have this same responsibility to each other. In closing this lesson there is still one important question that you and I must answer daily. Are we praying for each other and do we encourage one another as often as we should? Are we living in the light of Christ? Does it get a little dark around your house? That simply means that Christ has moved out and will remain absent until you repent and ask for forgiveness. Christ is LIGHT and there can be no darkness when he is present.