Always Ready For Anything - January 9

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

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.

Reflect

What should Christians be doing to make sure that we are ready for the day of the Lord?

Why do you always lock the doors to your house before you go to bed? Why do so many people buy expensive camera systems to secure their homes or participate in neighborhood watch programs? Well, because we know that thieves exist and they don’t announce when they’re planning to strike. If you knew when thieves were going to break in, you could be prepared to protect your home at the specified time and you could let your guard down the rest of the time. But we all know it doesn’t work that way. We have to be ready for anything all the time.

In today’s verses, Paul compared the coming day of the Lord to a thief in the night. We have to be ready for anything all the time because no one knows when that day is going to arrive. The Thessalonians wanted more details to help them understand when this day was coming. But Paul told them that there is no need for anyone to write to them about this—they already know full well that the day of the Lord will be sudden and unexpected.

The Thessalonians weren’t alone in wanting more information about end time events. In both Old Testament and New Testament history, people have asked when these things were going to occur. We see this question in Daniel 12:6 in the Old Testament, for example. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples also asked when the end of the age would be. It’s important to note that Jesus responded with signs of the end of the age (Matthew 24:4-51) but He never gave them a date or a time. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus was clear: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Even today, many false prophets claim to have the inside scoop on the coming day of the Lord. But we don’t have to fall prey to those false teachings. We can automatically write the predictions off as faulty. But that doesn’t mean we should kick back, relax, and let our guards down assuming that we have all the time in the world.

Jesus used the thief in the night imagery before Paul did. He told His disciples, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:42-44).

We aren’t supposed to spend our time with useless speculations or being preoccupied with end time predictions. While the Lord is away, His disciples shouldn’t play. Rather, we should continue to live faithfully, obediently, and expectantly so that whenever our Master comes, He will find us to be faithful and wise servants (Matthew 24:45-46). We have to be ready for anything all the time!

Respond

Lord, I know that You are coming soon but suddenly and unexpectedly. Help me to rest peacefully in the knowledge that Your return could be any day now. I don’t have to be anxious about it but I also shouldn’t be apathetic and careless either. Help me be Your faithful and obedient servant while I wait. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Reveal

Do you know anyone overly concerned or preoccupied with the end time events? What encouragement can you share with them from today’s Bible reading?