But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

    1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

It’s true! While the world continues on their course, the day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night.” While the world is longing for “peace and safety,” the day will come and there will be no escape for the ungodly. And while that sounds like a “doomsday” report, it actually should be something for us to look forward to. Why? Paul addresses that in today’s portion of the passage.

We look forward to eternity because, as born again believers in Jesus Christ, this world is not our home. In fact, we are just passing through on the way to our true home…and it’s one that is perfect and has no end (1 John 2:17). But the reason that we, as believers, don’t dread the day of the Lord, but rather we embrace it and look forward to it, is that the day will not “overtake us like a thief.” The reason for this is that we, in Christ, are all “sons of light and sons of day.” We are “not of night nor of darkness.” 

In the eyes of God, there are only two types of people in the world…those who are saved, belonging to Christ, and those who are not. Those who belong to Christ have the Spirit of God living within them. Those apart from Christ do not. Going to the scripture assists us in cutting through all of the religious noise. Consider the words of Jesus:

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God (done by God).”

      John 3:19-21

Jesus is the Light of the world! How blessed you are if you can, from your heart, make that declaration! But mankind, in our natural state, hates the Light for our deeds are evil. Those outside of Christ, having yet to be born again and receive the Spirit of God, will not come into the Light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. This is the primary reason why so many people avoid church, the Bible, and other Christians. These people, as Paul says in today’s passage, are “of night and darkness.” But born again believers in Jesus love the Light and are not afraid to step into the Light because we want everyone to know that our lifestyles are not our own rather they are evidence of God’s saving power. So, Paul reminds us that we are of the light and of the day. This is why the day of the Lord will not catch us off guard rather it is a time in which all believers are looking forward to. 

There are two instructions given to us, as Christians, regarding that day and our lives in general and they are both characteristics of a transformed life in Christ. First, “let us not sleep as others do.” “Sleep” can take on the literal and figurative sense. But when we see the concept of “sleep” in the Bible, it is usually pointing to the figurative. As human beings, we all need literal sleep. This is the way that God has designed us. But Paul is referring to being “spiritually” awake. Christians should not live their lives spiritually asleep as does the rest of the unbelieving world. In fact, we are called to “awaken.” Consider the following:

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:6-10

There are a lot of false teachers in our world today. That is why Paul tells us not to deceive by “empty words.” But notice what’s next. “Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” This is a reference to the unbelieving world. The day will come and it will come “like a thief in the night” for those living in disobedience but for us, those who belong to Christ, we are not to walk around in spiritual darkness as the rest of the world. The Bible reminds us to be different, to not be partakers with the rest of the world. Why? Because, although we were formerly darkness, we are now “Light in the Lord.” And because of this spiritual transformation that has taken place in our lives, we are to live differently from the world. We are to live as “children of Light.” This passage goes on:

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 

          Ephesians 5:11-13

Again, we see that we are not to participate in deeds of darkness labeled “unfruitful.” As Christians, we are to even expose the deeds of darkness. Everything done in secret will eventually be exposed when it is brought into the light. “The wrath of God coming upon the sons of disobedience” and “it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret” is not compatible with the “positive vibe” that the world seeks after. No wonder those is darkness, with lifestyles in complete rebellion against God, will not come into the Light. There simply can be no partnership, fellowship, or agreement when it comes to the things of Christ and the things of the devil (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). The passage goes on:

For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:14-16

As Christians, our calling is to be a people that are “awake.” Our depraved and sinful culture tries to use similar speak to advocate complete and total rebellion against godliness but it always falls flat, revealing that they are not “awake” rather they are walking in spiritual darkness, spiritually blind, and without hope apart from Christ. 

The second instruction given to us parallels the idea of being spiritually awake. “Let us be alert and sober.” The concept of being “alert” is an obvious one. Being “sober” can, again, take on the literal and the figurative. Several places in scripture, we are told to be on the alert and to be sober. Here are a few:

So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…

      Ephesians 5:17-18

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith…

    1 Peter 5:8-9a

“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’”

Mark 13:33-37

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good…

        Titus 2:2-3

You get the idea! As Christians, our lives should look completely different from the rest of the world. We are to live in the Light of God’s Word. We are to be awake, sober, and alert. The day of the Lord will not catch us off guard because we are living our lives for the kingdom of God and understand that He will eventually judge all of the sin in our world. Yet, for those who belong to Christ, there will be no condemnation (Romans 8:1). 

As I write this today, we are getting word of more unrest in the Middle East. This is something that has been going on throughout my entire life and, if you are reading this, your life as well. These things will continue until the day of Christ’s return. But what a tremendous opportunity we have, as believers, to live lives that are abundantly blessed and rise above the darkness and depravity that defines our modern culture. I hope that you are enjoying daily fellowship with the Lord and that you are looking forward to that day when He will set all things right!

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…

                  Ephesians 5:15-18