Look and Live
Christians in the early church became concerned about what happened to fellow believers who had died before Jesus returned. Paul responded by explaining the rapture. But there was another difficulty regarding the return of Christ …
… when will the event occur? This was not a new issue among followers of Jesus. Before His crucifixion, He was asked, “When will these things be?” (Mark 13:4a) And after His resurrection, He told His disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7) If the time of the appearing is unknown, it is natural to be concerned about whether anyone now alive will live to experience the event. Paul’s response (in 1 Thessalonians 5) to their questions was similar to the Lord’s: wait patiently and work hard. First, focus on the Day of the Lord—verses 1-11. Know the meaning … it is a time when God judges the world for sin, the Tribulation; and a time when Christ will personally rule the world for 1,000 years, the Millennium. Know the method … it occurs when least expected—“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’” Know the message … truth is always practical, even this one: division of believers and unbelievers; exhortation to watch and be alert; and encouragement that believers will escape God’s wrath. Who is responsible for the believer’s eternal security? God is, not us. So, we are to walk living a life of Christian service. Second, focus on the duty of a believer—verses 12-28. There are rules for church members in how they relate to one another: “recognize” … “admonish” … “esteem” are the operative words. There are also rules for individual Christians: “rejoice always” … “pray without ceasing” … “give thanks” … and be discerning. Again, wait patiently for the Lord’s return, and work hard serving Him while He’s away.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.