Like a thief in the night!

1 Thessalonians 5 v 1-3 says: 'now concerning the times and the seasons brother's 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. When people are saying there is 'peace and security' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape.'

It is interesting that Paul deems the second coming of Jesus unnecessary for the church in Thessalonica to hear about but decides to include it anyway. One could conclude, perhaps, that the church of 2000 years ago were much more prepared to act as if each day is possibly the last of their lives than we are currently. It is quite possible, and relatively likely that we are still a fair way off the second coming. After all arn't there still unreached people groups and isn't there still a bit more due to happen concerning Israel. I personally tend to believe that it is the case but I might be wrong. But one thing that is absolutely misguided is to say to oneself that Jesus is a long time coming therefore I shall let my standards slip. For Matthew 24 says a great deal on the subject not least about the unfaithful master who starts to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards. It speaks of such a man that Jesus will come at an hour that he doesn't expect and will cast him out with the hypocrites where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It is therefore probably safest to live each day as if it is our last. If we wake up tomorrow morning and it is still 'business as usual' then we have lost nothing. If, however, we wake up to find that we are with Jesus then it would be wonderful to have no significant regrets. For as 2 Peter 3 v 9 says 'the Lord is not slow concerning his promise as some count slow but is patient with you desiring that all should come to repentence'. But there comes a time when even God, rich in mercy as he is, decides that the time has come and that enough is enough. It would also be wonderful to say with the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4 v 7 that we 'have fought the good fight, have run the race and have kept the faith'.

To be able to hear the Lord say to us on that day 'well done my good and faithful servant' will more than make ammends for the injustices of this current age.