When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine…

(Written by Bart Millard, Sung by Mercy Me)

Paul is not only helping us to imagine when that Day comes, when Jesus returns, but led by God’s Holy Spirit, he teaches us who we are in Jesus with how to prepare for the coming of Christ—who we say we believe!

We are human creatures of order and habit formed by living in this world.  Even as believers, we often think we are in control of everything that surrounds our lives—until we are not and our world is turned upside down in circumstances beyond our control.  Instead of thinking, “What in the world just happened to me” we must turn our hearts to another world waiting to embrace us and teach us another way of thinking.  It is called Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is a different world that can only be entered into by the invitation of the nail-scarred hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  Because of God’s great love, demonstrated through His Son, ALL are invited!  When we accept Jesus and Savior and Redeemer and Remover of our sins; we begin to live a new life of following Jesus as Lord.  In doing so, we enter a new world of thought, words, and actions.  We discover that Kingdom of God thinking is higher than our thinking and love goes deeper than we can imagine.  We soon see that this unlimited depth of love that God has for us begins to spill over into all our relationships.  We love greater with less judgment.  Yes, Kingdom of God ways of thinking and behaving bring out God’s best in us as we look for the best in others! 

As sons of Light and daughters of Day we seek God first as a new habit and revel in His ways as His perfect love is being formed in us, a love that saved us from darkness!  Because of this new love of God, we begin to love others in the same ways He loved us! Imagine it!  Live it! 

God’s Holy Spirit, our extreme Helper, works daily in our surrendered hearts to transform our thinking and behaving with Kingdom of God ways to respond to God and others.  To imagine what it would be like to stand before the Son as sons of Light and daughter of Day, it helps greatly to listen to God’s word and learn how to prepare for the Day Christ returns.  In this preparation, we come alive in Christ!  Bonus!

And He IS coming back…count on it!

1 Thessalonians 5, The Message

^1-3 I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

^4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

^9-11 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

The Way He Wants You to Live

^12-13 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

^13-15 Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

^19-22 Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

^23-24 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!

^25-27 Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don’t leave anyone out.

²⁸ The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul’s advice and teaching is very practical and clear. This is how to live and respond as sons of Light and daughters of Day;

• Keep eyes open and be smart.  Live as believers in Jesus!  Follow Truth.
• Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. Jesus’ death and resurrection triggered new life—and forever life—for us!  Live it!
• Speak encouraging words that build hope in Jesus!
• Honor leaders called of God with overwhelming love and appreciation.
• Get along with each other—it’s the healthiest way to live!  Here’s how: Encourage the stragglers, reach out to the exhausted, be patient with each other, see a need and do what you can to help, avoid snapping at each other when frustrated.  It makes God smile when His kids get along!
• Look for the best in each other—not the worst.
• “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens.”   

“This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.”

Our prayer, Lord, for all who believe and call on your Name.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!