Thessalonians – Hope
Over the years of my lifetime (and that’s quite a few, now), there have been predictors of the time when life as we know it will end. They adamantly declare a special date and time. Some have followed a leader into seclusion or on a mountain top to wait for the coming of Christ on this special date and time, right down to the minute. The date comes and goes and nothing happens. How this must amuse God and make him sad at the same time. NO ONE knows. Only God.
We can even picture Jesus, at the right hand of God, saying, “Not today…Just one more day until this one comes back home…” “Just one more day…” Yes, Jesus Christ, our advocate.
Whatever your theology might be on the topic of what and when concerning the end times, let’s keep it simple. GOK…God only knows. This is found in our passage today! Live for Him now and we will live with Him forever. The WHEN doesn’t really matter, does it?
1 Thessalonians 5, The Message1-3 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.
What do we learn?
–God only knows.
–Repent and be saved by faith. Keep the faith.
–Stay alert.
–Build the faith and hope in others.
–Encourage each other.
–NO ONE will be left behind.
–Just keep doing the above.
–Rinse and Repeat.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for making this so simple. We will keep doing what you have asked us to be and do. Help us to stay alert and not fall into complacency concerning our faith. Use us to always be encouragers of the faith and hope we have in You to others around us and around the world. Thank you for this assurance today. The time is not our concern. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
15-18 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.
What do we learn?
One final thought…
1 Thessalonians 4, The Message
What do we learn?
What do we learn?
The positive influence Paul has for all people gathered in groups who love and follow Jesus is astounding. Instead of succumbing to troubles he is problem solver as he continues to proclaim Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord while encouraging those he loves by confidently telling about Jesus’ return someday. Yes, “It’s part of our calling.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
Pastors are called to love people to God because of their love for God themselves. If you wonder what that tenacious, tireless love looks like, we get a glimpse of the heart of a pastor, who is obedient to God for all the right reasons, from Paul. These people are called by God, fully devoted to God, driven by His Holy Spirit to help people find and follow Jesus, realizing the love God has for us with a goal for all, including the pastor, to stay focused on preparing for the return of Jesus. 
9-12 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn’t have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God’s Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren’t freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.
What do we learn?
The Christian faith has always been characterized by a strong and focused sense of future, with belief in the Second Coming of Jesus as the most distinctive detail. From the the day Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers lived in expectancy of his return. He told them he was coming back. They believed he was coning back. They continue to believe it. For Christians, it is the most important thing to know and believe about the future!
We would do well to affirm each other in this way among other believers. Speak words of love over each other. Build each other up specifically and sincerely. Look for the good, the “Christ in us”, and affirm each other with “I see Jesus in you when you __________” Fill in the blank with what you see in others. Pray for each other to do their best work in Christ with enthusiasm and praise for Christ, giving Him all glory and honor. 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Colossians 4, The Message
