Ready Or Not He Will Come

in our reading this morning continues with these words:

(Reading 2) BIBLE (5:3-5) When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! ‎But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. END

Paul often refers to the Second Coming of Christ as the (P) "Day of the Lord."

Throughout scripture the "Day of the Lord" was the designation of that latter time when God would pour out His wrath on the ungodly.

After Jesus comes for His people, Our Lord will begin to pour out His judgments upon them; in a time which is often referred to as the “Great Tribulation.”

The tragedy of this day is that so many, so many will be unprepared.

And not only will they be unprepared (P) they will actually be deceived. And they will be actively deceiving others as they proclaim we have "Peace and Safety."

Many will be convinced that there is no danger when in fact destruction (P) the end is near.

We must live daily with an Attitude of Watchfulness.
Hear Gods Word to us:

(Reading 3) BIBLE (5:6-7) So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep; sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. END

Much As a soldier is commanded to "Stay alert while on his post”, so must we as Christians.

Paul instructs us to watch (P) “gregario” which means to stay awake (P) be vigilant.

Beloved (P) His command is in the present tense which means this must be a continual practice of the mature Christian.

It is a matter of attitude. (Pause)

A Roman soldier would be put to death for falling asleep on his watch.

The outcome could be just as fatal for those who are not constantly on alert.

We as disciples must be Disciplined in our walk .

We are image bearers of the Lord and should be diligent in that calling .

Disciples know who they are in Christ.

Disciples seek to be conformed into the image of Christ.

Paul is warning us that we must not allow anything invade our lives that will be harmful to our moral alertness.

Just as an overabundance of alcoholic will inhibit a person’s ability to focus and make wise decisions.

So Sin will affect one’s ability to make moral and Spiritual decisions.
A person does not become drunk with just one drink.

Slowly the drinker becomes intoxicated.

A point is reached when all of the senses become blurred.

You become a danger to yourself as well as to others.

In the same way,(P) if we do not control sin in our lives, we could soon be overcome by its effects.

As a drunk is often passed out and oblivious to the world; so too the uncontrolled sinner Spiritually passed out and oblivious to the workings of the flesh and of the evil one.

We must live daily in the light in obedience to God’s word.

(Reading 4) (5:8) BIBLE But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. END

We must be prepared. We must be prepared at all times. (Pause)
During WWII there was a seamen who served on a small submarine chaser in the South Pacific.

While on the ship one