As a child I really enjoyed playing... hide and go seek.
I loved it ...no matter if ...I was the one hiding ... trying not to get caught, ... or if I was the one seeking; ......who was trying to catch those hiding... unexpectedly.
Although I have not played in quite some time, ......I do remember ... that the seeker, ......was called ...the "It".
And ... The "It" ......would close their eyes ...and count to 20 ...... giving time ... for the others to hide.
As you were hiding ... you could hear the count, "One Mississippi ... Two Mississippi" ......All the Way ......To 20 Mississippi.
Then you would heed the cry, ....... Ready or not here I come."
Now...Four things ...were always certain ...in the game:
(1 Finger) - The "It" was surely coming
(2nd Finger) - The "It" ... was coming ... when they were good and ready ....and not before
(3rd Finger) - The "It" was coming .... whether you were ready or not
(4th Finger) - And If you were not ready, .... then you ... would pay the consequences.
Little did I realize as a child ...how much this game of hide and seek ......paralleled the return ...... The Second Coming ... of Jesus Christ. (Long Pause)
Paul exhorted the church at Thessalonica ... and us today ... the importance ...of being ready.
Hear Paul's words to the believers gathered in Thessalonica.
BIBLE "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well of that the day." END (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)
Beloved ... The return ... the Second Coming of Jesus Christ ... is one of the most repeated teachings ... in all of Scripture.
Paul was well aware of Christ's return ... and he shared ... this truth ... to the believers gathered in Thessalonica.
As a matter of fact, ... Paul told them ... that he should not have to remind them about this truth ... again.
Christ would return ... the fact is obvious ... it is a certainty. (Pause)
It is much like the story of a tourist driving through West Texas ... who stopped at a gas station.
He observed a piece of rope dangling from a sign labeled ... "Weather Forecaster."
The tourist was curious and asked ......... "How can you possibly tell the weather ... with a piece of rope?"
"It's simple, Sonny," ... was the droll answer.
"When the rope swings back and forth, ... it's windy.
When it gets wet, ... it's raining.
When it's frozen stiff, ... and it has white stuff on it ... well ... it is snowing, And when it's gone... tornado!"
There are simply some things ... that ... should be obvious ... without even asking.
And ... The return of Jesus Christ ... is one of those things.
The Scriptures inform us that the Messiah will return how? "...as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
The question is not ...... "If Jesus will return?" ... but "When he will return?"
And ... Paul answers this question ... with a very clear response, ... "No one knows."
Paul explains this ... by describing the time of Jesus return ... as ... A thief in the night.
Just as a thief plans his entry at an uncertain time ... that is ... when least expected ..., so it will be ... with the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus Himself ... proclaims this truth ... as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Slow) BIBLE "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." END (Matthew 24:35)
Later in the Gospel Jesus shares this warning) (Slow) BIBLE "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him." END (Matthew 24:44)
Paul in our reading this morning continues with these words:
BIBLE "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 (1 Thessalonians 5:3-5)
Paul often refers to the Second Coming of Christ as the ... "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 returns, ... He 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 ... we are told 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 ... is at the doorstep ... the end is near.
Beloved ... We must live daily ... with an Attitude of Watchfulness ... with an attitude of readiness.
Hear Gods Word to us: BIBLE "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 (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7)
Much As a soldier is commanded to ... "Stay alert while on his post", ... so to ... must we as Christians.
Paul instructs us to watch ... "gregario" which means to stay wide awake ... be vigilant.
Beloved ... The command ... to watch ... is in the present tense ... which means ... this state of being vigilant ... must be a continual practice ... of every 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 Jesus.
Paul is warning us ... that we must not allow anything to 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.
Until A point is reached ... when all of the senses ...become blurred.
And You become a danger ... to yourself ... as well as ... to others.
Much In the same way, ... if we do not control sin in our lives, ... we could soon be overcome ...by its effects.
An overly intoxicated person ... will pass out and become oblivious to the world.
So too ... with an uncontrolled sinner ... who will Spiritually pass out ... and become 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.
Hear God's Word: 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 (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
We must be prepared.
We must be alert ... and prepared ... at all times. (Pause)
During WWII ... there was a seaman ... who served on a small submarine chaser ... in the South Pacific.
While on the ship ... one of the strict commands ...was to always be ... combat ready.
Which meant ... even when you were taking a shower ... you were to keep your gear ... nearby.
Now, ... there were times ... when the crew would not see another ship or plane ... for weeks.
And during those times ... they would become a little lax ... in their readiness.
Then one morning ... the seaman and some of his shipmates where showering when the air-raid siren went off ... and they were all called to immediately ... man their stations.
The only problem, ... no clothes.
As he came out of the shower... a helmet was slapped on his head ... and he had to run immediately ... to his post ... as an artillery loader with ... nothing on ... but a helmet.
Can you imagine the look on the enemy pilot's face ... when they looked on the ship ... with naked men manning the guns?
This seaman and his buddies ... found out quickly that not being ready ... had some pretty tough consequences. (Pause)
Yet we are told ... That There is a blessing when we walk in readiness.
Hear God's word: BIBLE For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. END (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
There is a special spiritual Peace ...in knowing that you are always Ready ... always prepared ... for the Coming of Our Lord.
If you are ready ... you will have God's heart.
A spiritual yearning to not only serve others ... but a yearning to love them as well.
The Scriptures are clear, ... Crystal clear.
If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God ... you are to be a servant ... to all. (Matthew 20:26)
Jesus said I came to serve not to be served. (Matthew 20:28)
We are called to be the image barriers of Jesus.
If you are ready, ... you will look for Christ's Coming ... with excitement ... and with expectancy. (Long Pause)
Let me close with this true story:
During one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, ... Sir Ernest Shackleton ... left some of his men on Elephant Island.
He did this ... with the intent of returning for them ... and carrying them back to England.
But he was delayed.
By the time he could go back for them ...the sea had frozen ...and he had no access ... to the island.
Three times ... he tried to reach them ... but was prevented by the ice.
Finally, ... on his fourth attempt, ... he broke through ... and located ... a narrow channel.
Much to his surprise, ... he found the crewmen waiting for him, ... supplies packed ... and ready to board.
They were soon ... on their way back ... to England.
He asked them ... how they knew ... he was coming that day.
They told him … they did not know when he would return, … but they were sure … that he would.
hey were sure ... that he would.
So, ... every morning, ... the group's leader rolled up his bag, ... and packed his gear ... and told the crew ... to do the same.
Every day instructing them, ... "Get your things ready, boys.
The boss may come today."
Just as a thief plans his entry at an uncertain time ... that is ... when least expected ..., so it will be ... with the coming of the Son of Man.
Beloved ... (Slow) You should plan for a voyage of a thousand years, ... but each day ... be prepared ...to leave this ship ... of life.
We are Children of the living God.
We are Children of the Light.
O' Beloved ... Be ready ... Be prepared ... Be Vigilant. (Pause)
19 Mississippi ... 20 Mississippi ... Ready or Not ... He Will Come.
Amen and Amen!
I received much insight from the John Raulerson Sermon "Lie: You Have Plenty of Time to Get Ready". I commend this Sermon to you.
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