The Thief In The Night

I think at some point in our lives, we all have had a secret which we have kept from others. Something that we dont want others to find out about. We work hard to keep it hidden so that we can keep the image we portray before others alive. But there is one that we cannot hide anything from and that is our Lord Jesus. For He sees everything that is in our hearts and all our motivations. So today I pose a question to you...What would God catch you doing if He was to return tonight?

1 Thessalonians 5 speaks of The Day of the Lord and he says -

 ¹Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ²for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
 ⁴But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I hope you take the time to read through that piece of scripture, but basically it is telling us that we must not be naiive, but rather be prepared for the Lord will return when we least expect it. Therefore we must be prepared, we must practice self-control and live according to the word of God. Jesus is coming back again....but it will be a surprise to us when He returns. Therefore we must be prepared.

In verses 3-4 it tells us that if Jesus is your saviour, the you will escape the wrath that is coming. But if you are not saved, you will face horrible times. During this time there will be a surrounding darkness, that is why it is imperative that Christians spread the great word of Jesus, ensure that everyone knows that Jesus will return again.

Verse 8 says -

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

 For even though we live in these troubled times, we have protection in Christ. As long as we live with faith and love and hold onto the hope in salvation, we need not worry.

Matthew 24 tells us that in the final days, peoples hearts will grow cold. Therefore we must continually draw strength from the Lord and live according to His will. I guess you can think of it like an employee who only works hard when he knows that the boss will be coming by. But we cannot live like this, for as Jesus says in Matthew 24:36 -

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

We must ask ourselves today, what is the condition of our heart? Do we have a heart for people? Or do we only have a heart for ourselves? For many people are saved, they are blessed by God, but then over time their hearts grow cold and they no longer thirst for the word of God, they no longer have a heart for people. But as Jeremiah 17:10 tells us -

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.

We must fully appreciate the urgency in the fact that Jesus is coming! We must get our hearts right! We must look at our lives right now and analyse what we are doing. Are we really doing what God has called us to do?

I urge you that if you are not saved that you really seek out Jesus and make a decision for your life, as our time here on Earth is nothing compared to eternity which awaits us...an eternity that you will either spend in the company of our loving father in heaven...or an eternity that you will spend regretting the choice you didnt make.

People were what mattered to Jesus, it was the most important thing to Him. Not social standing, not personal achievements. He lived to love people, to see people saved and that is what he has called us to do. Jesus said to us in John 13:34 -

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

We must love one another. Not just those people that we like, but even those we dont get along with. This is what is most important go God. So I encourage all of you...dont allow yourself to be unprepared, for Jesus is coming back. Look at your heart, look at your motivations. If your heart's desires are things that you wouldn't want people to find out...the you need to get yourself right. And most of all follow Jesus. The most important commandment he has given us is to love.

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37-39)