Readings: Isaiah 65:17-25 | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | Matthew 25:1-13
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Church Year is a teaching tool for Christians. Often it gets misunderstood as something one has to do, or that Christians who don’t know about seasons like Advent and Lent are inferior. Certainly, it gives Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox a common language. But the “you’re less than us” perception is something older than the Reformation. About traditions in the Church, they wrote:
“No tradition was set up by the Holy Fathers for the purpose of meriting the forgiveness of sins, or righteousness. Rather, they were instituted for the sake of good order in the Church and for the sake of peace.” (Apology XV 13)
So, as we come to the end of the Church Year, what is our focus that is beneficial for the Christian life? We focus on the return of Christ in glory. In the words of a hymn we’re soon to sing, “O Lord, how shall I meet you? How welcome you aright?” (LSB 334). The readings which have been chosen for that are the ones we heard today. The Apostle Paul also knew that the Thessalonians needed this instruction—not only for their good as believers, but also because confused and erroneous ideas would be coming at them, such as the idea that the resurrection had already happened, but they had missed it.
A walk through the text:
The Day of the Lord – This is Christ’s return in glory. There are a lot of common threads between Christ’s first coming (Malachi 4) and urgency of being ready so that we are found repentant and believing. The foolish Virgins in the Gospel had the very same information, but chose not to act on it until it was too late.
How or when will the Day of the Lord come? We know that it will certainly come, but “for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning” (Matt. 24:35). And for those who have despised the Word and devoted themselves to the things of this life, it will come upon them and evaporate all their hopes and plans. The birth pains have been coming this whole time, but they ignored them as if they could wish them away. But that day comes.
But how should the faithful conduct themselves, if this is how it is? How should we “walk” in this time since Christ’s Ascension and His inevitable return to judge the living and the dead?
“4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.”
Look at the pictures which are painted: not darkness but the light; not drunk but sober; not asleep but awake.
Not in darkness: They call it the “Enlightenment” and the Age of Reason. They call the time after the Fall of Rome and before the Renaissance the “Dark Ages.” Yet, wherever Christ, the light of the world, was proclaimed and believed, there has always been light. What of man’s enlightenment, of the light of reason triumphing over revelation? These are the times in which we live, where deceived men turn everything upside down. The puffed up call Christians ignorant, while they dwell in a spiritual darkness that blinds them.
We are called light by the Lord for good reason:
14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Though the present world is enshrouded in darkness, the Light of the World (John 8:12) has left us to shine and guide those in darkness to the true light which comes from God.
Not drunk but sober: Thanks to the popularity of psychology and the valuing of long, healthy living, stress has become one of the greatest boogeymen of our day. Like the ancient Israelites sweeping leaven out of their houses before the Passover, the noble goal which few achieve is to rid one’s life of stress.
Since stress reactions start in the mind, wouldn’t it be better if we could turn off our minds? So enters inebriation as the great savior of the stressed. But what promised salvation from stress actually disengages one from the duties around them. As any child of an alcoholic can tell you, when their parent drinks, they are disconnected and forgetful. The state of drunkenness blurs the mind, dulls the senses, and makes one neglect their duties and forget to pray.
It is not easy living a Christians in the last days, and it will only get harder. Harder beyond our ability to cope for ourselves. A person cannot make it through such days without help. Will your help be the fleeting emptiness of making yourself numb, or will your help be that which God promises, which comes with exactly what you need, when you need it?
“10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:10-13)
Not asleep but awake: On the night in which He was betrayed, remember what happened?
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:36-46)
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” There’s something bigger going on than just taking a nap at an inopportune time. Each generation of Christians since the Apostles till He comes again in glory, has its work to do. Proclaim the Word to a world that is lost in darkness, bind up the wounds of the broken, etc. This cannot be done asleep. The work of our generation right now is to speak against the lies, to counsel those who have never rightly heard the Word, to hold up the God-given roles of man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother, of godly children.
8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
In this world that seems like chance, God assures us of our destiny: to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
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