“Let The Surprise Element Not Take You By Surprise!”(I Th.5:5-11).
It’s another beautiful day in which the LORD has once more shown us love. “Thank you LORD” is all we can offer.
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” People will be living care-free lives like in the days of Noah, with a false sense of peace and security. But then, sudden destruction will come on them. But a believer should not be taken unawares(I Th.5:2-4).
We know the signs of the times, but that is not enough. Knowing the signs of the time means preparing not to be taken unawares.
We are called upon to live in such a way that when the last day happens, none should say, “Had I known!” Anyone who is in Christ is a child of light, not only in the sense of being in the light, but being light itself.
Children of light are not like a flahlight which gives light to other areas but is itself in darkness. We have to “be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
Cognizant that of the three faith, hope and love, the greatest is love(I Cor.13:13), it becomes imperative for us to hold each others hands. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Sadly though, within the universal church, the body of Christ, we often encourage one another and build each other up with a tribal mentality. With tribal mentality love towards non-tribe members is skin-deep. Non-tribe members are treated with scepticism.
There are three test for the presence of Christ in any community. The church test which is always discernible by the presence of church(es). The kingdom test which is discernible through revival movements because of the lapses of the church test. Lastly and of great impact is the gospel test in which the gospel impacts all segments of society positively even when they are not all church members or church institutions.
We shall be saved as those who belong to the body of Christ. God appointed us “to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”
Bottomline: 1. Let us live in readiness because the day of the Lord is the necessary “Surprise element” of our faith. 2. We must be the difference as we live self-controlled lives as children of light.
- Faith, hope and love should be our military accoutrements that equips us for the journey of faith.
- Let us live the gospel test as we encourage one another and build each other up.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to live a worthy life in readiness of the surprise element. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.