So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober

Thessalonians 5:6

Imagine Paul running up and down the streets of Thessalonica, and imagine that he is doing so like a panicked herald, reminding saints that they have to shape their decisions and content of their lives by never forgetting that Jesus is coming back again. Paul doesn’t want them to fear Christ’s return, but it is his aim and ambition that instead of fearing Christ’s return that they live everyday with the hope that He is coming back again.

This expectation ought to consume our minds and spirits and impact the way that we think and the way that we relate to other people. Jesus mirror’s this teaching when He discusses the parable of the virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). In this parable, the women didn’t forget about the bridegroom coming, but they forgot to make preparation for His arrival.

Often we live our lives like we will live forever. We try to delay death like death can be delayed forever. However, scripture teaches us that when Jesus comes, He will come like a thief in the night.  Only those of us who are prepared will make the trip across time to eternity when the Lord returns.

In chapter 5 of Thessalonians, Paul addresses three traditional antithesis to illustrate his point. First, he juxtaposes light against darkness. Second, he juxtaposes being awake and being asleep. Third, sobriety and drunkenness. This is called apocalyptic dualism. Our lives are always being pulled on by opposite forces, light and darkness, being awake or being asleep, remaining vigilant and sober or pulled into drunkenness.

We need to make sure that we are alert and sober in anticipation of the Lord’s return. It is easy to stop being alert when we live in a thrilling and exciting culture. We are in a world of extreme human communication and connectivity. We are in a culture that is growing at a rate beyond what we can understand.

How can’t we be tempted by the excitement and thrill of these times? Isn’t it true that we wake up excited to see the latest political scandal or misstep every morning? Isn’t it true that we’re enamored by the fast-paced development of new technology?

But here we read Paul who says, “Don’t get too stuck on the things of this world because Jesus is coming back again.” It may sound old fashioned to talk about Christ’s return, but this is an important part of our faith. We don’t live as Christians to simply get material benefit. We live as Christians so that we can prepare ourselves for Jesus. We need to take note of our lives and determine if we are living every day as if it is the day that Christ is coming back.