The theme we have been following in 1 Thessalonians is “Living in the Light of Jesus’ Return.” Last Sunday and this our topics will be very specific. Last Sunday we looked at the Rapture; this Sunday we will look at “The Day of the Lord’ (1 Thess. 5:1-11).  I have been reminded this week that there are numerous complexities in the details of Christ’s return and how it is interpreted. But there is one irrefutable fact … Jesus is Coming Again and He Wins. The Following is a wonderfully short devotional written by A.W. Tozer … 

A Tragedy: Believers Arguing About Christ’s Return

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God… . 1 Thessalonians 4:16

The believing Christian should be living in joyful anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ, and that is such an important segment of truth that the devil has always been geared up to fight it and ridicule it. In fact, one of his big successes is being able to get people to argue and get mad about the details of the Second Coming—rather than looking and waiting for it.

Suppose a man has been overseas two or three years, away from his family. Suddenly a cable arrives for the family with the message: “My work completed here; I will be home today.”

After some hours he arrives at the front door with his bags. But in the house the family members are in turmoil. There has been a great argument as to whether he would arrive in the afternoon or evening and what transportation he would be using. So, no one is actually watching for his arrival.

You may say, “That is only an illustration.”

But what is the situation in the various segments of the Christian community?

They are fighting with one another and glaring at each other. They are debating whether He is coming and how He is coming. That is the work of the devil—to make Christian people argue about the details of His coming so they forget the most important thing! 

 

Wow that was a great reminder … See You Sunday.

 

Pastor Byron