Stay Awake

“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  But 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.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11

Recently, I had a conversation with a few women that attend the same small group Bible study that I do. We have been going through the book of Acts together, and have noticed many of the people Paul encountered were struggling with the same issues that we see prevalent in our world today. After discussing several passages, we all came to this conclusion. It is comforting to know that the very things that feel dark in our society today are not new. While our culture may make the darkness of sin feel more common, we were reminded that nothing is new under the sun. God is still on the throne. He sees, and His plan is continuing to unfold each and every day.

As we have seen in the scriptures thus far, the culture surrounding the church at Thessalonica was far from the truth. Like today, the church was living in a society that inundated itself with beliefs and teachings that were contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Idolatry, and sexual immorality were a couple of the sinful things that the people of this church had to walk against on a daily basis. However, Paul is reminding them once again here that they belong to the Day and not to the dark. He challenges this faithful group of believers to boldly keep walking in the truth with three key points. We too can find faithful reminders in each of these points.

Stay Awake:

Paul urges the church at Thessalonica to stay awake and to be sober. Essentially, he is telling them to remain alert and keep pressing on with a sound mind. He didn’t want these men and women to become apathetic in their faith, or to have anything hinder their mindset. They had been made alive in Christ through their salvation, and he wanted nothing to slow down or get in the way of their passion for God. Paul desired for the church to keep their focus on Christ. Not being held back by the activities that were taking place in their culture around them, but joyfully and faithfully serving the Lord with a clear focus. With everything going on in and around our world today, the church may need to be reminded to stay awake and be alert with sound minds. The enemy is on a mission to distract and divide the church, and is using the things of our culture to do so. As the day of Christ’s return draws near, it is imperative that we stay alert. 1 Peter 1:13 says “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Turning our attention to the hope that is found in Christ, not of this world, is how we stay alert and awake.

Put on the armor of God:

The second way Paul encourages the church to be children of the day is to put on the armor of God. He specifically mentions here the “breastplate of faith and love,” and “a helmet the hope of salvation.” When thinking about a soldier, the breastplate and helmet are the two pieces of armor that protect the most important parts of the human body. The breastplate is the protector of the heart, and the helmet protects the head, or the brain. Without the brain or the heart, the body couldn’t function at all. Paul is urging the church at Thessalonica to protect their core values being faith and love, and to also protect their salvation. This reminds me of the passage in Ephesians chapter six where Paul is urging the church at Ephesus to put on the armor of God. He reveals to them that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6.12). We too are not solely fighting against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces. While we don't often talk about it, spiritual warfare is real. It doesn’t solely happen in one part of the world. It is everywhere. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Therefore, we must ready ourselves to fight back against the forces of evil by putting on the armor of God daily.

Encourage one another:

The final point Paul makes in this passage to the church at Thessalonica was more of a “keep doing what you are doing” point. He tells the church to encourage one another and build one another up. By the way Paul words it, we can tell the church at Thessalonica was one that loved their people, and made every effort to encourage one another and build one another up in Christ. As the return of Christ gets closer, society will continue to draw farther and farther away from Him. It isn’t going to be easy living in a world that is so full of sin, and so against Christ. Therefore, we are going to need the encouragement that is found in our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hebrews 10:25 says “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Making the effort to encourage a brother or sister in Christ through prayer and building up through the Word can bring the renewal of hope found in the joy of our salvation.

For the worn down and tired Christian, this world can be a hard and lonely place to live in. However, we must remember that nothing catches our God by surprise. He is working in and around us in the midst of this sinful and dark world that we are currently dwelling in. Take heart my friend. Keep walking in the light of Christ as you inhabit this temporary home in which we are currently residing. It is only for a moment compared to eternity. This world is not our home.