This coming Sunday is a special one as we have occasion to baptize several believers in water during our morning service. It’s always special when someone desires to publicly display that they are a follower of Jesus…its inspiring and encouraging!
In the message portion of the service, we are continuing the series:” The Next Exit.” Last Sunday we began with the subject of “the rapture” in a message entitled, “Caught Up!”
Paul, then in 1 Thess 5 discusses the timing of Christ's return. I've titled this message the “Time of the Season”. That was a hit single back in 1968 by the Zombies… we understand the times and the seasons by looking out the window. Here in Northern Ontario, we go into prep mode …water lines need to be drained, antifreeze needs to be pumped through trailers, boats need to be taken out of the water, all that kind of stuff. …. the season of summer is past, fall is here ...winter is approaching.
1 Thessalonians 5: 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day.
Paul says that regarding the time and season of the Lord's return I don't explain this; you already know about this…its as plain as the nose on your face. He uses two words talking about the times and the seasons – “time” is the word “chronos" which means an interval of space of undetermined length. “Kairos” means a fixed time where things are brought into fulfillment.
So, when you combine these two words,” times and seasons” - they mean there's an unknown time period that's approaching where things are going to be brought into a culmination or crisis.
No one will know the exact hour or minute of Christ's return; the world will be surprised by His return. But you shouldn't be surprised because you know the season and you've been watchful.
Paul talks then about those who are unprepared, who are not following Christ, they will be comforted by the fact that the world is preaching peace, safety and security. Does this sound familiar? How many times have you heard the phrase “be safe" in the past couple years? For all the world's safety and security measures- it's all going to end in destruction. It's interesting here that Paul uses the same illustration that Jesus used of labour pains when He said:
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (ESV)
Jesus encourages believers to understand the times. He says: when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! He is coming soon! Do you understand the present season that we live in?
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Time of the Season”
Blessings,
Kevin
Comentarios