1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
St. Matthew 25:1–13
In the name of the Father and of the + Son
and of the Holy Spirit –
“Peace and Security!” That was the slogan
circulating at the church of the Thessalonians. We’ve heard similar slogans in
our day, haven’t we? We use them on Facebook and Twitter. We hear them from our
favorite Media personalities. We hear them from our president and from foreign
presidents. We are all looking for peace and security. Every single candidate
running for office promises to be the one who will bring peace and security to
our country. It’s a political slogan that’s been around as long as there have
been politics.
The problem with saying “peace
and security” is, if in reality, there isn’t any. The Old Testament rulers of
Judah promised peace and security, but the prophets warned that the opposite
was coming: Babylonian armies surrounding Jerusalem, war, and captivity. Who
are the unnamed “they” in Thessalonians – the ones who make such false promises?
Could “they” also be us? Peace and security for America? With walls on the
border, and drone strikes, or higher taxes and increasing welfare. Just ignore
the threats of an evil religion and insist on tolerance. Or peace and security
for Immanuel, Charlotte? With more people in the pews, more money in the
plates. Just don’t offend people by talking about sins. Are these the things we
think make for peace and security? Where have we placed our trust?
All of these things come from
our own doing, instead of from the Lord’s doing. And everything that comes from
our own doing is shaky and insecure. It cannot last and it cannot save – it
ends in destruction. While people are
saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon
them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. When
our attention and confidence is on our works and our plans, then destruction
comes. And there is no escaping when the birth pains begin. When the woman goes
into labor and the baby is coming it doesn’t matter if you’re ready at the
hospital or not. Or think of it another way: the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The point
here is not what the thief does – our Lord is not a robber who hurts and steals
– But the point is when the thief comes. You don’t know when! Thieves don’t
make appointments. And at night it’s most likely he’ll catch you unawares while
you’re sleeping.
It’s generally true what Paul
says here about the night: Sleeping and getting drunk happen at night. That
means, sleeping and getting drunk are the opposite of being awake, and being
sober, that is, being watchful, thinking clearly. All of this is running with
Paul’s metaphor for the Last Day, the Day of the Lord: The thief coming at
night and the birth pains are like the coming of the Day of Lord. And for those
that are sleeping and drunk, meaning, for those not watching, for those looking
for peace and security from man and from their own plans, for those who are of
darkness and night, that Day is one of destruction for them. That Day is wrath.
But! You are not of darkness, brothers and sisters. You are children of light.
You are children of the Day!
Paul is really a masterful
writer, in how he weaves his metaphors together: inescapable birth pains, inescapable
and unknowable thief, thief at night is like the Day of the Lord. You are
children of the Day. But what Paul means when he says, we belong to the Day, is not just some general idea of day vs.
night, or darkness vs. light. That’s part of his metaphor. But Paul is talking
about a specific Day, a real Day. The reality is you are children of THE DAY –
the Last Day. The Day of the Lord is part of your identity. You belong to that
Day, even though it is still in your future.
The wakeful and sober watching for
that Day is not of our own doing for that would be shaky and insecure. But the
watchfulness goes with the armor: the
breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. All
this given to you as gifts from the Lord.
For you who believe, the Day of the Lord does not come with wrath but with salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who
died for us. He has already given this salvation to you. That’s the Gospel.
The Day of the Lord, the Day of salvation first happened at your baptism. In
the water and in the Name of the Lord, the judgment of Judgment Day was handed
down: your sins are forgiven, you are sons and daughters of God, children of Light,
children of the Day. All we wait and watch for is the Day when that judgment is
made for all the world to see and hear. All we wait and watch for is the Day
when salvation is seen for what it already is: the victory of God in Christ
Jesus who died, is risen, and is coming again. On that Day salvation will be
complete.
We should still probably say something
here about those virgins in Jesus’ parable. The difference between the five
foolish virgins and the five wise virgins was not something in themselves. Any
works, plans, or ideas that come from us are always shaky and insecure. But the
foolish virgins were foolish because they went out with lamps to meet the
Bridegroom but with no oil. Lamps with no oil won’t do you any good. They were
not prepared for the Bridegroom’s coming. They didn’t believe. They were
children of the night and of darkness. On the other hand, the wise virgins were
prepared. They knew what they were going out to do and they were ready – they
believed. They had their lamps and they had oil for those lamps. They were
already children of the Day. Their welcome into the wedding feast was set when
they came out ready with lamp and oil. It didn’t matter how long the Bridegroom
was delayed, they were ready. There was no surprise for them on Judgment Day,
just as there will be no surprise for you who believe now. The Lord prepares
you for His coming by giving you faith and keeping it alive. You listen to His
Word and watch for His coming. By faith in Christ, you already belong to the
Day of the Lord.
Until that Day, we trust in the
Lord, our God of peace and security everlasting. When the Lord makes peace it
is never shaky. His promises are secure. He gives us salvation so that whether we are awake or asleep,
saints in heaven or saints here below, we
live with Him. By our Lord’s death and resurrection, by grace, by His Word
of forgiveness, by His Holy Supper, we have true peace and security. The living
Body and Blood that will stand upon the earth for all to see is the same living
Body and Blood that you receive now hidden under the bread and wine. The Son of
God who will come again is the same Son of God who comes and gives Himself to
you now. And what He gives you now hidden in His Supper: forgiveness, peace,
eternal life, He will give the same to you then, on that Day, not hidden, but
brought out into the light of that Day.
Therefore,
encourage one another and build one another up. The Last Day is for your encouragement –
it’s the Lord’s Day for you. Because
He is coming to save you. Hear this
final word from Paul: Now may the God of
peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and
body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you
is faithful; He will surely do it. (5:23-24)
Come quickly + Lord Jesus –
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlotte, IA
November 22, 2015
