How to Prepare for Judgment

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives us several pointers about how to prepare for the judgment day. First, he says that we need to be children of the light.

Paul, addressing Christians, says that we are not in the darkness that the day of the Lord should surprise us. Christians have the light of God's word and we know that Jesus is coming back as judge. We are sons and daughters of the light and of the day. In other words, we need to be living our lives "in light of" the day of the Lord.

Many years ago, a young English man and woman were walking along one day discussing a mutual acquaintance. One of them said, "Mary has what I call a radiant personality."

"That's right," agreed the other. "But how do you account for it?"

Just then they rounded a bend in the road and a rippling river came into view. Pointing to the opposite bank, the young man said, "See that impressive old castle over there? Well, when I was a small boy, I loved to sit right here in the evening and look at it. I knew what was going on inside by the number of lights that were burning. If only a few people were home, just a faint glimmer filtered through the windows. But when friends came, many lamps were lit and the place became a thing of beauty. One time when a member of the royal family visited there, the entire castle was illuminated. I have never seen such brilliance." Then turning to his companion, the young man said, "I think that's the only way I am able to explain Mary's shining personality. She is entertaining a royal guest."

I wonder: are you and I entertaining a royal guest in our hearts and lives today? If Jesus has come to live in us by his Holy Spirit, then all the lights will be lit in the home of our hearts. We will be sons and daughters of the light and of the day. Therefore, we will not be surprised when the day of the Lord comes, because he is already living in us by his Spirit.

Tomorrow, we will look at another way Paul says we can prepare for judgment....

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Will Vaus

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