But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 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. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)

Watching With Clarity

The world is coming to an end. There is no doubt the clock is ticking on the earth’s longevity with a day coming when disaster comes in the form of God’s wrath. As sure as the promise of God to destroy the world by a flood in the days of Noah, so the certainty of the end of the world will come by the will of the Father. There are many today who believe that something man will do impacts the existence of the world. Global warming is being publicized as the springboard of global destruction in the next few decades. This will never happen because the Lord Creator will never allow the man to destroy what He has reserved for judgment. The Day of the Lord belongs to the Lord. It is a time reserved in the mind of the Father that only He knows. When the will of the Lord is accomplished, and He determines man’s existence has reached finality, the Son of God will come with His mighty angels, and the universe will come to a sudden end.

There will be no warning when the Day of the Lord comes. Weather patterns will often give signs of approaching danger. Volcanic eruptions can sometimes be known in advance, even with a minimal time before the explosion. When the end of the world comes, there is no hint, no advance notice, and not even the animals will be aware of impending doom. There is found in animals a sense of danger when something terrible is about to happen. They are alerted in their natural reasons to flee to higher ground or find protection soon. The Day of the Lord comes with no warning, notice, or determination by man to know of its day. Pundits of the end of time have tried for many a millennium to determine when the Lord will come. They have all failed and will continue to fail. If a man tells you he knows when the Lord will return, be assured he is a liar. Jesus said He did not know.

The end of the world will come as a thief who comes in the night. He does not give a warning coming when a person least expects it. Sudden destruction will be the nature of the last day. It will be swift, and it will be a total and complete destruction. Like the labor pains of a pregnant woman, the end of the world will come when least expected. No one will escape. There will be no mountains to run to or caves to hide in. Every eye will see the glory of the Lord. In an instant like the blinking of an eye, the universe will explode with incredible fury and be torn asunder. All souls will be ushered before the presence of the Almighty God. Time is destroyed. Death and Hades are destroyed. Satan and his minions are cast into Hell. Judgment comes. Verdicts read. Sentences carried out. Eternity becomes real.

Every child of God knows the Day of the Lord is coming, yet many do not live as if the day could come at any moment. Nonbelievers have no concern for the Day of the Lord. A Christian knows and believes the Lord will send His angels to destroy the world. No child of God should be caught unaware of the day when it comes. As people of light, walking in the light, and living in the light, the reality of the end is clear. The day of destruction should not overtake the righteous. Those who walk in darkness cannot see the light of truth. The people of God are watching with clarity the moment when the Lord comes, and they do so with great anticipation. Watching suggests a constant awareness that today could be the day. Sobriety means being clearheaded about the reality of the coming of the Lord and the knowledge of the sudden appearance of the Lord. These two factors are paramount in the heart of the Christian. Everything they do is preparing for the coming of Jesus. Living a sober life is preparing the soul for the judgment of the Lord. We may not know when the Lord is coming, but it will not matter because we are watching and living sober lives that will find their promise in the hope of eternal life. Pray each day: Lord, come today.