In the Eyes of a Shepherd

Marry Christmas! Luke 2:10-12 says, "Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'"

All was quiet. The night was silent. And suddenly, without warning, out of nowhere, "an angel of the Lord" (Luke 2:9) appeared! But that is not all. God's glory lit up the sky! What a sight it was. The shepherd's rose to their feet, startled by the sight. Fear began to overwhelm them. They did not understand what this was all about. And then the angel spoke.

Now they understood. God had fulfilled His promise. The Savior had come. They hurried off into the night to meet the Lord and it was not long before they found Him.

It was just as the angel had said. There He was before their very eyes, the Savior, Christ the Lord. They knelt before Him for a time in wonder and awe, and in worship. After all, He was their Lord and Savior.

When they returned to the hillside and to the sheep, they praised God all along the way. They gave Him the glory and they let everyone they met know about Jesus.

The gospel was made known that night. It was as the angel had told them: tonight in Bethlehem a baby was born, "a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (v. 11). The Christ, the Messiah, the Savior had come! It was as God had promised long ago.

They knew the Scriptures. They were all sinners in need of a Savior. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). He was born in order to die for you.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1). "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

Do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead? Have you confessed Jesus as Lord? If not, you can pray right now and receive the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Amen.

Righteous Desires of Your Heart

"Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would… fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness" (2 Thess. 1:11b). The NASB says, "and fulfill every desire for goodness." Paul continues by asking God to fulfill every right and noble desire of your heart. But notice, it is the good and righteous and noble desires that God is to fulfill in your life, not the selfish, self-centered ones.

In Philippians 4:8 Paul wrote, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." And he added in verse 9, "The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." When you desire in your heart the things of God which are pure and right and noble, God will give you those desires. That is Paul's prayer for you.

"Fulfill" (2 Thess. 1:11b) could also be translated "complete" or "accomplish." "Good pleasure" (v. 11b) or "desire" (NASB) could be translated "purpose" or "choice." Paul asked God to fulfill or complete His purpose in them by giving them what they longed for—His goodness. Such a prayer is consistent with God's will. In answer to this prayer, God will give you what is good and what is good for you.

In Psalm 37:4 David wrote, "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." When you delight in the Lord, you desire what He desires. Then God will grant your requests. When you make God's agenda your agenda, then you will receive God's goodness because that is the desire of your heart.

Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). The key is abiding. If you abide in Christ, if you live your life by faith in Christ, if you delight yourself in Christ and desire what He desires, then you will receive the desires of your heart. May God fulfill the righteous desires of your heart. Amen.

Worthy to be Called Christian

In Second Thessalonians 1:11, Paul begins, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would." Constant, endless prayer for the growing maturity of these believers. That is what Paul always prayed for. You will note as we continue through verse 11 that this opening phrase carries throughout.

Paul continues, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling" (v. 11a). This request covers everything that is included in Christian character. Paul's prayer here is that you might honor the name of Christ.

"Our God" (v. 11a) refers to a loving, caring Father who is intimately involved with us. "Count you worthy" (v. 11a) can also be translated "make you worthy." Either translation is appropriate because God will make worthy all whom He counts as worthy.

Here, as throughout the New Testament epistles, "calling" (v. 11a) refers to the irresistible call to salvation. It does not refer to the general call to salvation that goes out from the evangelist asking all to believe, but to the specific act of God in which He redeems all who believe. Paul has just spoken of that Day, the Day of the Rapture, when all who believe in Jesus would be made completely like Him as He gathers them to be with Him forever. He is now asking God to make you worthy of that calling. He is asking God to make you worthy to be called Christian.

In First Thessalonians 1:12, Paul prayed that the believers in Thessalonica would "walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory" (NASB). As Christians we bear the name of Christ. As you become more like Christ you become more deserving, more worthy, to bear His name.

Apparently this was an item of major importance for the Thessalonian believers to understand. While in Second Thessalonians 1:5 Paul spoke of how the suffering they were enduring proved that they "may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God," chapter three points out that some of them were not living up to their calling in Christ. In Second Thessalonians 3:6, Paul wrote, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us" (NASB, 1995). And in verse 11 he adds, "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies" (NASB, 1995). Some it seems were leading lives that were disobedient to the Word and to Christ. They are unworthy to be called Christian.

Don't let that be said of you! Follow Christ with all your heart and live by His Word. Let Christ richly indwell you and guide you, and God will make you worthy to be called Christian. "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6, NASB). Amen.

Relief

Jesus reveals Himself to unbelievers in judgment at the Day of the Lord. But He makes His presence known to believers at the time of the Rapture when He takes us to heaven to spend eternity with Him. For the lost, the apokalupsis in the Greek, or apocalypse. For the saved, the parousia in the Greek. For unbelievers, the judgment of God. For believers, relief from our afflictions.

Second Thessalonians 1:7a says, "to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (NASB). "Relief" (v. 7a) means "a loosening" or "freedom." It refers to relaxation, refreshment, restoration, and rest. In Scripture there is the rest salvation brings, or the Sabbath rest for God's people. The Bible also promises what can be called millennial rest, when Christ establishes His reign on earth and His subjects enjoy rest and peace. The Scriptures also promise an eternal rest that all believers enter into at death—rest from sin, temptation, trials, sorrows, and any other form of suffering. As Rev. 21:4 says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain" (NASB). Such rest awaits the saints of the Rapture.

Why will God do this? Because it is just or right. As it was "only right for God to repay" unbelievers with "affliction" (v. 6a, NASB), so "it is only right for God… to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (v. 7a, NASB). How can it be just or right to punish the one and give relief to the other? A.W. Tozer wrote:  "[The] solution for the problem of how God can be just and still justify the unjust is found in the Christian doctrine of redemption. It is that, through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. Redemptive theology teaches that mercy does not become effective toward a man until justice has done its work. The just penalty for sin was exacted when Christ our Substitute died for us on the cross. However unpleasant this may sound to the ear of the natural man, it has ever been sweet to the ear of faith" (The Knowledge of the Holy, [New York: Harper & Row, 1975], 94).

Who will find rest? Believers—the redeemed of God—will find rest in Christ. Paul wrote, "to give you who are troubled rest with us" (v. 7a). God promises rest to all believers because we all suffer through hard times. Paul told Timothy, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). Suffering for Christ is a mark of a true Christian. Eternal rest comes to all who follow Jesus.

How will this relief come to believers? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). Note Second Thessalonians 1:10—"When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." Our glorification is in view here. It is at the time of the Rapture that Christ will glorify us and receive us unto Himself forever. Christ is glorified in us as He changes us "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52a). All will marvel as they see Christ in all His glory. The reward is participation in the Rapture—being changed "in the twinkling of an eye" into full conformity with Christ—and going to heaven to spend eternity with Him.

That final phrase, "because our testimony among you was believed" (v. 10b), makes it all very personal to the Thessalonians. They have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, each one of them will be there on that day when Christ Raptures them to take them home.

Once you have received Jesus by faith, you can know for certain that you will also be included in that glorious day. The fact that you will be glorified with Christ should be more than enough encouragement to endure the afflictions unbelievers may bring your way.

As a believer in Christ you will be glorified with Him at His return. In the meantime, God has your best interest in mind. He will see you through any and all persecution or suffering. He will one day return and bring retribution to those who persecute you. He will also bring relief or rest to your soul, in that Day. Knowing this, you can stand firm for Christ by faith. He will enable you to stand firm. Amen.

Retribution

The thought of retribution is found in Second Thessalonians 1:8. It literally means "to give full punishment." It is sometimes translated "justice," "punishment," "retribution," "vengeance," or "avenging of wrong." You may recall Romans 12:19 which says: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35). Such "vengeance" or "retribution" God will bring "on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8b).

Why will God do this? Because it is just. Note verse 6: "Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you." "No problem," says God. "I am just, and I will take care of any injustice done to you." Every nation, regardless of its ethical or moral standards, punishes criminals. All people have a sense of justice because they are made in God's image. Although the justice carried out by people is imperfect, God's justice is perfect.

The NASB translates verse 6 like this: "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you." It is fitting and proper for God to repay with retribution those who disobey His law. Remember verse 8 where we are told that Jesus will return "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus"? The word retribution or vengeance not only speaks of "giving full punishment," but is closely related to another word meaning "just" or "right." The retribution God deals out is the just punishment given by the perfect and righteous Judge to all unbelievers who have willfully disobeyed the gospel of Christ.

Who will receive this retribution from God? All who disobey the gospel and do not know God. The word "repay" (v. 6) means "to give back," or "recompense." It is a strong, compound word that conveys the idea of a full and complete repayment. God will gain complete vengeance on your behalf against "those who trouble you" (v. 6b, NKJV) or "those who afflict you" (ESV). To understand this truth means you can stand firm even in the face of persecution and affliction.

How will God repay the unbelievers who afflict you? With "tribulation" or "affliction" (v. 6b). Tribulation can mean "trouble," "distress," "difficult circumstances," or "suffering." Note verse 9: "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." To repay "with tribulation" (v. 6b) is to repay with "eternal destruction" (v. 9a), which is defined as complete and eternal separation from God and His glory.

Destruction does not mean annihilation. It refers instead to ruination. It does not refer to the end of one's existence, but rather the loss of everything that makes life worthwhile. Eternal destruction does not mean that unbelievers will cease to exist, but rather that they will be forever ruined. They will continue into eternity with a life that is hopeless, meaningless, and completely worthless. They will be ruined forever. To which Matthew adds: "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:41-42). To spend eternity "away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might" (ESV) is indeed a life of utter darkness and a life of total misery.

With all of this in mind, do not miss the truth of verses 7b-8a: "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire." This is when the repayment will be carried out. At the Day of the Lord, when Christ returns, then it will be too late. All who have afflicted you and who have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins will receive their just punishment from God.

The day is coming when Christ Jesus will reveal Himself to both believers and unbelievers. When Paul spoke of the Second Coming in relation to believers, he spoke of the Rapture and used the Greek word parousia, meaning "presence" or "coming." For believers, the return of Christ is the presence with them of the One they know. But in verse 7, when Paul wrote "when the Lord Jesus is revealed," he used the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning "revelation," "unveiling," or "uncovering." It refers to the idea of manifesting or making known that which was previously hidden or secret. Here the Second Coming is spoken of in relation to unbelievers. Jesus, who was previously hidden, will reveal Himself in all His glory to those who do not know or worship Him. This is the Day of the Lord when Jesus comes to judge the unbelievers.

Note the three phrases used in verse 7 describing this revealing of Christ to unbelievers: (1) He will be revealed "from heaven." Just as Jesus visibly ascended into heaven, so His return will be just as visible. As the angels told His disciples, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11); (2) He will be revealed "with His mighty angels," literally, "the angels of His power." They are His instruments. They "gather" the unbelievers together and "cast them into the furnace" (Matt. 13:41-42); and, (3) He will be revealed "in flaming fire." This fire is the fire of judgment. The fire of God's judgment is so much a part of His divine nature that the Bible declares, "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29; cf. Deut. 4:24).

The Lord Jesus will return "from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire" (vs. 7b-8a) and He will bring retribution to those who persecute you. Therefore, stand firm, even in the midst of suffering. Never turn away from the Lord your God. Amen.

Rewarded by Salvation

First Thessalonians 5:4 begins with "but": "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief." Paul moves from the fact that unbelievers will be surprised by judgment to the fact that believers will not be surprised when they are rewarded by salvation. Unlike our unbelieving friends who are not prepared, we are prepared—we are ready through our faith and trust in Jesus. As verse 5 points out, "You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." Turn to the Lord and rely upon His death and resurrection, and you will not be in darkness, as those who are without faith.

How should we then live? "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (vs. 6-8). Because of who you are in Christ, you must "watch and be sober." Be ever watchful, alert, waiting for the Lord's return. Live by that expectant hope. But also be "sober" (v. 6). Live as people "who are of the day" (v. 8) because that is exactly who you are! Unbelievers "sleep at night" and "are drunk at night" (v. 7). They hide under cover of darkness to try and hide their evil deeds. As believers we should have nothing to hide under darkness. Rather, we should live as Christ lived. We are to follow Jesus in our living and be doing what He wants us to be doing when He returns.

"Sleep" (vs. 6-7) is a different word than the one used to refer to death in First Thessalonians 4:13-15. Here in First Thessalonians 5:6-7, sleep means to be asleep spiritually, indifferent toward God, living as if there will be no judgment. Paul is warning us. Do not get caught living the same lifestyle as those who are unprepared for the Lord's return. Be awake, be alert, be watchful, be sober!

That is what verse 8 is all about. "Putting on the breastplate of faith and love" (v. 8b) means to live daily by faith in Christ and show your faith by loving God and allowing God to love others through you. "Putting on… as a helmet the hope of salvation" (v. 8c) refers to our unwavering "hope" (v. 8c) or trust in Christ alone for our salvation. Faith, love, and hope together provide an excellent defense against temptation. Live by faith, love, and hope in Christ and you will find yourself prepared and ready when Christ gathers us together in the air to take us to heaven.

Note the truth Paul adds in verses 9-10: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." Perhaps the most sobering truth of Scripture is that God will judge the wicked and send them to eternal hell. I would be remiss if I avoided this truth from the pulpit. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus said, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." But, the truth of First Thessalonians 5:9-10 is that "God did not appoint us to wrath" (v. 9a). Rather, He has destined those of us who have received the Lord by faith "to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us" (vs. 9b-10a).

"Who died for us" (v. 10a) gives us the sole basis for our salvation. Christ "died for us" (v. 10a). Christ died on our behalf. Christ died in our place as our substitute. Because of our sin, Christ had to die in our place as our substitute to gain for us forgiveness and eternal life. Amen!

The great truth for all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith is that whether we are "awake" (meaning alive), or "asleep" (meaning dead) "we will live together with Him" (v. 10b, NASB). As Paul says in verse 11: "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." Encourage each other and build each other up with these words—words that speak volumes as to how we ought to live in Christ.

Remember, it is unbelievers who will be taken by surprise by the Day of the Lord and sudden judgment. We who believe, on the other hand, will be rewarded by salvation in that Day. Amen.

Surprised by Judgment

First Thessalonians 5:1-3 states clearly, "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."

First let's come to grips with a couple of terms. The Rapture refers to the time when believers will be "caught up" (1 Thess. 4:17) in the air to meet the Lord Jesus. It is at this time that all believers will be taken to heaven to spend eternity with Jesus. The word rapture does not appear in Scripture. The Greek word translated "caught up" in verse 17 is harpazo, which literally means "to snatch away." When it was translated into Latin, harpazo was rendered rapturo. And so the Latin word rapturo easily turns into the English word rapture. Although our English translations use a more literal rendering of this word, such as "caught up" or "snatched away," the sense of the word rapture is certainly present.

Second is the term "the Day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2). This term has been understood as narrow as the day that Christ returns to set foot on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem to judge the unbelievers. It has been defined as broad as everything from the Rapture through the day Christ returns in judgment of unbelievers, including the seven years of the Great Tribulation, and sometimes even as continuing through the millennial kingdom, or the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. For Paul it seems that "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) as he refers to it here, is that day when Christ returns to earth in judgment upon unbelievers. It is the day Christ comes in the clouds and everyone sees Him—the day He sets foot on earth again.

And so, as Paul turns his attention from "the Rapture" (1 Thess. 4:17) to "the Day of the Lord" (1 Thess. 5:2). Note how he describes this event and how it affects especially unbelievers. He begins by telling them that "concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you" (v. 1). Why?  "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night" (v. 2).  He adds in verse 3a: "For when they say, 'Peace and Safety!'" which could be translated, "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!'" (NASB), indicating the suddenness with which "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will strike.

"As a thief in the night" (v. 2b) indicates that it will come stealthily. A thief comes in very quietly in the middle of the night so that the owner of the house is taken completely by surprise when he awakes to find his valuables missing. A stealth bomber is a plane "designed in such a way that it cannot be detected by radar. It can come upon an enemy unexpectedly, without warning" (Ray C. Stedman, Waiting For the Second Coming, [Discovery House Publishers: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1990], 85).

In other words, what Paul is saying is that "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will come upon unbelievers stealthily, without warning, at a time when "peace and safety" (v. 3a) seem to prevail. Despite all that has happened with the sudden rapture of the saints to heaven and all the destruction that has come upon the earth during the Great Tribulation, unbelievers will be so blinded by the false promises of the antichrist that they will be hollering "peace and safety" (v. 3a) and will be taken completely by surprise when Christ returns.

"So comes" (v. 2b) or "will come" (NASB) is a vivid futuristic present verb that portrays "the day as already on its way with an arrival anticipated any time" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 281). "The Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will come soon and it will come as a complete surprise to unbelievers. When they believe they are beyond reach by God, He will reach down in judgment. There will be no warning.

Paul goes on in verse 3b: "then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman." Destruction means "utter and hopeless ruin, a loss of everything worthwhile, causing the victims to despair of life itself" (Ibid, 282). It refers to total separation from God. Unbelievers are not totally annihilated, but are given over to wrath and denied the privileges of salvation, which are reserved for those who trust in Christ. The pronoun "them" (v. 3a) tells us that this destruction is reserved only for unbelievers. Believers will not experience "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) as they will have already been raptured away. Again Paul states that this judgment will come suddenly "as labor pains upon a pregnant woman" (v. 3b). There will be no warning.

Paul concludes verse 3: "And they shall not escape." The tragedy of it all is that unbelievers all around us who are not prepared for "the Day of the Lord" (v. 2) will not escape divine judgment. Hebrews 2:3 says, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" This should motivate us to evangelize the lost who live around us. And for anyone who is not prepared, this should lead you to take the only way God has given you to escape—place your faith in the Lord Jesus right now by accepting the forgiveness He has offered you through the cross. Trust the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and you will escape the judgment that is reserved for unbelievers in that Day. Amen.