A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.
As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
In our previous post, we tried to understand the metaphor Paul uses of the woman in labor and I suggested two conditions for those related to a woman in labor. The end result of a woman’s labor – that is a child being born – is both anticipated and inevitable. Anticipated by the woman in labor much more passionately than the old husband, but that is beside the point!
For our passage this morning, Paul speaks his message directly to the believers, reminding them that they are not in darkness, as those outside of the church are. In our verse this morning, we have the beginning of Paul’s description of who these believers are. In our next verse, we will see the positive description, but for our verse this morning, Paul provides what these believer are not.
They are not in darkness.
Darkness can come about in various ways.
- One born blind has only experienced darkness.
- Those with perfect eyesight experience a blindness, or darkness (to a degree) every 24 hours.
Both of these conditions produce an ignorance of the surroundings due to the darkness each experience.
Paul is not referring to a physical blindness though. Yet the similarities of spiritual darkness carries over into the believers life.
We all were born blind, in a darkness that was common, and easily accepted. We knew no better. And there were some who sought to keep it that way.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul is specific in defining the light we were provided while in darkness, and as believers, our eyes have been opened, the light has been provided, and we can now see. Ignorance of our surroundings has instantly evaporated and we are able to begin comprehending the true nature of our surroundings, our situation in this life.
Yet there is a darkness that even those with perfect eyesight can experience. It is that darkness that is imposed on us by an obstruction of light, possibly obscuring our surroundings. That is a condition that some, if not all believers, sometimes experience. I confess that though the Lord has provided this ol saint light and the sight to see it, I retain an ignorance that is somewhat astounding at times. (The paradoxes of being a Christian!)
Yet Paul tells us we are not in darkness.
Even at times when we don’t quite understand the specific will of God for our lives, we are not in darkness. We know who the Savior is, that He is coming back, and that He has rescued us from our sin, and will soon rescue us from this fallen world.
That light alone is blinding, and has opened our eyes. But Paul has more than that to teach us in our next verse.
Hope to “see” you then.
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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
