God's Cosmic Plan!

Another great lesson from Charles Cosby!

God’s Cosmic Plan!


1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 23, 24. When is “when” the wrong question ____?



A few years ago, the end times were on the minds of Christians and many books were written to explain them. Some writers even went so far as to indicate a questionable date of when Christ would return. Because in the minds of the people, they wanted to know “when” this would all take place. How wrong this was because it is not for us to know the day and hour when God will send Jesus Christ back to receive His own. They were asking the wrong question. “When”, is not for us to know. A better question would be; “what” must I do in the meantime or how can I remain faithful until Christ returns?

Today, one does not hear much about the end times; one, it does not sell books. Two, it has been forgotten because the preachers have moved away from controversial subjects. Three, Christians are not concerned with the end times but have joined the world in seeking all the gusto they can; living only for today.

In the early Church, the return of the Lord Jesus was very much on their minds. But as usual, error had crept into true doctrine. The people in Thessalonica were worried the Lord may have already come and they were left behind, or those who have died before Christ’s return would miss out on His Kingdom. Some began to question if Jesus really was going to come back and set up His kingdom. Being under great pressure from the very large Greek community around them, some began to flirt with loose living. Taking part, in the worship of the Greek gods on near by Mt. Olympus. Thessalonica was a key Roman colony devoted to the philosophy of Rome with a god-like worship of Caesar. Both situations had a heavy influence on the believers in Thessalonica. Paul was writing to them, encouraging them, to live their lives modestly, yet being consistently active in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the pressures we are submitted to today!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape”. Folks, know this, the Lord Jesus does not come as a “thief in the night” to His Church. We have many writers such as Paul in 1Thessalonians 4:15, Matthew 24:44-45, 2 Peter 3:10, all warning of the “Day of the Lord” that is coming. . We, the Christian, are to look for the return of Jesus (the Rapture) which will take place before the “Day of the Lord”. The “Day of the Lord” will have no effect on the believer as they will already be in Heaven. The “Day of the Lord” is the judgment of evil.

2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. It is the world, who will experience the “Day of the Lord”, the Tribulation, Christ’s final return, and the White Throne Judgment, as a “thief in the night”. They will be saying peace and safety, all is well, living it up, enjoying life. God will say enough is enough and end Man’s time on earth. Take heart dear Christian, you will not be here for this terrible event. You will be in Heaven with Jesus Christ, our Lord. At Christ’s first coming, “the dead in Christ will rise first and then we that remain will be called up to join them in the air”, 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”. You are a child of the Light, Jesus, for He is light. You are not in the darkness of sin, as the world is. What an analogy Paul uses here, “Children of light and children of darkness”! When you became a believer, you became a child of light. You are in Christ Jesus, who is light, living in Heaven forever. You left the darkness, the domain of Satan, black with sin and shame, doomed to an eternity in Hell. This is unexpected by the world, unstoppable by Satan and Man, and inescapable if you die in your sins. If you are still living in Satan’s darkness of sin and shame, confess your sins to Christ and ask Him to save you from this terrible place. Do this now before it is too late.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”. Knowing this, then how should we be living? Though we see those of the world sleeping in their sin and shame, stumbling about in the drunkenness of fame, power, and hellish living, we are not to envy them or want what they think they may have. Why long for their slumbering ways, when it will only bring us sorrow, heartache, and separation from the fellowship of God. We, as believers are blessed with the filling of the Holy Spirit of God, to walk in light and knowledge. We are not going to pay the awful price they will pay for their unforgiven sins. We are to walk the Christian life with purpose and self-control, knowing we are fulfilling God’s ultimate plan. The salvation of all who come to Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 5:8-9, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul is reminding us of who we are. We are the chosen of God, the day dwellers, illuminated by the light of Christ. We already have the breastplate of faith and love covering our body in the form of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. He is our shield from the fiery darts of Satan. We have the helmet, the promise of Salvation written in the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, on the cross of Calvary. There is no wrath awaiting us. The love of God and the forever protection of His promises are our reward for receiving and trusting in Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I

put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)”.

1 Thessalonians 5:11, 19-24 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying (preaching). Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it”. “When” is a tantalizing question but it is clearly the wrong one. We want to know how long we can play around before we have to get serious with God is what we are asking. We cannot wait until the last minute to serve God or accept Him as our Savior. We are not promised tomorrow or even the rest of this day. We must walk in the light of day in the power of the Holy Spirit, encouraging our brothers and sisters, and offering Salvation to all that are lost. We must place all our faith and confidence in the One that is faithful, the One, who goes before us in the battles of life, and the One, who will ultimately come and take us to be with Him in our new home in Heaven. Amen!

Prepared by Charles Cosby for the Internet Sunday school class.