Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian Christians reminded them of the importance of maintaining their identity in a culture which viewed matters of lifestyle, belief, and eternal destiny very differently to them. Maintaining that identity included living and acting consistent with it, and not behaving in ways which reflected the wider society in which they lived.
The topic of when Jesus would return raised another reminder of how the Thessalonian Christians, and indeed all Christians, have a very different identity to non-Christians. That identity affects our eternal destiny. It also affects our awareness of Christ’s coming return, and how we should live in the meantime. Unlike the false sense of security that non-believers live with, we have a genuine security in our identity as children of the light. The way to be prepared for when Jesus returns is to understand what it means to believe in Christ and live by it.
The unbeliever, resting in a false sense of peace and security, would be swept away suddenly with destruction at Christ’s unexpected return, just as a thief appears in the night unexpectedly to plunder. Unlike this, Christians “are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (v.4).
Instead, we are “all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness” (v.5). Our identity as children of the light, as Christians, fundamentally separates us from unbelievers who continue in darkness.
The darkness-light distinction is reflected elsewhere in Scripture, such as in Isaiah 9:2 which, referring to the coming Messiah, states “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” John’s Gospel describes Christ as the true light, who could not be overcome by darkness (Jn 1:4-9). Jesus spoke of himself as the light of the world who ensures his followers will “not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).
Light, unlike darkness, reveals, warms, and provides life. Christians receive revelation, warmth towards God, and life through our relationship with Jesus. This is fundamental to our identity, not an optional add-on.
Our identity has implications for how we live. “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober” (v.6). We should not sleep like the unbelieving world, but be alert and vigilant to what is going on, and self-controlled. This echoes Jesus’ teachings on his return (cf. Matt 24:42-44).
The need for self-control is expanded in verse seven, where Paul states “for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.” In other words, activities of the night, commonly associated with inappropriate and drunken behaviour, are not consistent with being alert and self-controlled. Participating in the acts of the world lulls us to sleep (in a metaphorical sense) instead of keeping us vigilant and aware of God’s soon-coming judgement. Likewise worldly living, described as a form of spiritual drunkenness, deadens us to the things of God.
Instead, since we belong to the day, “let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (v.8). Where the previous two verses are negative, this verse and its application is positive.
Using military imagery, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to rest in and cultivate faith, hope, and love. The emphasis in particular is on the hope of salvation. By this, Paul is referring to the expectation of the full and final experience of salvation at Christ’s return, when the deliverance from sin and judgement we experience now is made even more complete.
In the meantime, the Thessalonian believers were to wage war against worldliness and sin in their lives, and trust in their sure salvation even when they were dazed by their foe’s attacks.
We too are children of the light. Being children of the light means being delivered from God’s judgement, and having the sure hope of salvation. It is not something we need to fight for, it is something we are given. We are given revelation of our sin, and our salvation in Jesus Christ. Our hearts are warmed towards the things of God, not the world. And we receive eternal life, lived truly now and for all time.
Since we are children of the light, we should be vigilant to and disciplined against the enticements of the world, so that we do not fall asleep to the prospect of Christ’s return, or become drunk in sinful worldly ways. We should live as if Jesus is coming soon, even if it is not for another thousand years, and be ready for his appearance.
Being children of the light means standing out, standing apart, from the world and its ways. We pursue Christ. We pursue greater faith, hope, and love in each and every one of our lives.
As we forsake our sins, and the sinful pleasures this world offers, we are becoming what we are. Children of the light.
