Encourage One Another

KEY VERSE: “Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.” —I Thessalonians 5:6

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Thessalonians 4:13-18

THE Lord’s people who are living up to their privileges in these last days are enlightened concerning the meaning of events which are fast destroying a world, and can therefore view them from God’s standpoint. Because of this they have peace of heart and mind while they wait confidently for their union with the Lord in the kingdom, and for the promised privilege of sharing with him in the blessed future work of blessing the whole creation which now groans and travails in pain as God’s new order is being born.

There are many prophecies which indicate that the unbelieving world will be far from ‘sober’ during this great time of trouble. “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wit’s end,” says the psalmist. (Ps. 107:27) Fear shall take hold of them, and because of this their hearts shall fail. In this state of desperation the world gropes blindly on for something to support them—some panacea for their troubles.

The condition of the world is the result of their being in darkness. The destruction which comes upon them is “unexpected.” Mankind desperately seeks to bring about peace and safety, and desiring that security for all will indeed be attained. Many are still confident it can, and are endeavoring to form an order of things in which it is hoped that peace will be guaranteed for generations to come.

The human race is not enlightened concerning the fact that this is the Day of the Lord. They are of the night, and are not awake or aware of the true meaning of events. (I Thess. 5:7) “But we are not of the night, nor of the darkness,” writes the apostle. Have we really grasped the full importance of these words? Do we realize that to the extent they are true of us, we have been freed from fear and the symbolic intoxication of the world, and can enjoy peace and tranquility of heart and mind? Just as the prophet wrote, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”—Ps. 46:1-3

If we are not of the night, then we are responsible for making proper use of the knowledge with which we have been blessed. Faith in God and in his truth leads to a loving devotion of our wills to him in full consecration and daily striving to fulfill our consecration vows, doing his will—serving him, his truth, and the brethren.

And how completely this should and does lift the Christian out of the chaotic environment which is wracking the nerves of the worldly and causing their hearts to fail them for fear. True, we are still in the world, but our interests are so wholly different and our vantage point of faith so exalted above the level of the world’s fears that we enjoy a separateness from the things with which we are surrounded so complete that our hearts rejoice and our lips shout the praises of him who is the Lord of the new day which our vision of faith enables us to see is now dawning.

We have been commissioned to tell the world about God’s plan of salvation—his kingdom plan—which is the only solution for humanity’s problems. This is our present share in the divine program. We are to be messengers of peace, and hope, and love. We are to be the standard-bearers of righteousness in a world that has cast down righteousness and truth. We are to be ambassadors of the kingdom of righteousness and peace while the institutions of the present world are crumbling. What a blessed privilege it is to be children of the light, children of the day. And how highly we have been favored! Let us walk worthy of this high honor!

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