Peace And Security

         I've relayed this story in past posts quite a few times; someone once asked Martin Luther what he would do if he knew for certain that Jesus was coming back the next day. Luther's answer was that he would "plant a tree." His intent is obvious. We are to continue on this pilgrimage of our Christian walk right up until that time of the Lord's return, whether it seems imminent or not. I believe that Luther's advice was sound.
         This past Saturday morning I took a little day trip to some outlets about an hour north of our home. I reached into the glove compartment to see what R. C. Sproul cd's (www.ligonier.org) I might have on hand. One of them was on the Old Testament book of Amos which my wife and I had listened to previously. That doesn't matter at all to me. I listened to it on the way up to the outlets........ listened to it again on the way back.....and was in the middle of a third playing when I arrived back home. Does that sound fanatical to you. Well, it's about as fanatical as breathing. I might add that without this type of "fanaticism" we far too often wind up being influenced by the world's pastimes.
         This post today is really on one thought...one verse from the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians. I bring it up because I rarely hear these words emphasized and expounded upon and because it is important in God's last days timetable whether the Second Coming of our Lord is near...or even nearer still. The verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Paul is writing here about the "Day of the Lord," that time when God will step in to judge the world.  He writes..."While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them." (ESV)
         It's important that Christians know that a false peace and a false security precede the beginning of the climatic events. I know that this concept is never far from my mind. I would be more concerned if the world started celebrating peace and security if than if they started gearing up for war.  That's not to say that imminent wars are not times of great concern. My past two posts speak to that. Rather it's more to avoid concern... only...only... when things are unstable. The "thief in the night" terminology of this same book of 1 Thessalonians should not describe the Christian. When the world says in unison "peace and security," it should draw us even closer to God's Word, particularly His prophetic Word.