Don't Get Sleepy! 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

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The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 
Paul returns to the subject of the Day of the Lord, which refers again to the second coming of Christ.  Because Jesus himself had mentioned his coming again, Paul certainly knew about it.  Paul takes the focus off of predicting an exact date of Jesus' return and instead on what it means to be ready.  He uses the metaphor of a thief coming in the middle of the night.  As the analogy goes, if the owner of the house knew when the thief was coming, he would be on guard and awake.  
Then Paul turns to how they can be ready for this Day of the Lord.  He uses two more metaphors.  The first one is light.  Since they are believers in Christ, they are children of the light.  When they came to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit brought them into the light.  Since they were children of the day, they only needed to live like it.  This was their new identity, so they did not have to return to darkness.  After all why would want to stumble around in the darkness if they can be in the light of the day.  
Second, he uses the analogy of sleep.  He is not referring to physical sleep, but using the metaphor to refer to spiritual sleep.   "Paul uses a different word here than for the sleep of death mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. “The word sleep is here used metaphorically to denote indifference to spiritual realities on the part of believers. It is a different word than that in 4:13-15 for the sleep of death. It covers all sorts of moral and spiritual laxity or insensibility.” (Hiebert) 
What does it mean to be awake and not asleep at the wheel?  What does it mean to be sober and alert?  I think it means you are paying attention to the things God is doing on this earth and being a part of them.  I think it means being aware of the needs of others and loving them like Christ loves you ...unconditionally.  I think it means not getting caught up in sinful patterns and behaviors that dull your spiritual senses.  I think it means that you are living a life worthy of your calling in Christ so that you are ready when he returns whenever that would be and you won't be ashamed because you have given your life to something and someone bigger than yourself.    

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