“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

-Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope

Thessalonians 5:1-11

Christ will return, and this great truth anchors our hearts.

Paul, however, wanted Christians to see the application of this truth in their daily lives, so he focused on the state of believers in this life.

I Thessalonians 5:⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

As children of light, we can see truth.  We can also see evil for what it is.  As children of the day, we are to be focused on the Lord and alert to the snares of sin.  It is so easy to get caught up in the pressures and difficulties of this life.  If we are not careful, we forget who we are in Christ, and our light is hidden to the world.

The Christian’s salvation is secure, paid in full by the blood of Christ, but we are still in a battle in this life.  Paul warns us to be fully armored with breastplate of faith and love (protecting the core of our being) and the helmet of the hope of salvation (protecting our minds with the absolute assurance of eternity).

This life can cause our hearts to become hardened, but faith and love keep our hearts functioning in the service of Christ.  We are subject to doubts that rob us of our joy, but hope anchored in the character of God lets us walk through darkness assured of our destination.

Some days I feel like my light has become tarnished and cloudy.  Today is a good day to shine up the light bulb of faith by confessing any sin and worshipping our Savior.  Let’s light our world!

Matthew 5:¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.