He is Coming
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· 20 viewsThe fact of Christ’s coming should not be a hindrance to our work, for it is His coming that should be our motivation for going, growing, and glowing.
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Introduction
Introduction
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
Christ’s coming is drawing neigh and the trials of life seem to be growing day by day. It is easy for us to become complacent and to hide away in our homes and churches. But the fact of Christ’s coming should not be a hindrance to our work, for it is His coming that should be our motivation for going, growing, and glowing.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Work, for the night is coming,
Work, for the night is coming,
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
The Apostle Paul told the believers that to the lost world Christ coming would be as a thief. It will surprise them, for when they think they have finally found peace, God’s wrath would be poured out.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:36-
Yet to the believer the immanent return of Christ is a motivation.
Yet to the believer the immanent return of Christ is a motivation.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
For those who know Christ as Saviour, His coming will not leave us desolate, but victorious.
can rejoice for the return of Christ does not come upon us as thief, but as our greatest victory.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Corinthians 15:
Paul’s message to the believers in Thessalonica challenges us that
The immanent return of Christ should be a motivation.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
For those who know Christ as our Saviour, His coming will not leave us desolate, but victious.
For those who know Christ as our Saviour, His coming will not be a surprise attack leaving us desolate, but a glorious future reality. Through his letter to the believers in Thessalonica Paul reveals that...
Through his letter to the believers in Thessalonica Paul reveals that...
The Coming of Christ Exemplifies the Believer ()
The Coming of Christ Exemplifies the Believer ()
Join me in chapter 1 and we will begin reading in verse 6.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
The Greek word underlying “examples” in verse 7 expresses “something that is the pattern of conformity, something to be imitated, or type of something”.
Because of their focus on the soon return of Christ the believers in Thessalonica became patterns by which other believers should follow. Because of their focus on their heavenly home and reward it provided a comfort which allowed them to endure much affliction for their faith. They believed in Christ despite being mocked and forsaken by family. They preached the Word despite being ridiculed, imprisoned, or martyred. They gave the surrounding churches a testimony to live by.
Presently in the western world we do not face many of the same trails of faith these early believers experienced. Yet many times we do face difficulties for our faith. Perhaps you have been rejected by family for accepting Christ as your Saviour. Perhaps for your witness at work you have been mocked or even denied employment. When faced with trials such as these, it can be easy to become complacent and try to hide our faith till the return of Christ, but this is the exact opposite of what should happen.
Our anticipation of Christ’s soon return should excite us so much that our lives will become living testimonies of the faith.
Their patient outlook of Christ’s return motivated the Thessalonians to faithfully follow the teachings of the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy, and then pushed them forward to communicate that same truths to their community despite what was in store for them. They were not afraid of the cross they were called to bear.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Albert Barnes writes:
[To carry one’s cross denotes] that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or is trying, or is considered disgraceful, in following Christ. It consists simply in doing our duty, let the people of the world think of it or speak of it as they may. It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely to be opposed; it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. {Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 115). London: Blackie & Son.}
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:7-
Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 115). London: Blackie & Son.
...that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or is trying, or is considered disgraceful, in following Christ. It consists simply in doing our duty, let the people of the world think of it or speak of it as they may. It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely to be opposed; it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. {Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 115). London: Blackie & Son.}
When compared to this new life in Christ and the rewards set before us in heaven, those things which we hold so dear in this world (the fame of knowledge, the fame of wealth, the fame of popularity, the fame of success) should be considered nothing more than something to be flushed down the toilet or thrown in the bin, never to be recovered, freeing us to move forward with patience and bask in the glory set before us.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1
Hebrews 12:1
Film maker Walt Disney was ruthless in cutting anything that got in the way of a story’s pacing. Ward Kimball, one of the animators for SNOW WHITE, recalls working 240 days on a 4–1/2- minute sequence in which the dwarfs made soup for Snow White and almost destroyed the kitchen in the process. Disney thought it was funny, but he decided the scene stopped the flow of the picture, so out it went.
Which should free us to move forward with patience and bask in the glory set before us.
When the film of our lives is shown, will it be as great as it might be? A lot will depend on the multitude of ‘good’ things we need to eliminate to make way for the great things God wants to do through us. (Kenneth Langley) {Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.}
Kenneth Langley
When you fully grasp the glory that awaits, everything else down here seems so small.
Romans 8:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[1] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
should aid in the growth of our testimony. Creating our lives as examples to other believers to rise up and run their race as well.
Paving the way for you to become a living testimony and fulfil your calling as an example and influence in the lives of others.
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Matthew 5:
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
But then Paul continues to show us the motivating power of the immanent return of Christ by sharing that
The Coming of Christ Exhorts the Believer ()
The Coming of Christ Exhorts the Believer ()
Through chapter 2 Paul shares his personal testimony about the time he spent in Thessalonica. Look with me in beginning in verse 9.
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:
Paul laboured relentlessly night and day among the Thessalonians. He selflessly cared for them as one would care for their own children, and the motivation was not his ministry status and popularity, but the reward and joy to see them at that great meeting in the air.
The motivation for his relentless and selfless service while among them was the reward and joy to see them at that great meeting in the air.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
He shares with them that the reason he labored with such vigor while in among them was because his greatest joy and desire was to see the believers from Thessalonica in heaven. The coming of the Lord exhorted Paul to preach the Gospel fervently, truthfully, and blamelessly. Just look at how Paul ministered in Thessalonica.
1 Thess
It was the coming of the Lord that exhorted Paul to preach the Gospel fervently, truthfully, and blamelessly.
The coming of the Lord exhorted Paul to preach the Gospel fervently, truthfully, and blamelessly. Just look at how Paul ministered in Thessalonica.
The immanence of Christ’s return exhorts us to fervently preach the Gospel to our communities and world. His return draws nigh as every second passes, and we do not well to sit in our homes and churches and not be about our Father’s business.
Paul W. Powell, in The Complete Disciple, described this condition: “Many churches today remind me of a laboring crew trying to gather in a harvest while they sit in the tool shed. They go to the tool shed every Sunday and they study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and then get up and go home. Then they come back that night, study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and go home again. They comeback Wednesday night, and again study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and get up and go home. They do this week in and week out, year in and year out, and nobody ever goes out into the fields to gather in the harvest.” {Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.}
We long for His return, but so easily forget the reason He has not yet come.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2 Peter
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
It is not that God has forgotten, or that He doesn’t care; but it is because He does care so much for mankind that He is willing to prolong that day in order that all would accept Christ. Paul understood the fact that his days were not numbered yet, because there was still work to be done. There was still a message that needed to be delivered.
It is not that God has forgotten, or that He doesn’t care; but it is because He does care so much for humnity that He is willing to prolong that day in order that all would accept Christ. Paul understood that every moment he remained on this earth was another moment for work to be done. There was still a message that needed to be delivered to family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, and more.
Paul W. Powell, in The Complete Disciple, described this condition: “Many churches today remind me of a laboring crew trying to gather in a harvest while they sit in the tool shed. They go to the tool shed every Sunday and they study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and then get up and go home. Then they come back that night, study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and go home again. They comeback Wednesday night, and again study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and get up and go home. They do this week in and week out, year in and year out, and nobody ever goes out into the fields to gather in the harvest.” {Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.}
Our King is coming, and will inquire of us what we have done with the resources He has left us.
[1] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
Our King is coming, and will inquire of us what we have done with the resources He has left us.
Luke 19:
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Will you be the one with ten pounds who gained ten more? Will you be the one with pounds who gained five? Or will you be the one given ten pounds, but has chosen to hide them in the ground? Follow the example of the ones who gained ten and five. The coming of their King exhorted them to put their mites to the changes that they may present their reward to their precious King.
Will you be the one with ten pounds (or minas) who gained ten more? Or maybe even the one who gained five? Or will you be like the one given ten, but chose to hide them in the ground? Follow the example of the ones who gained ten and five. The coming of their King exhorted them to put their money to the traders that they could present an even greater reward to their precious King upon His arrival.
If you truly believe the coming of the Lord to be imminent it will exhort you to action.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
As we we enter chapter 3 we find Paul transition from sharing his joy of the coming of Christ to what God ‘s joy is for each believer showing that...
The Coming of Christ Establishes the Believer ()
The Coming of Christ Establishes the Believer ()
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Paul stresses the fact that the goal and desire of God for every believer is that we would be established in holiness.
It is God’s will for us to be holy as He is holy.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
It is God’s will for us to be holy as He is holy.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Thessalonians 4:
And as we patiently await the blessed hope, when we will put off this mortality and to be clothed in immortality, we are established in holy living.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
yet we face a problem. We are in a constant battle within our lives of pleasing God or pleasing self, and until we reach glory we are a constant work in progress. Paul continues this challenge in the next chapter.
We patiently await the blessed hope, when we will put off the mortality and put on immortality. Yet as we watch and pray this sure hope establishes us in holy living motivating us to add to our faith.
We are in a constant battle within our lives of pleasing God or pleasing self, and until we reach glory we are a constant work in progress. In his second epistle Peter reminds us of the great blessings and hope we have in Jesus Christ.
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Titus 2:11-
We are in a constant battle within our lives of pleasing God or pleasing self, and until we reach glory we are a constant work in progress. Paul continues this challenge in the next chapter.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
But that great hope is to motivate us to movement. We must move on from this basic knowledge and put feet to these promises. We must add to our faith.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
God’s desire is to see us established in holiness, yet until we reach those golden shores we must be growing and building upon our faith. We must “abound more and more”.
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
A man by the name of Tim Hansel tells a story of a close friend of his. Tim’s friend was asked back to his forty-year high school reunion. For months he saved to take his wife back to the place and the people he’d left four decades before. The closer the time came for the reunion, the more excited he became, thinking of all the wonderful stories he would hear about the changes and the accomplishments these old friends would tell him.
One night before he left he even pulled out his old yearbooks, read the silly statements and the good wishes for the future that students write to each other. He wondered what ol’ Number 86 from his football team had done. He wondered if any others had encountered this Christ who had changed him so profoundly. He even tried to guess what some of his friends would look like, and what kind of jobs and families some of these special friends had.
The day came to leave and Tim drove them to the airport. Their energy was almost contagious. Tim said, “I’ll pick you up on Sunday evening, and you can tell me all about it. Have a great time.”
Sunday evening arrived. As Tim watched them get off the plane, his friend seemed almost despondent. Tim was almost afraid to ask, but finally said, “Well, how was the reunion?” “Tim,” the man said, “it was one of the saddest experiences of my life.” “Good grief,” I said, more than a little surprised. “What happened?” “It wasn’t what happened but what didn’t happen. It has been forty years, forty years—and they haven’t changed. They had simply gained weight, changed clothes, gotten jobs…but they hadn’t really changed. And what I experienced was maybe one of the most tragic things I could ever imagine about life. For reasons I can’t fully understand, it seems as though some people choose not to change.”
There was a long silence as they walked back to the car. On the drive home, the friend turned to Tim and said, “I never, never want that to be said of me, Tim. Life is too precious, too sacred, too important. If you ever see me go stagnant like that, I hope you’ll love me enough to challenge me to keep growing.” (Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 54-55) {Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.}
Believing in the immanent return of Christ establishes you in holiness. It motivates you to keep growing and abounding in this great calling of God, but then lastly Paul shows us that
Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 54-55[1]
The Coming of Christ Encourages the Believer ()
The Coming of Christ Encourages the Believer ()
[1] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
At the close of chapter 4 Paul offers some wonderful words of comfort. Beginning in verse 13.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Obviously the believers in Thessalonica had lost fellow believers either to martyrdom or old age. They were grieved, but to the believer he must take heart that physical death is not the end, for those who are in Christ we shall see again.
I think of the many who have had a profound impact upon my life and the many who have passed away. My mourning can be turned to joy for, one day, I will see them again. Bethany and I have been blessed with saved great grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Many of these have passed on, but we can rejoice for we will see them in that great meeting in the air. We are encouraged by the sure hope of embracing them again.
These believers were probably also wearisome of the constant persecution and hardships of life. Paul challenges them to take comfort in the fact that Christ is coming back for them too. It is so easy to be discouraged by the cares of this life, yet…
There is coming a day, when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forever more, on that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be.
6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We have the promise of His coming, and these manifold temptations we face now are but for a season. So endure affliction and realise that the trial of faith you are facing will only make your life shine brighter at the appearing of Christ. Be encouraged family of God for Christ is coming.
we have the promise of His coming, and these manifold temptations we face now are but for a season. So endure affliction and realise that the trial of faith you are facing will only make your life shine brighter at the appearing of Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There’s a man in yonder glory I have loved for many years, He has cleared my guilty conscience and has banished all my fears.
He is coming in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, and no time will be allotted for you to utter one good-bye.
No time to kiss the husband or embrace the loving wife, if they are but united in the bonds of holy life.
Are you ready, Christian, ready, for shout and trump and voice? Will His coming make you tremble or cause you to rejoice?
Are you walking, talking with Him daily, and taking Him your care? Do you live so close to heaven that a breath would waft you there? (Quoted in Fairest of All, Herbert Lockyer, Eerdmans, 1936, p. 71) {Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.}
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:40-42
Quoted in Fairest of All, Herbert Lockyer, Eerdmans, 1936, p. 71[1]
Christ return draws nigh. Are you hiding and holding out? Are you satisfied with that fire insurance policy? Or are you going, growing, and glowing? A firm belief in the coming of Christ should exemplify your faith, exhort your faith, establish your faith, and encourage your faith.
Christ return draws nigh. Are you hiding and holding out? Are you satisfied with that fire insurance policy? Or are you going, growing, and glowing? A firm belief in the coming of Christ should exemplify your faith, exhort your faith, establish your faith, and encourage your faith. Look with me at chapter 5 again.
Look with me at chapter 5 again.
1 Thessalonians 5:7-
Work for the night is coming.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
[1] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.