“You are all sons of light and sons of the day.” (1 Thess. 5:5, NKJV)
Paul has reminded us that as “brethren” we as Christians are not in darkness (1 Thess. 5:4). Perhaps we could put it that we are no longer in darkness, because we were once of the darkness, at home in the darkness, and captive to the darkness.
The fact that we are not in darkness now speaks to our redemption. As the apostle put it elsewhere, our Father God “has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). While were born citizens of the kingdom of this perishing world, we were redeemed by Christ and enfolded into His kingdom of life and light and peace.
Our new state of being manifests itself in new identity and mandates new allegiance. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)” (Eph. 5:8–9).
Paul presses home the reality and ramifications of our deliverance to the Thessalonians. “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” (1 Thess. 5:5–7).
As brethren we are all sons of light and sons of the day. Being sons of light contrasts with being children of darkness. Light describes us in relation to our Father who is light and our union with Christ as the light of life.
While sons of light speaks to our being, sons of the day refers to the realm to which we belong by virtue of our Lord’s deliverance. Though we are in the world of darkness, we are not of it. Because we are sons of day, we are light in the world and light to the world.
Having established our new identity and position, Paul brings application. “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” (1 Thess. 5:6–7).
While others (those without hope) are unaware of their state and the danger that awaits them, the brothers (those with hope) have had their eyes opened. Unlike them, we are able and called to “watch and be sober.”
Our watchfulness relates to the certainty of our Lord’s coming and living our lives in light of that day (Matt. 25:13). We live our days wide awake and well aware of the struggles we will endure and the dangers we will face (1 Pet. 5:8).
So what is our Lord instructing us through His apostle? Basically, He is calling to a life in the Light. The tone of the apostle is one of admonition. Before he gets to how we are to conduct ourselves in this world, he emphasizes the danger of darkness about us and warns us against being engulfed in it, enamored of it, and enslaved by it.
It is so easy for us to become despondent or fearful when we look about us. Evil seems to rule the day. The nations rage against the living God. Society celebrates perversity and in some cases legislates for it. The darkness seems impenetrable and immovable.
Yet the apostle reminds us that we are children of light and children of the day. God has worked and He is at work. Our Lord Jesus reigns on high and He is returning, when He will usher in His kingdom in fullness. The shafts of light that bear evidence to His glory and truth now will one day flood the darkened world and overcome it fully, finally, and forever (Rev. 21:23).
What threat do we experience from the realm of darkness around us?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
