“As a thief in the night”
“As a thief in the night”
2 Peter 3:9-12.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The phrase “as a thief in the night” is a metaphor used by the writer in the text above to describe the profound truth of the coming of Christ. It was to illustrate the manner of His coming and to engender a sense of watchfulness to every believer so they are not caught unawares and unprepared for the rapture. Over the years, many have equated the “delay” of Christ’s coming to a denial of this truth. The assumption of a delay in His coming is unscriptural and has marginalized the hopes of those without understanding. Christ vividly explains that an assumption of delay springs from an evil heart that does not understand the mercy and patience of God- Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming. The scripture assures us that the assumed delay of His coming is to prolong the days of mercy so that men may still come to repentance- 2 Peter 3:9 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 behooves us, therefore, to utilize every moment to accomplish the task of the great commission to go over and beyond for souls perishing in sin.
The suddenness of the trumpet sound is clearly described by Apostle Paul when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:52 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. The twinkling of an eye describes the tiniest moment that will disallow the completion of a thought which means there is no allowance of repentance beyond this point. This is why we must always be on guard against any moment of sinfulness that could disqualify us from our ascent with Christ on the last day.
Be prepared!
Further readings: Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4.
VERSE 1
It could happen in a moment, In the twinkling of an eye,
It could happen in a moment, He could break the Eastern sky,
Tho our hearts will feel unworthy, yet how happy we will be
When the Savior comes from heaven, When His blessed face we see.
CHORUS
I am list’ning ev’ry moment for the mighty trumpet sound,
What a time we’ll have together when the saints shall leave the ground.
All our toiling will be over, all our sorrow and its pain,
It could happen in a moment, Jesus Christ could come again.
VERSE 2
It could happen in a moment, any minute of the day,
He could call us home to heaven, there forevermore to stay,
“Hold the fort” a little longer in your struggle over sin,
Trust the great Commander’s promise: He will surely come again.
CHORUS
I am list’ning ev’ry moment for the mighty trumpet sound,
What a time we’ll have together when the saints shall leave the ground.
All our toiling will be over, all our sorrow and its pain,
It could happen in a moment, Jesus Christ could come again.
