THIEF IN THE NIGHT

A Thief in the Night (part 2)

You and your family are asleep at night when, suddenly you are awakened by a sound. There is a sound beyond the door. It's not normal. In the middle of the still night, it sounds loud. It's scary. There is someone in your home. You begin to imagine the worst. You feel your skin erupting into goose bumps, you break out into a cold sweat. You can feel your heart racing with fear. You are being robbed. Your safety has been broken. This was the last think you could have imagined before going to sleep. You didn't expect this at all. A thief has come in the night. Now, that you are awake and alert, you must act quickly and do something.

There are quite a few times the Bible speaks of events coming upon us suddenly without warning. The phrase "like a thief in the night" appears twice and speaks of the not distant "Day of the Lord". The return of our Lord Jesus Christ. In most places, it speaks of trouble coming - suddenly, silently and total unexpected. It is a metaphor which warn us to be alert, awake and aware of our time. We are supposed to be awake to the dangerous situations that can catch us by surprise.

Is this moment at such a time? Obviously I am talking about these events shaping our world and the development crisis in Eastern Europe. Russian troops are amassing at Ukraine's border and as I write already invaded certain strategic areas. There are continuous reports of increased tension and troop movements. Civilians are being urged to evacuate to safer areas while hostility is imminent. It is true that Europe are putting quite a heavy amount of pressure on Putin and the diplomatic avenue is still open, but hopes of averting a full scale war dwindle with each hour that passes. The world that we live in is extremely dangerous and volatile. All these events could encourage Europe to take new steps to organize itself into a power bloc to enforce order on the continent.

There are massive consequences if Russia is successful to annex Ukraine, as mentioned previously, a country tied deeply to Russian history. This may very well trigger China to invade Taiwan and annex the island nation back into the fold of greater China - again its historic position.

The tensions on the Korean peninsula could create conflict between North and South, both nations with the same language and also with history but that have been divided for more than 70 years due to different political ideology.

The fact is that history and nations nothing stays the same. The reality is that war is the essential nature of relations between nations.

Peace is the exception.

"Not let ourselves be caught unaware" is the Biblical teaching directed toward these large massive world events. Instead we must walk in the light of understanding. The apostle Paul warned Christians to be alert to the "times and seasons". The return of Christ can come "as a thief in the night". When peace and safety seems permanent, destruction can be imminent.

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and Safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

The Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly , warns Paul, so be ready.

On that day, God will intervene directly and dramatically in the affairs of the world.