Alert and sober-minded

So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 NLT

Paul from the text, is providing a vivid contrast between those who are ready and prepared for Christ’s return and those who are not. The ones who are looking forward for His return are “alert” and “clearheaded.” Since they live in the light, they are dressed up being “protected by the armor of faith and love.” They are wearing their “helmet the confidence of our salvation.” Unlike those who remained to live in darkness, they will prefer to be “asleep” and “drunk.” “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying” (Romans 13:12-13 KJV). Those who are clearheaded will not be afraid though before Christ will return, there will be catastrophic and tragic events. They will not lose heart and will not be complacent. They will remain to have a positive outlook in life because they are confident that God will not forsake them. Though difficulties will be heightened and intensified, they will not give up. They will remain calm and will persevere. They have this outlook in life for they are assured that their life is in God’s hand. Those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior will be focused on things of God. Those who remained in their unbelief will focus on the things of the world. Faith in God is what will protect the heart from the temptations brought upon by the enemy. Love for one another is what will sustain and remind the believers that they are not alone dealing with the difficulties in life. Hope of a life in heaven and being in the presence of God is what supplies confidence of the mind. When Jesus talked to His disciples telling them about what will happen in the future, He said to them, “Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Blessings,