Like a thief in the night

“for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2
1 Thessalonians is one of those books that gives us precious insights into the return of Jesus Christ. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus also likens His coming to a thief: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matt. 24:42-44).
One thing to note is that it is not the Lord who is a thief. Rather, it is ‘the day of the Lord’ that is likened to a thief. And the likeness is not one of it being a crime, but the suddenness and unpredictability of the event.
It’s no good installing a burglar alarm after you’ve been burgled – it won’t help you regain the possessions that were stolen. Similarly, if we want to escape the day of God’s wrath and be taken in the Rapture, we need to get right with God right now. The Lord is coming. Are you ready? or will it take you by surprise?