Living Sober

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8)

It is so much better to live life sober than drunk. Some people have personal experience with that. After struggling with alcohol, they find strength from God to live sober. It’s life-changing. Instead of stumbling groggily through life, instead of living with constant, pounding headaches, they are awake. Free!

Paul uses that picture to describe a Christian’s life in light of Judgment Day. It’s too easy to live life sleepily. Not paying attention to God’s warnings. Not alert to God-given opportunities. It’s too easy to live like we’re drunk, bouncing from one thing to another. Not focused. Not alert. That’s a danger when it comes to Judgment Day. Don’t let Jesus find you sleeping! You’ll miss out on eternal life in heaven.

So don’t live sleepy. Don’t live drunk. Live sober! As Christians, we belong to the day. The Holy Spirit leads us to turn away from the sinful deeds of darkness. The Holy Spirit leads us to live in the light. As Christians, we belong to the day. The Holy Spirit makes us awake and alert to what’s coming: Judgment Day! The Holy Spirit makes us awake and alert to the opportunities God gives us to grow in our faith in Jesus and serve both him and others. That’s what it means to live sober in light of Judgment Day.

God wants to fill you with something so much better than alcohol: Faith, love, and hope. Doesn’t that sound good? Faith that trusts in God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. Love that comes from God and leads us to love one another. We love because he first loved us! Hope that this world isn’t all there is. Eternal life is waiting for us in heaven. We have so much to live for. We have so much to look forward to. We have so many reasons to live with faith, love, and hope.

So let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober—ready for Jesus!

Dear Jesus, it’s tempting for us to groggily stumble through life without hope and purpose. You changed all of that for us when you died for us. Help us to live awake and sober, ready for you! Amen.

Pastor Nathan