This week we continue the season of Advent by lighting the 2^nd candle, the purple candle of peace.  Our 2011 Advent theme is “How Long, O Lord?” and each week we’ll be looking at a passage of Scripture that focuses on the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our text this week comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11:

• Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Friends, as we light the Candle of Peace, we must realize that the Day of the Lord—the Day of Judgment—is upon us.  Jesus Christ is coming again and is coming when we least expect it.  For those this morning who are apart from Jesus Christ, this thought is cause for you to tremble.  But, for us who have put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation, the coming of the Lord Jesus moves us to excitement because by grace through faith in Jesus, God has not destined us to wrath, but for obtaining salvation and peace!  This week, to the Lord Jesus we say, “Come quickly!” and to the lost we say, “Come to Jesus quickly!”

May you through Christ have peace with God, the peace that surpasses all understanding now and forevermore!