“The darkest hour is just before the dawn.” – Thomas Fuller, Ralph Stanley, & Bob Dylan

Actually… the quote isn’t quite accurate, at least from a literal standpoint. The darkest time of the night is 12-2am, depending upon the season and location within a time zone. But nerdiness aside, the quote is true from a prophetic standpoint and, though the fellas who quoted it had different perspectives, there’s a reason why it relates to us.

When darkness falls, folks retire and go to sleep. Pretty normal. Been happening for thousands of years. Sometimes, if a party is planned, folks will stay up late and “party-on”. But, eventually they, too, will go to sleep (hopefully back at their house, not at the host’s, on a lawn, or in jail). The transition between being awake and asleep generally occurs when the night is darkest, around midnight. However, for the individual, the “darkest hour” is when the sleep is deepest, usually in the last hours of the night, just before dawn.

Night, and the inclination toward sleep, or partying (then sleep), is paralleled with the days leading up to Jesus’ return. The Apostle Paul’s instructions regarding this time are unique…

1Th 5:6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

let us not sleep – Not a big deal except for the fact that, at night, the majority of folks are asleep, so staying awake is abnormal, socially and physically. Here, Paul is exhorting believers to go against the norm with regard to the increasing darkness, sin, and godlessness in the world. And this will be doubly difficult as 1) social ridicule and the alienation of believers becomes more prevalent, and 2) sinful behavior becomes more acceptable, with opportunities to sin more available and inviting. Nevertheless, our instructions are clear: “let us not sleep”, and let us not risk sleep by closing our eyes in weariness.or in blindness.

let us watch – To counter the temptation to fall-in with the majority, Paul teaches vigilance and attentiveness, both of which emphasize engagement. Specifically, he’s speaking of watchfulness regarding the Lord, His return, and the accompanying indicators. In the third verse preceding Paul likens the events of the Day of the Lord to a pregnant woman – the day and the hour may be unknown, but what’s about to take place is inevitable. Therefore, let us not be lethargic and indifferent with regard to His eminent return, but “let us watch”.

and be sober – There are different ways to watch. Paul advocates that we watch “and be sober”. As the world grows darker, believers are to avoid the indulgences of the flesh in compensation for the world’s woes. Is it any coincidence that the liberties in which we indulge result in fatigue and weariness? Our liberties are really just distractions that create more distractions from the Lord! No; instead, “be sober”.

Drawing near to the day of the Lord, the world will become increasingly dark. And it’s pretty dark already! But while the darkness continues to fall, believers are exhorted to be awake, attentive, and vigilant regarding the Lord and His return. Contrary to the disciples who slept in the darkness of Gethsemane, whose “spirit was willing but their flesh was weak”, may we, by being attentive to Him, remain steadfastly “awake” unto the break of day when the Son will appear!