June 17, 2024

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (HCSB)
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again,in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Michael Jackson
Do you have a close family member or friend that you don’t see often? You know how just the thought of seeing them again soon makes you feel good all over, and helps you get through the waiting period until you are physically with them? It would be sad if we didn’t have that hope and assurance to hang on to until the reunion really took place. I’ve witnessed this sadness at funerals since I’ve been involved in church, since one of the things you wind up doing a lot when you get all ‘churched up’ is attend more funerals. It comes with the territory, but at the funerals of a Christian, there’s something unique going on. The people there are talking this funny language about seeing them again. Physically and spiritually. And there’s this odd peace all around you at those funerals that can’t really be explained unless you also believe that Jesus is coming back someday. In these scriptures, Paul is giving us hope. The same God that brought Jesus back to life will give us life after our death as a Christian. When Jesus comes back, all of our friends and family we miss will be gathered together with any of us left standing and we will all be joined together again to spend an eternity in Heaven. Can I explain how that all works? No. I’m not paid to explain all that stuff. But I believe it. And I hang onto that hope and assurance I find in Paul’s words that someday I’ll see those people I miss again. God gave that to me. No one can take that assurance away. I cling to it. And it helps me wait.