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Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
The last verse of this passage strikes me as a little odd. ...encourage one another with these words. These words are about death. Even though we remember Christ's death on Good Friday each year and celebrate His resurrection annually at Easter, we don't really talk much about the death and resurrection of individual Believers. As a matter of fact, mostly we don't talk about death at all.
Today, let's meditate on this passage together and find the encouragement God wants us to receive.
For Believers, death is but sleep. It is not the end. There is hope for Believers even in death, because sleep is a temporary but necessary part of life. We should not grieve like those who have no hope. We have hope in Jesus.
When Jesus returns, with a loud command and the trumpet call of God, those of us who are still living will see those who've fallen asleep in Christ wake up! Many of us, or should I say most, have lost loved ones who Believed to the sleep of death. They will be the ones who are privileged to rise first to meet Jesus. We will get to see them rise. Can you imagine what a sight that will be?
Then it will be the turn of those who are still living. They will be caught up together to meet Jesus and then be with Him forever. Resurrection without the physical death!
Death is but sleep.
Those who fell asleep first rise first.
All will be caught up together to meet the Lord.
Forever we will be with Him.
In the eternal perspective, God's perspective, what we suffer now is but a moment. Soon brothers and sisters, all will wake, all will live, forever, with Him.
Amen.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade ---
kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
1 Peter 1:3-7 NIV84
Lord Jesus, help me find encouragement in Your words about death
and the resurrection to come. Fix this truth deep in my heart, fill me with praise
and joy for all You've done and what You will do.
It's just a little while...
Consider sharing how this passage of death and resurrection encourages you. Leave a comment in the comment box to share with those who come here to read and be encouraged in their faith.
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Thanks for sharing your faith.
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