Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
No one likes to think about death. I'm not worried about my own death, but the death of my loved ones is another story. I especially can't bear to watch movies where a wife or husband loses his/her spouse. This is so heartbreaking for me, since I can't imagine life without Lee! However, though death is certainly something to grieve over, those of us who are believers can find comfort in knowing that it isn't the end.
Though most of the world is unbelieving and lost, I've noticed that unsaved people tend to get more spiritual when death occurs. They've never mentioned God or heaven before, but suddenly they start saying things like, "he's in a better place." This is certainly true for those who have placed their trust in Jesus but is unfortunately not the case for unbelievers. Let's look at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and see what God has to say about the Lord's return.
In this passage in 1 Thessalonians, we see what happens to believers in the end when Jesus returns. This passage is meant to be a comfort to believers, and it certainly is to me. In verse 13, we're reminded that we do not have to grieve in the same way as unbelievers, because we have hope. What is our source of hope? The Lord!
In verse 16 we see that Jesus Christ will descend with "a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God." We will finally be able to look on the One we have spent our lives loving and following. What a glorious day! It says here that the dead in Christ will rise first, and then the believers who are still living will join them with Jesus in the air. We call this event "the rapture." That term is not in the Bible, but it is simply the Latin word for "caught up" and is used to describe the time when believers are caught up in the air. After that, comes my favorite part: "and so we shall always be with the Lord" (17). when Christ returns, we will see an end to death. We will no longer experience the grief and heartache that we do on this earth, and we will be in the Lord's presence for eternity.
We are told in verse 18 to, "comfort one another with these words." We must remind each other that there is an end in sight. There will be a day with no more tears, suffering, sickness, death, evil, or pain. There will be a day when we will be reunited with all of our loved ones who are believers. How comforting to know that though I will lose loved ones on this earth, I will get to spend eternity with them in heaven. Because Lee and I are both believers, we will literally be together for ever. That is such a hopeful and comforting truth. But most of all, our faith will become sight. We will actually get to look on the face of our precious Lord and experience His glory and be in His presence forever. We can't fathom what this will be like!
Take heart, sisters in Christ, because there will be a glorious day when Christ will return for all of His followers. Whatever pain or suffering you are experiencing now is temporary, though it may not feel like it at the time. Set your eyes on Jesus today, and spend your life eagerly awaiting His glorious return!
