Joining the Great Reunion with the Lord; First Thessalonians

May the mumbling commence!

In this world, we have grief.  At times, our grief is nearly tangible.

In this world, we have hope – through Jesus Christ.  At times, our hope is nearly tangible.

Both grief and hope are interwoven in our lives.  Together they form a beautiful lattice or lace work.  In times of immense grief, our hope is the holes between the materials of grief.  That may seem depressing, but it’s through the holes that the light of Christ shines through.  The holes become holy, and that becomes a great hope.

In times of great joy, hope becomes more tangible and material.  Then, it’s grief that pokes holes in our hopeful happiness.  That may seem sobering, but it’s through the holes of grief that the light of Christ shines through.  Once again the holes become holy, and our hope expands far beyond what we can possibly grasp.

The Apostle Paul is teaching this principle to the Thessalonian church when he writes in First Thessalonians chapter four.  Some people look at this passage and see only the eschatological framework.  But the primary purpose of this passage is to provide hope to those who have lost loved ones to death.  It is not to provide a detailed itinerary of Christ’s return.  Read it below (NAB):

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, console one another with these words.  (Verses 13-18)   

Paul writes about a great reunion in the presence of our Lord.  Won’t that be a happy occasion!  And those who have passed into death have the inside track for this joy.  Why should we begrudge them this opportunity?

Yes, we have this hope because of the fact that Jesus died and rose again.  Death has been defeated.  So, let us live in the Way of Christ Jesus – the Way of the cross, a full obedience to the call of God in our lives.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out