Friday, November 14, 2008
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
FACTS CONCERNING THE FINAL RESURRECTION: MORE DETAILS OF THAT DAY
As Christians have read their Bibles over the years, if there is something that maybe even the most devout Christians have wished for at times, it is more details -- more details about heaven and the things to come. Well, first of all, we must say that God's Word is perfect, telling us everything we need to know for our walk here in this world. There are reasons why God has told us the things that He has told in His Word and there are reasons why He has not told us the things that He has not told us in His Word. However, when we really take a step back to examine things, isn't it quite amazing how many details God has actually already given to us in His Word about heaven and the things to come?
Yes, for the most part, we can say that God has actually revealed a good many things to us about that final day and the heavenly future that His people will enjoy.
In our devotions this week we have been meditating upon some facts concerning the final resurrection as revealed to us in the book of 1 Thessalonians. In our reading for today from this section we hear some more facts about that day. In verses prior we have heard that the dead in Christ will be raised, and now in this verse we hear that they will join with those believers who are still living in this world at the coming of Christ, and at that time they will all be caught up in the air to meet the Lord. What a strange, but wonderful experience this will be, and we are being told ahead of time just how this will happen! What a thing to look forward to -- it seems that at this time we will know just how it feels to fly like a bird as we go to meet the Lord!
Of course, as exciting as this detail is, it is that little phrase which comes next which can give us the greatest joy. The fact is, as we hear in our reading, we will be with the Lord always. While our Lord though unseen is always with us while we make our way through this present world, we still long to have a closer connection to Him than we presently have. We long to see him day after day with our own eyes -- and we will. Our reading for today quite clearly tells us the fact that this will be the case.
This truth about believers and their Lord is also pictured in the book of Revelation: "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (7:15-17).
