Thursday, November 20, 2014
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
WORDS THAT TELL OF SAINTS TRIUMPHANT
Growing up in a parsonage, there were a number of times I would see my father leave the house to go comfort a family grieving over the loss of a loved one. Every so often I remember thinking that it must be hard to talk to people in those situations. I had similar thoughts years later when I was in seminary, anticipating the time I would be serving a congregation. I imagined that dealing with families at the death of a beloved Christian would be one of hardest things to do. (I have since learned, of course, that there are things much more difficult to do.)
Not that dealing with death is easy, especially if it is tragic or unexpected. It is a time of deep sadness. However as Christians, we can encourage each other with words from God that give real hope and peace. We can share with each other with words that have real power to plant in the heart a confident expectation of a glorious future -- Words that tell us the saints are triumphant.
We find those words in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians: "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
Here we find the words to say! We tell the news of the One who Himself went through death and came back living; nailed to a cross by His enemies, mocked and tormented, accused by His Heavenly Father of our own sinful deeds -- His corpse as lifeless as any other laid in the tomb of Joseph and the entrance covered by a stone. But on the third day He rejoined the ranks of the living. Et resurrexit!
This is where our words of encouragement begin. We know Someone who died and rose again. And we further know that the same thing will happen to those who have fallen asleep in Jesus, for God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
We will rise from the dead! Those who have trusted in Jesus (the saints) will surely stand triumphant!
