Saturday, November 15, 2008
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
FACTS CONCERNING THE FINAL RESURRECTION: KNOWLEDGE WE CAN USE
How many times has a student been in a class and thought regarding the subject matter, "How is this ever going to be something I am going to use in a practical way?" Yet in most cases there probably was a good reason for learning that material even if the student might not realize it right away. However, in certain cases we must admit that there are things that we have learned in a classroom that haven't really served much of a practical purpose in our lives. In response to something like this, sometimes we hear that learning a certain thing will provide a person with "knowledge he can use." No doubt basic mathematics would be an example of really practical knowledge that person can make use of on a regular basis.
When it comes to the knowledge that God supplies to His people through the Scriptures, this is truly knowledge that we can use to the highest degree, because this is knowledge which leads to eternal life in Jesus.
This week we have been meditating upon a portion of God's Word recorded in 1 Thessalonians. Within this section of Scripture we have been given some facts concerning the Last Day and the final resurrection. These facts from God's Word are intended to be more for us than something academic. Like all of God's Word, these facts are meant to be knowledge that can benefit us in a very real way -- knowledge "we can use."
Regarding these facts about the final resurrection, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "Therefore comfort one another with these words." These words of Scripture are given to us for our comfort and so that we can comfort one another with them.
One of the saddest kinds of things that can be witnessed is unbelievers trying to comfort one another with regard to the things of death. In the end it becomes painfully obvious that there is no real comfort that they can give one another. How different it is for us as Christians! When a Christian brother or sister falls asleep in Christ, we can confidently say to one another that he or she is with the Lord and that bodily we will all come together again to be with the Lord for eternity at the final resurrection.
Now that's real comfort! Now that's knowledge we can use!
