Good Morning Friends,
“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. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
One of the marvelous privileges that comes with being a minister is the invitation to sit with someone during their final minutes of life. I’ve had that privilege once as a family member as we sat with Claudia’s mom and several times as a minister. In each of those situations there was the obvious sadness associated with saying good-bye, but there was also a deep level of hope. Most of the death beds to which I’ve been invited held a person who knew the Lord. The good-byes that were said were not final and eternal in nature, but seen only as temporary separations.
That hope comes from the words of promise like those written by Paul to the Thessalonians. It’s a promise that can be found coming from the lips of Jesus in the Gospels, and from other writers scattered throughout the New Testament. That promise of life after death is the most profound promise that is contained in the New Testament.
To know Christ brings the assurance that when we breathe our last breath in this world and step out of our earthly body, we will step into a new world, a new time, a new life. Those are encouraging words. I know there is nothing that brings more comfort when someone you love dies than that promise.
Cling to Christ and you will be clinging to the only hope there is at the death bed.
His, by Grace,
Steve
great and encouraging truths! thanks for lifting people today. you have no idea how widely your words are read. may God lift you as you labor for His kingdom.
ReplyDelete... and the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
God bless.
nikonsniper steve