What will become of those who died in the faith before Christ’s return? What of our loved ones and friends who have departed this life yet waiting for the fulfillment of all that God has promised us in Christ Jesus?
As Christians, our lives are lived here in this world in eager anticipation of the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died for all sins, rose again in victory and ascended to the right hand of God the Father in heaven. We look forward to His return on the clouds of heaven and to the joys of being forever with the Lord in His eternal kingdom!
It happens today, as it has from the day of Christ’s ascension, that believers die - they fall asleep trusting in Christ Jesus as their Savior from sin, death and everlasting punishment. They believe that because Jesus died for them and rose again, God is gracious to them, forgives all their sins and grants them a place in heaven. What does the Bible say of them? Listen to God’s words of comfort in St. Paul’s epistle to the believers in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18):
“But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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 so we shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
What a comfort to know that the souls of those who have died trusting in the Lord Jesus are now with Him and that our God and Savior will bring them with Him when He returns on the clouds of heaven! They will not miss His glorious return; they will be with Him in the clouds. When our Lord Jesus descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, the bodies of “the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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 so we shall ever be with the Lord.
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Dear Lord Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, we thank You for coming into this world a true man, bearing upon the cross the punishment for our sins and rising again in triumph. We know that now, as we await Your glorious return, You are preparing a place for us in the mansions of Your Father's house. Thank You for the assurance that all who have died trusting in You and Your sacrifice upon the cross are now with You in heaven and that soon You will take us to Yourself also. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible
Copyright © 1962 - 1998 by Jay P. Green, Sr., used by permission of the copyright holder.]
Community, Pages 4 on 11/09/2011