Thoughts for the Day

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Have you been to a non-christian funeral recently? On one level there may be a lovely eulogy about the person, how kind they were, and what a wonderful life they have lived. People will leave the crematorium or the grave-side feeling uplifted. But, we have to pause and think seriously about this. A life has ended. There is no hope for a future. Having said that, I believer in a God of Love, who judges each one of us with Love!

In what is probably Paul's first epistle, written to the Thessalonians, he describes what might be a vision. The Thessalonians were concerned over what would happen to those Christians who died before Jesus returned at His Second Coming. They were expecting His return very soon, when he would gather Christians to Him, but what would happen to those who died before this?

Paul tells them that they should not be sorrowful as those who have no hope. They are not like those who have no faith in God. Death is not the end. For those who have lived and died in the faith of Christ, are still in a relationship with Him. The man, woman, or child who is a Christian will rise again, for Christ rose to save them from death. Whether we are alive or dead we are in Christ!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You have taught us that we are Your children,
and that You died and rose again for us.
Increase our hope that death is but a parting
from loved ones,
and is a deeper unity with You.
Keep us strong in this our faith,
and help us to encourage others.
Amen.