1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
There is an old Gospel song that states, "This world is not my home, I'm
just'a passing through..." Throughout Scripture, we are referred to
as being "strangers and pilgrims''. There are times when the mind
tries to tell us that we are going to live forever in this "low ground of
sin and sorrow." We don't hear that term very often, do we? Earth is
not a eutopia. Nowhere on Earth is paradise. We may refer to it as being
that, but there has been no geographical location that is a true paradise since
sin entered. At best, this earth and everything in it is temporary. That
includes troubles and sorrows, pain and death, sin and frustration. Paul
was reminding the Thessalonians, and us, of that truth.
Paul is saying, "I don't want you to walk blindly through this life
thinking, "Is this all there is?" Their human minds and natural
eyes saw life (on earth) coming to an end. They saw bodies being placed in
graves and families mourning. The mind begins to wonder what, if
anything, happens after that point. "Is that all there is?"
Paul says, "I would not have you to be ignorant (blind) brethren."
Death is a daily occurrence throughout the world. Death (both spiritual
and natural) entered because of sin. Though scientists sometimes want to think
they can create life and sustain life for an indefinite period of time, the
truth remains: death is in the world. But thanks be to God, He is the
answer to the curse of death.
Through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, when life leaves the mortal
body of His children, the spirit returns immediately to God. "Then
shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7) The spirit returns to God, but
what happens to the body? Solomon gave that answer also: the body returns to
the earth from whence it came. BUT, God has a plan for the mortal body as
well. When looking at 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4, we can see
the clearer picture. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed....but... this mortal must put on immortality." (1 Corinthians
15:51 and 53)
How shall that take place? No one knows when it shall happen, but be
assured there is coming a day when the Lord shall complete the work of
predestination. Why do I bring that word in just now?
Predestination is God's plan whereby all of His saints shall be housed in
heaven's glory. Every single one that was given to Jesus Christ shall be
glorified and live in our final destination for all eternity in the glorious
place called heaven. Today's passage speaks clearly of how that shall take
place. The trump of God shall sound. The voice of the archangel shall
sound. The dead in Christ shall rise out of the earth in glorified
immortal bodies. Their spirits shall be reunited in those bodies. We who are
alive and remain shall be changed and caught up in the air together with the
Lord. We shall ever be with the Lord! Amen! What a day that shall
be! Find comfort in knowing that this world and everything in it is
temporary. We are passing through to our long home with the Lord.