God of health and wellness, bless and strengthen this dear reader in whatever they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. 14 Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. 15 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. 16 The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise - they'll go first. 17 Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. 18 Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. (The Message)
I attended more than my share of funerals when I was young. My parents did not shield us from the realities and sufferings of death. And I'm old enough to remember a funeral being a room filled with women in black dresses and heads covered with black scarves. And I remember well the wailing and screaming that would happen whenever a new blacked-dressed woman in a scarf would walk in to join the rest. It was not a pleasant scene, but as I was later joined by siblings, we found humor and entertainment even in that; but not lacking the respect of the grief that was being felt by those mourning. Questions about what happens when we die haunt many. But not Paul. Paul had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus, Who was resurrected and Who showed and revealed to him many things, including the things that come after life. Thus with this passage he is addresses the fear and the grief of those who have lost loved ones. The first thing he teaches is, that unlike those who have no hope, we do! And because we have hope, we actually have something to look forward to! Paul saw the product of resurrection and so his hope is in the power of God to resurrect us. The rest of the passage is his portrayal of that great event of reunion with God and all of God's people.
This is a time in the Christian year when many who have died have been remembered either last Sunday or this coming Sunday. It is a sad time and a time when the question still is asked of what happens when we die. It is for us a time to remind all of what we know and hope for.
PRAYER: God of life and victory, bring to my heart the sureness of life even in the face of death. May I not fear death nor the unknown of the rest of this day and tomorrow. May my life be an example of one who trusts in You. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
