Comfort at the End | English Devotion | NHFCSG

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

Comfort at the End

No one knows what circumstances he is going to face tomorrow as that is characteristic of the future. 

We cannot live in tomorrow, but we can live today and this issue was troubling the Thessalonian Christians as they were looking toward tomorrow, but wondering what to do today.

So, Paul’s advice to them was to keep their attitude toward others warm and gracious, to watch how they speak and if they offend anyone to correct it.

He claims that God, through his Holy Spirit, teaches us to love one another as it is said in Romans 5:5 God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

If we give that love of the Spirit a welcome, we can manifest love to each other but if we choose to be bitter, of course, then that love will not be manifested.

The Christians in Thessalonica were making fools of themselves by stressing the nearness of the coming of the Lord to such a degree that they had stopped working and have become a burden to others.

So, Paul is asking them to keep themselves busy by the works of their hands to provide their own needs, just like what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 19:13, Occupy till I come, because no one except the Father in heaven knows the second coming of Christ Jesus.

Paul uses the term sleep for death and it shows that death, for the believer, is nothing more than sleep.

In Mark 5:39, the daughter of Jairus who had died as, she is sleeping. It is a wonderful encouraging word for those who are facing the death of dear ones.

Paul knew the differences between time and eternity so he reassures them by explaining that the living and the dead will be together when our Lord returns.

He assures them by saying, Yes, you will see your loved ones immediately when the Lord returns, whether you join that event when you die, or whether the Lord comes while you are yet alive, your loved ones will be with him.

In John 11:43, Jesus had stood before the tomb of Lazarus and cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, and the dead man appeared in the doorway of the tomb, still wrapped in his grave clothes because he heard the voice of the Son of God, and he came forth.

So, when Paul says that the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a cry of command, this is addressed to the dead, to those in the tombs who had fallen asleep in Jesus and this is the first sound.

The second sound is the archangel's call, where the living nation of Israel will be summoned to a new relationship with Jesus, to follow him wherever he goes on earth during the time of his presence.

The third sound is the great trumpet call such as was heard at Mt. Sinai when the Law was given, and when that sound reaches the ears of living believers, although it will be inaudible to the world, they will be changed and caught up to be with the Lord.

The comforting hope is that we shall see Jesus face to face and all will be together as the great family of God and forever be with the Lord.

What a marvellous hope we have! When we face the thought of our own death, or when we stand at the grave of a loved one, we are comforted indeed by this tremendous vision of the tomorrow that awaits God's own. 

That is the apostle's purpose in giving this revelation. Let us revel in the comfort it brings in the hour of death -- our own, or that of a loved one.

 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, what a wonderful privilege that You should call us into your own kingdom and into Your glory. We pray that we may live a sanctified life and walk in a worthy manner that brings glory to You. Teach us on living a spiritual life and may we be a witness of Your grace to all with whom we come in contact. We ask this in Jesus name, AMEN.