To Encourage You

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, 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 fallen asleep.”

Grief: it’s a terrible thing.  It affects every one of us sooner or later.  The gnawing pain of the loss of a loved one is something that can linger for the rest of our lives.  But here, where the rubber meets the road in our life experience, the believer has something that no one else does.  It is hope.  And it’s not wishful thinking. It’s not based on some fantasy about what happens “on the other side.” It’s a certainty that’s based on a historical fact – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  It’s because of this, and only because of this, that the believer doesn’t grieve “as others who have no hope.”  The believer, and only the believer, has placed his or her faith in the following promise: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). And the believer can then say that since they “believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” as Paul states in the verse above. 

The believer knows that they will one day see other believers who have died.  He or she knows that there is coming a time when believers who have died already, and we who have yet to die “will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is so certain, that we are then told to talk about it. We are told to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).  Again, this isn’t wishful thinking. This isn’t “pie in the sky.” This is a hope based on the absolute Truth of the Word of the Living God. 

What an awesome thing that we do not grieve like those who have no hope, for certainly, grief is bitter for such people.  It is a very sad thing to be in the company of those who have never believed when death comes calling.  It is a hopeless thing. There is no certainty associated with it. No matter what the unbeliever thinks about death, it is nothing more than “hoping against hope” because it’s rooted in uncertainty.  Whatever their thoughts about what comes after death, it is not rooted in the unshakeable reality that Jesus rose from the dead and so will those who have followed Him in this life.

It’s a wonderful reality for the believer that they do not grieve as those who have no hope.  Although the pain of grief is very real for the Christian, it is always mitigated by the awesome realization that this goodbye is not forever.  In fact, it’s for a very short time, for we know without a shadow of a doubt that someday we will again see that one who loved the Lord like we do, and yes, they, with us, in a very short time, “will always be with the Lord!” And that means forever! 

What an awesome thing that our omnipotent and omniscient Lord has reminded us who know Him to make certain to encourage one another with these words.