One of the greatest blessings you have as a Christian is the assurance that after death comes the resurrection. This life is not all there is. When you die, you will see the Lord. When a loved one dies, they will be resurrected. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” When a loved one dies as a Christian, we do not sorrow as others who have no hope. The proof of the resurrection is given by the fact that Jesus died and then rose again. If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus, then you can have assurance of your own resurrection. When Jesus descends from heaven, there will be a shout, the voice of the archangel, and God’s trumpet blast. Those sounds may bring terror to those who are not ready, but great rejoicing for you as a faithful Christian. Those of us who have died in Christ will be resurrected first; then those who are alive at His coming will join the resurrected dead and we will all meet the Lord in the air. From then on, we will always be with the Lord. What a wonderful reunion!
I hope you are looking forward to the coming of the Lord. When will this coming happen? It has been almost two thousand years since Jesus went up into heaven. Some will question whether or not He is really coming back. 2 Peter 3:3-4 “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” Even Jesus does not know when He will be coming; only God the Father knows. Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” It seems like a long time that God has delayed the coming of Jesus. But God does not look a time as we do. 2 Peter 3:8-9 “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God is delaying the coming of Jesus to give an opportunity for more to come to repentance and be saved.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” Since the coming of Jesus has not happened for almost two thousand years, it would be easy to let your guard down and not be ready when He comes. If your house has not been broken into in, or it has been a long time since that has happened, it would be easy to think that a thief will not come tonight. You must not have that attitude about the time of Jesus’ return. You must be ready for Him to come at any moment. 2 Peter 3:10-14 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
I encourage you to rid your life of any sin you may hold on to. When He comes, you want to be found by Him in peace, without any spot on your spiritual garments. You want to be found blameless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”