Meditate on this:
But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the
rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel
and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore
comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NASB
Comfort? Those words cause an unsettling in
some people. Those who are grieving the loss of a loved one may find comfort in
that those who have died believing in Jesus are “fallen asleep in Jesus” and they will be resurrected—they will
rise. Listen. Will you hear the trumpet sound?
Did you see the words of verse 14…if
we believe that Jesus died and rose again...? That word IF is a loaded word. If we believe that Jesus died and was
resurrected…then…those who have died—fallen asleep in Jesus will we will be “caught up.” Those who are still alive will be “caught up” with those sleepyheads.
Thirty some years ago I went to a revival
in which a chalk artist each evening did a large picture depicting a Biblical
event. Once the chalk painting was done he would turn on a black light and
illuminate the painting. One of the hidden pictures involved believers in white
robes going up into the air. Being “caught
up” and going to heaven. It was exciting to consider that we could be
together with those who were resurrected from their gravesites or that we could
be caught up with them.
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| Caught up in the clouds? Haystack Rock, Oregon Coast |
I recently remarked to my brother that I
would like to be at the cemetery where our family is buried when the dead in Christ rise first. He didn’t
seem to think it will make any difference. We will be going up next, so soon,
as in the twinkling of an eye that it will all seem to happen at once. Then we who are alive and remain will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…. No
matter how fast it happens, it is going to be incredible to be a part of that.
I am trusting that I will be part of the “caught
up” group. Will I see you in the air?
We are admonished by Jesus to “be ready”—to
be prepared. What are you doing to honor Jesus with your life?
Prayer
~ Lord God—help us to be prepared as we go about our daily lives. We don’t want
to miss your message like the people of Noah’s age.
Daily Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1-5
© 2019 Text and
photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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