A Godly Grief
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."
Every time Paul uses the words "fallen asleep," he is referring to a believer's death. The death is not a permanent end to the person but a passing from this life to a new life with the Lord. Paul assures those who are grieving that their beloved ones will be resurrected. Just as Jesus rose on the third day, so believers will rise on the day of Christ to their eternal bodies and their eternal lives. Death is not the end!
Because death is not the end, believers do not grieve as unbelievers grieve. Instead, we grieve with hope - hope that we will be reunited and that our bodies will be restored. Unlike our earthly bodies, the resurrected bodies will never die, will never grow old, will never experience sickness. I can only image what that will be like!
The Christian faith is one of hope. There is great tribulation in this world, and we experience the pain of all that tribulation. However, this world is not our home. Jesus had prepared an eternal home for his children. John described this dwelling, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4). Grief is a reality of this world, but it will not be the reality of our eternal dwelling with the Lord. We grieve, but we grieve with hope. As one of my dear friends used to say, "Christians never say good-bye, just see you later." What a glorious hope and promise we have in the Lord!
Reflection:
How does the Lord want to bring new hope to you today? Can you exchange your worldly grief for a godly grief that hopes in what is yet to come?
Every time Paul uses the words "fallen asleep," he is referring to a believer's death. The death is not a permanent end to the person but a passing from this life to a new life with the Lord. Paul assures those who are grieving that their beloved ones will be resurrected. Just as Jesus rose on the third day, so believers will rise on the day of Christ to their eternal bodies and their eternal lives. Death is not the end!
Because death is not the end, believers do not grieve as unbelievers grieve. Instead, we grieve with hope - hope that we will be reunited and that our bodies will be restored. Unlike our earthly bodies, the resurrected bodies will never die, will never grow old, will never experience sickness. I can only image what that will be like!
The Christian faith is one of hope. There is great tribulation in this world, and we experience the pain of all that tribulation. However, this world is not our home. Jesus had prepared an eternal home for his children. John described this dwelling, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4). Grief is a reality of this world, but it will not be the reality of our eternal dwelling with the Lord. We grieve, but we grieve with hope. As one of my dear friends used to say, "Christians never say good-bye, just see you later." What a glorious hope and promise we have in the Lord!
Reflection:
How does the Lord want to bring new hope to you today? Can you exchange your worldly grief for a godly grief that hopes in what is yet to come?
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