“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV
“People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 6:16-20 NIV
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Great post! It’s always encouraging to be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus Christ. I appreciate the way you used passages from both 1 Thessalonians and Hebrews to reinforce this message. I do have a question, though – how do you stay grounded in this hope during difficult times, particularly when it feels like God is distant or our circumstances are overwhelming?
Thanks and thank you for the question. I look at how the world is and it is the way it is because people discard the notion of an absolute standard, derived in none other than the Word of God. Jesus claims He is the only way, the truth and the life and the only way I find myself being grounded is by clinging to the truth.
It does get hard when it seems there is no way out. However, His word promises that we are not left to ourselves as stated in John 14:15-18, “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
In this, enduring overwhelming circumstances can only be possible with the Holy Spirit helping me.