Sunday 14th May
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“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 for ever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (NIVUK)
Are these strange words with which to encourage one another? I am not sure that anyone has ever encouraged me with these words in my life. Admittedly, perhaps I could say that Handel has encouraged me – after all, I can’t read these words without the ‘Messiah’ ringing through my head declaring boldly that ‘The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, be raised incorruptible…’! But no-one has encouraged me that one day Jesus will return, with commands and calls and trumpets, and we will be with Jesus forever. Equally, I confess I have not encouraged many people with these words either.
Why is this? Is it because the delay in His coming has been nearly two thousand years and we expect death to come to us before Jesus returns? Are our lives so comfortable that Jesus’ return would be an inconvenience? Besides, does it really matter? It matters only if we are unprepared for His coming. If the delay in His return results in laxness, disobedience and sin, then not encouraging each with these words is a dangerous omission (cf Ezekiel 33:1-9). The question really is how can we be best prepared for that day? How can we best prepare each other for that day? It calls for prayer and watchfulness, and words of encouragement.
