Daily devotion – no more goodbyes!
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul offers one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: the hope of the rapture and the glorious reunion that awaits all believers. He assures us that those who have “fallen asleep” in Jesus—those who have passed from this life—are not lost, but will rise again to be with the Lord. For believers, death is not an end but a transition into God’s eternal presence. We may grieve the loss of loved ones, but as Christians, we do not grieve as those without hope.
The rapture, as Paul describes it, will be a miraculous event. Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God will sound. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then those of us who are still alive will be “caught up” together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And from that moment forward, we will forever be in His presence and reunited with those who have gone before us.
This incredible promise gives us immense hope and peace. It also transforms the way we view the future and our relationships in the body of Christ. As Helen and I experienced at the Calvary Pastors Conference, Christian fellowship is a precious gift. Meeting with fellow believers, brothers and sisters in the Lord, brings strength, encouragement, and a sense of shared purpose in this world. But this earthly fellowship, as sweet as it is, pales in comparison to the eternal reunion awaiting us at the rapture.
We were able to comfort a dear brother at the conference, whose wife had recently gone to be with the Lord, and offer him our love and support. Yet, we know that his grief, though deep, is also mingled with the hope of seeing her again. Paul reminds us to “comfort one another with these words” because the truth of our eternal reunion with Christ and one another provides solace in times of loss and sorrow.
As we look forward to that day when we will be caught up with the Lord, it brings joy to know that this time, there will be no more goodbyes. The separation that death now causes will be swallowed up by eternal life. We will be reunited not just for a moment, but for eternity.
What a day that will be! When we stand in the presence of our Savior and are joined with all the saints who have gone before us, it will be a celebration beyond anything we can imagine. Our hearts, filled with the love of Christ, will finally be at home—forever with the Lord and forever in perfect fellowship with those we have missed.
May we continue to encourage each other with these words and live in joyful expectation of Christ’s return, knowing that the best is yet to come!