LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Thessalonians 4:18, Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

 

To get the full context of this verse, read the verses before verse 18. Paul is writing to the Thessalonians to comfort them about the rapture of the church. There were those saying the rapture had occurred and followers of Christ had missed it. The verses preceding verse 18 explain to them they had not missed it and describe what will happen when the rapture occurs. Paul tells them to find comfort in his explanation. These words are still giving hope to us as Believers are looking for and eagerly waiting for “the shout, the voice, the trumpet to sound (v. 16) that signals the dead in Christ to rise first followed by those who are alive to be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (v. 17).

 

Another way to consider Verses 13-18, is to know they are truths! They explain and encourage us to know that the Lord is going to call His people both those who have died and those who are still alive to meet him in the air – the rapture of the church. This page of the blog is not about the theology behind the body rising to be united with one’s spirit already in heaven; but that’s what happens here.

 

What I want to do is encourage you today. I continue to find great comfort when I read God’s Word! The people around me, encourage me in various ways. God’s Word comforts me with reminders of my ultimate destination. I know I write about walking the narrow way to eternal life in God’s kingdom almost every day; that is meant to bring comfort to you. It is to encourage you to live the best way you can because that is our destination! One day – and it could be very soon – we could go to be with the Lord in His eternal presence. Let me be clear that this could be by death or by the rapture. We do not fear either because it means we are “home”.

 

When we are “home’ we are united with Christ. The comfort that brings me is because all the pain and suffering in this world will be gone. Our body will no longer be aging as we will have an imperishable body – one that does not deteriorate. We will be where Jesus went to prepare a place for us. We will have eternal joy because Jesus is there and all the stresses of life we face here will be gone!

 

I believe that all we do to walk the on the narrow way will be worth everything we have gone through. Isn’t there a song that says “it will be worth it all when we see Christ”! That sums it up pretty well. Find comfort and encouragement today in God’s Word to us!