1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” vs 13

When Paul began his ministry he proclaimed  without reservation that Jesus would return to complete what he had begun, and furthermore, that this would be happening in a very short time. But as time passed and Jesus did not return, people in the congregations he founded began to die. Folks began to panic! Would those who had died miss out on the glories of the kingdom?

When Paul got wind of their concerns he acted quickly to address them. Yes, there had been a delay, but those who had died would not miss out. There was hope for them too. There would be no reason to grieve, and funerals were an occasion for the celebration of new life.

As the years passed with no return of Jesus, we can see from Paul’s letters how he began to adjust his thinking about the future. It wasn’t long before he began to accept the reality of his own death. He realized that his death would not be the end but an opportunity to live with Christ in a new and glorious way. It was actually something that he could look forward to!

Today people of faith take Paul at his word and they do not grieve as others do when death comes near. While there will indeed be tears, there will also be reason to cling to hope. In Christ death has lost its sting!

Thought for the Day: When does grief overpower hope?