Our hope – 2015.11.27
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
It’s good getting to terms with our own mortality. But it’s not good always thinking about how and the time of our death. This would make us discouraged and sad. Surely, God doesn’t want this!
He wants to solve this mystery around death with me, so I can live in peace. Without fear of death, what else is there to fear?
For most people there is no life after death and they just pretend they will live forever and live their life as if there is no end. Others research all kinds of theories or contact someone with "first hand experience". We Christians have the solution, we have hope for eternal life – we should proclaim it to others!
Jesus is present when someone dies that belonged to the Lord and offers comfort. When someone like that dies, sometimes the presents of the Lord is tangible and the room is full of great and deep joy. It’s like, that one does not die but fall asleep. And is picked up and carried into heaven by Jesus. Truly, that person isn’t dead but redeemed!
The bible doesn’t separate between body, mind and soul. But it knows, one fades into the other, one lives inside the other. The bible doesn’t tell us the soul leaves the body behind while floating to God. The bible leaves the human in whole, body, mind and soul.
When Jesus returns a huge trombone will sound across the Earth, into the deepest valley and to the most remote island. Everyone will hear it. And everyone will see how Jesus returns. It will be like a lightning that runs across the Earth. He will call the dead that believed in Him. He will send angels to pick them up. With a new body the dead will rise from their graves and flies to Him. Those that are still alive will be drawn to Him with a new body as well. It will be a huge celebration!
This is our hope like the bible describes it. It is true for all who believe in Jesus, those whose heart was cleaned by Him. For those that gave their lives to Him. He is the Lord who fulfills His promises. We can trust Him.
Dear Jesus I want to belong to You! Please put this certainty into my heart so I don’t have to fear ever again! I want to cling to You – not just in my last hour but already now so my life gains meaning. You are my Lord who saved me from everything, even death. Thank You!
Bible reading today: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,4 that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.