This world is falling apart. Maybe not in your neighborhood, maybe not on your preferred news channel, and maybe not in your particular family. Never the less, it’s hurting in a bad way. The war-mongers would love nothing more than to separate people, divide them, and tear down. This is the spirit of anti-christ John warned us about. The news seems to silence every ‘angle’ but their own. Isolators and dividers only accentuate certain realities to fit their agendas. God help us, even churches are doing the same. When it’s good for ratings, focus on fake news, terrible news, hurtful news. When it’s an upbeat time slot then show stories of people taking care of others and smiling faces everywhere. This creates a point of confusion and division in itself. It is manipulation and people are falling for it.
Well-meaning christians are trying to defy the odds by only emphasizing the positive; as if that will change the reality. Reality is reality whether good or bad. We need to “think on these things” (positive and godly) according to Philippians 4. We need to look to heaven for our soon returning Savior. These are truths to hold too. But, we need not ignore the plight of people or the disgusting nature of Satan in this world. We cannot and should not then ignore the spirit of anti-christ as it begins its rule. Alternatively, we need to have a better answer than what we are hearing. What is that answer? What is the answer for those in need of real comfort?
I would submit to you the answer the Apostle Paul gave in 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 to a church both persecuted and confused. Some had come in and confused the end-times prophecies that had been taught by the Apostles. They had inferred that Jesus had already come back and ‘you missed it’. Others had out-right taught heresy concerning Jesus’ revelation. Paul starts by explaining the need to know. He said in verse 13— “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren…” He said so in light of the death of saints (their friends and family) and the resurrection of the dead— “concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” These facts present in the text are there to bring hope. They are also there to bring comfort as we read at the end of this particular text—“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (18). It is simple and direct. I will leave this here for your reading pleasure and encourage you to study. Our next post will continue with a brief explanation of these words and a briefing into the next chapter which continues Paul’s efforts in real comfort with— “know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh” (5.1)
If this life isn’t the end, then these words should bring real comfort to our souls:
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
- He is coming again, for you.
- Believers are not dead, we will see them then.
- We will be changed also, this life isn’t the end.
- Eternity is our comfort, not this life.
As Paul said— “…comfort one another with these words.”
One thought on “Real Comfort”
From v.14: “ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again…”
That should drive my whole perspective, and should always been driving everything I’ve done and will do in this temporal life. God drives that point home time and time again in His Word. Love you brother!