Title: Here's Hope
Text: 1Th. 4:13-18
1Thes 4:13-18 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about
those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with
Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word
of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord,
shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with
the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort
one another with these words. (NAS)
When we read this passage a number of words just naturally jump into our minds.
Words like eschatology, well maybe not eschatology but end times; or maybe
tribulation was a word that came to mind as you thought of recent events; the
word rapture may have jumped into your thoughts. That means the church, and by
church we mean those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior not those who
only have their name on a church role, will be literally caught up or snatched
up, Paul says, to meet the Lord in the air. Maybe the second coming of Christ
was on your mind. The word Armageddon made headlines in a number of
international papers after Sept 11.
These are all interesting topics, interesting to talk about interesting for
some of us to learn about. Theologians have written enough about each of these
to fill entire libraries. They become even more of a topic after events like the
terrorist attacks. Any number of books were written after the events of the gulf
war, and I'm sure there will be tons of books about these attacks as well
relating them to biblical end time prophecies.
We are interested in knowing what the future holds and how current events
figure into the future, but there are as many different understandings as there
are theologians
Another word comes to mind as I read these words and that is the word hope.
While there are numerous theological themes in this passage I believe the
message of hope is central to what Paul had to say to the Thessalonian
believers, and to us. People are talking a lot about hope in light of current
events.
But what is hope? The American Heritage Dictionary defines hope this way:
"To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment, or just wishful
thinking something may or may not happen.
The English poet Lord Byron, in a Letter to the poet Thomas Moore dated Oct.
28, 1815,(published in Byron's Letters and Journals, vol. 4, ed. by Leslie
Marchand, 1975), said hope is, "Nothing but the paint on the face of
Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a
hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of." Neither of those are very
assuring definitions.
But the Bible paints a very different picture of hope. When storms are expected ships leave port and go to deep water where they turn into the wind and drop anchor to weather the force of the storm. The book Hebrews in 6:19 describes the believers hope as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast which holds life steady in the storms of life.
Biblical hope is not wishful thinking, it is not a hallow-cheeked harlot
because biblical hope is anchored in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Peter
says it is a living hope, in a living Savior
In verse 13, Paul makes an almost unnatural transition in his letter. He
moves from urging the Thessalonian believers to aspire to brotherly love and
godly living to a discussion about death.
I. Hope in Death
There are many situations in life which cause us to experience a sense of
hopelessness. Some of you may even be experiencing those kinds of situations
now. Certainly there are many people throughout our nation experiencing a great
sense of hopelessness. Feelings of hopelessness leave you drained physically and
emotionally they bring a sense of despair a sense of helplessness, a sense of
defeat. It may be a job, a family problem, a marriage or a physical problem. It
might be any number of things that adversely affects our lives, but perhaps the
situation that leaves us most helpless and alone and is death.
Death is a mystery. It leaves us with questions and concerns. People are
asking questions now because there was so much death associated with the
terrorist attacks. People are looking for hope. On Sept 24th the
Southern Baptist Convention ran a full page ad in USA today. In big letters it
said. "There is hope." It then quotes Dr. Billy Graham, from his
message at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Many of you may have
heard him, he said: "Yes, there is hope. There is hope for the present
because I believe the stage has already been set for a new spirit in our nation.
There is also hope for the future because of God's promises. As a Christian I
have hope not just for this life, but for heaven and the life to come."
Paul says I don't want you uninformed, or as the KJV says I don't want you
ignorant, I want you to be knowledgeable about the dead.
In Paul's wording of verse 13 we find that there is hope even in death. In this lifetime death seems to be so final.
When a person dies we lose all contact with them. They're no longer there for
us to be with, to fellowship with and to love and to hold. Many people who have
lost loved ones in war and many of the families and friends of those killed on
Sept 11th will never experience the sense of closure burial brings.
But burial also leaves us feeling hopeless, that death is final. We watch as
bodies are placed in the ground and we are left so alone broken and hurting.
It's completely different when a person goes to sleep. When that happens we
don't say goodbye, we say goodnight I'll see you in the morning. Paul says that
physical death is like sleep. Don't misunderstand the Bible does not teach soul
sleep. Paul makes it absolutely clear in 2 Cor 5: 6-8, that to be absent from
the body is to be present with the Lord. It is like sleep because it is not
final, even in death there is hope and the basis of that hope is found in verse
15. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The love and the power of
God is the guarantee that for those who trust Christ death is not final.
If death for the believer is not final then our grief must be tempered by
hope.
II. Hope in Grief
Paul does not say that we are not to grieve, and we must never assume that as
believers we should not grieve over the loss of a friend or loved one. Grief is
a natural process it is beneficial for our emotional well being. Not only just
for death, but in other situations as well. Grief is a part of the healing
process. Jesus recognized that we would grieve and have sorrow in this life He
said, in John 16:22 "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you
again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
Jesus Himself wept aloud and grieved over Jerusalem in Lk 19:41 because they
had not recognized the truth of who He was and the resulting destruction they
were to face because of their failure. We see His grief again in John 11:35 as
he wept for Mary and Martha and shared their grief over the death of their
brother Lazarus.
But the Bible says our grief is not to be like those who have no hope. Other
belief systems and even some pagan religions believe in life after death as we
seen the Sept 11th terrorist had such a belief. What makes the
difference? They have no assurance, only wishful thinking. The death and
resurrection of Jesus is our guarantee, our assurance. In the midst of
suffering, and turmoil we find and experience genuine hope in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in
Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall
never die." John 11:25-26 (NAS)
Peter writes in 1 Pet 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a
little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the
genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ,
Our grief is tempered by the knowledge that Christ will return which gives us
a hope now and for the future.
III. Hope for the Future
Paul says in 1 Cor 15:19-23
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who
are Christ's at His coming.
Hope for the future is not only in the fact that we will be with the Lord,
but there will be a reunion a glad and happy reunion between those believers who
are alive and those who have died in Christ. We will be reunited with friends
and loved ones who have gone ahead. This is the most important aspect of this
passage. This is what we need to focus on, the fact that it will happen; the how
and the when are secondary issues, that doesn't mean they're not important but
hope comes from the fact and not the details.
IV. Hope for Eternity
Finally we have hope for all eternity. Our afflictions our trials our
tribulations and our grief which often seem unending are but momentary. Those of
us who have reached middle age and beyond and even some of us who are younger
are well aware of how quickly this life passes. Our hope of living in the
presence of the Lord is for all eternity.
2 Cor 4:17-18 For our light affliction,( and Paul is not making light as it were of our afflictions, because he certainly knew how hard and cruel the afflictions were that men face) which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which
are not seen are eternal.
Paul says therefore comfort one another with these words. Together these
words spell out hope. In the midst of sorrow, pain, heartache, troubles, trials
and afflictions there is hope in Jesus Christ.
It is said that if your cup seems too bitter, if your burden seems too heavy,
be sure that it is the wounded nail pierced hands that are holding the cup, and
it is He whose beaten and bloody back bore the weight of the cross and the sin
of the world that is carrying the burden with you.
Dr. David Jeremiah in his book A Bend in the Road: Experiencing God
when your world caves in, talks about our afflictions being bends in the road
has this poem:
Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And we view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it's only a bend -
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that's the best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow,
You've just come to a bend in the road.
As a nation we've just come to a bend in the road, but the truth is everyday is a bend in the road, we don't know what each new day might bring, but we do know through faith in God we have hope in this age and the age to come and that there is always victory in Jesus.
If you don't have victory in Jesus we invite you to personally trust Him for you salvation.
