Key Verse: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV
Will it add nothing to the glory of that event, and to
the happiness of that moment, when the Son of God descends, and, dissolving
the soft slumbers of the holy dead, will reanimate each with its former
occupant, that then we shall perfectly recognize those we once knew and
loved, and renew the sweet communion, before imperfect and limited, but now
complete and eternal? Dry, then, your tears, and cease to mourn, you saints
of God. They are "not lost, but gone before." Their spirits live with Jesus.
And when He comes, He will bring them with Him, and you shall see and know
them with a cloudless sight and a perfect knowledge. The very eyes which
once smiled upon you so kindly- the very tongue which spoke to you so
comfortingly- the very hands which administered to you so skillfully- the
very feet which traveled by your side so faithfully- the very bosom which
pillowed you so tenderly- you shall meet again. "The coming of the Lord
draws near," and those who "sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Let us
"comfort one another with these words."
And will it be no additional joy to meet and to know those eminent servants of the Lord whose histories and whose writings stimulated, instructed, and cheered us, shedding light and gladness on our way? Abraham, whose faith had animated us- David, whose experimental psalms had comforted us- Isaiah, whose visions of Jesus had gladdened us- Paul, whose doctrinal epistles had instructed us- John, whose letters of love had subdued us; to gaze upon the "Magdalene " sitting at Jesus' feet- upon the "beggar" reposing in Abraham's bosom- upon the "thief" with Christ in Paradise- oh! will not this add to the happiness of heaven? Will this be no joy, no bliss, no glory? Assuredly it will! At Christ's coming, will not His ministers, too, and those to whom their labors had been useful, meet, know, and rejoice in each other? The pastor and the flock, will there be no certain and permanent reunion? no sweet, and fond, and holy recognition? Shall their union in the Church below exceed, in its beauty and sweetness, their reunion in the Church above? Here it is necessarily mingled with much that is imperfect. Much concealment is connected with their united labors in the vineyard of Christ.
They go forth
weeping, bearing precious seed, and often are called to their rest before
the fruit of their prayers, and tears, and toil appears. Here, too, seasons
of sickness and of separation frequently transpire, enshrouding the spirit
with gloom, and wringing the heart with anguish. And then, at last, death
itself rudely breaks the tender bond, lays the standard-bearer low, leaving
the affectionate flock to gaze with streaming eye upon the lessening spirit
of their pastor as it ascends and towers away to glory. But the coming of
Jesus, with all His saints, will restore this happy union, invest it with
new and richer glory, and place it upon a permanent, yes, everlasting basis.
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in
the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory
and joy." Yes, beloved, we shall know each other again, altered and
glorified though we may be.
Are you Saved?
