Read I Thessalonians 4 Living for the Hope of Resurrection

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (I Thessalonians 4:13-14 NKJV)

The believers were thinking of Christ's second coming. Some felt no need to work, some felt those who passed on would miss in His coming. Paul having corrected the first misconception now moved on to the hope for those who had passed on.

Ignorance of whats life after death brings fear, doubt and hopelessness. Paul wants fellow believers to know what God has revealed to him convening this truth.

Those who died in Christ are considered as sleep in God's sight. Jesus spoke to His disciples that Lazareth sleeps though he was dead in the physical.

All human beings will experience sorrow for the lost of loved ones. The natural process of grieving is an expression of emotion God has created within us. However, for the children of the light, there is hope. For death is only a transition to be present with the Lord.

Our hope is rested in Christ who conquered death. Christ through His death becomes the first fruit of all eternal resurrection. Henceforth, those who died in Christ; God will raise them to be with Him. Christian hope is what motivates us to live by faith. The resurrection of life is a certainty only as yet to be actualised.

Those who passed on before us God will raise them first to meet Him in the air at His return. We belong to Him as we been redeemed. There is no death for those in Christ. For there is the resurrection in Christ (John 11:24) Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35)

Prayer: Lord, You are the Resurrection and the Life. I know those who have passed on are raised to be with You throughout eternality. I too will leave this temporal life with all its limitation and be raised to life eternal. You will receive me and all those who believe You to be with You through eternity.

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