1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 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. 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 will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the Voice of an Archangel, and with the Trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Word of God brings great comfort to the believer while lost persons view it as a set of strict rules and regulations that are impossible to live by. They don’t want to give up their lifestyle to live for God, so they simply discount everything of God and go about their ungodly lifestyle hoping God is not real and there is no place called Hell. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Living for God is the most rewarding lifestyle one could have. The greatest comfort comes by knowing that God loves us personally and calls us by name. He created us in a unique fashion and has a distinct purpose for our lives. It’s not easy to live a life for God and in accordance with His Will, but it is rewarding and fulfilling.
The Word of God says we will be persecuted for our faith but in the end, the greatest rewards will be for the overcomers of this world. To be an overcomer is to stand against the enemy and live every day in the Light of the Lord and by the Word of God, keeping our eyes on the Prize and our faith in the Message of the Cross, which is the Gospel of Christ.
To live one hundred years on earth is but a blip on the timetable of eternity. To know that we will spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven, having a glorified body, where there will be no sorrow or pain; no tears or illness, no temptation of the enemy, and no fear of death or anything else, that is the comfort of God for every believer.
The Christian life can be compared to looking forward to the most awesome vacation imaginable. With every passing day, we get closer and closer to seeing Jesus face-to-face. Whether we pass from this earth before His Return or are alive when He comes back, eventually we will spend forever and ever worshiping Him in the most glorious place, Heaven.
I find it hard to understand why people reject this. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain and yet they refuse to believe. Living for God, believing in Jesus and the Message of the Cross is a choice to be made by every person on earth. God places in the heart of everyone something called, free will. We all have the free will to decide for ourselves what we believe and in whom we will place our faith.
As you read this, I pray you understand the importance of the Message. This is not to be taken lightly or treated as a trivial matter. Your eternal destiny is at stake. Eternity is a VERY, VERY long time. In fact, it never ends.
The Truth is, Heaven is real. Hell is real. Jesus is coming back for His Bride, all believers. You can go with Him, or you can stay and experience Hell on Earth; the Great Tribulation. God has given you free will to choose. No one can make the choice for you. You have reached the age of accountability. The choice is yours. I pray you make the right one. Jesus is calling. What will your answer be?
Only God can……..turn the tide
Yes Lord, yes! Doreen
