WHY THE BLESSED HOPE IS BLESSED - PART ONE

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

January 18, 2016

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says: 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.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. As you can see many Thessalonians were troubled about their loved ones who had died in the Lord. They did not understand where they were or if they would ever see them again. Paul wrote these verses to assure them and us that they would not only see their loved ones again, but they would be united with them forever when Christ comes again. He said that when Christ comes again he will bring the dead in Christ with him. If he brings them with him they must be with him now in heaven. The dead in Christ are now with Christ in heaven and when he comes again he will bring them with him. The dead in Christ are the saints who will return with Christ when he comes. In 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Paul wrote: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.   
                                                                  
When Christ comes again he will come with his saints according to 1 Thess. 3:13 and for his saints according to 1 Thess. 4:17 which says: 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. He will come with the saints who are now with him in heaven and he will come for the saints who are still alive on earth. Paul tells us that we who are alive when Christ comes again will be caught up into the air to be reunited with the dead in Christ and we will never be separated from them again.

This is one of many reasons why the blessed hope is blessed. It is blessed because we will be united with our loved ones who have died in the Lord. We have not seen them for years and oh how we miss them, but the day is coming when we will not only see them, but we will be with them and the Lord forever never to be separated again by death.

Death is so cruel. It takes people away from us that we dearly love and need. Death leaves empty places in our hearts that no one else can fill. Death steals our joy. It robs our happiness. It makes us miserable. It makes us cry and weep. It makes us lonely. It often ruins the world for us. It leaves empty chairs at the table. Many people are never the same after they lose a loved one to death.

This is why the blessed hope is blessed, for then in a moment in the twinkling of an eye all this will be changed. We will be united with our loved ones in the air and be with them forever never to lose them again.