As we agonize in sorrow; as we experience the crushing pains of loss; as we grieve with others; as we struggle to move forward, to heal, to forgive, to be renewed, our focus should REMAIN IN THE LORD, as HE ALONE, SHALL provide what we cannot, and lead us where we think we cannot go! We turn TO HIM, and HIS WORD FOR the understanding, and strength we need to grow past all which might take us down...
Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God.
13+++Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14+++For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15+++According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16+++For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17+++After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18+++Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Here is comfort for the relations and friends of those who die in the Lord. Grief for the death of friends is lawful; we may weep for our own loss, though it may be their gain. Christianity does not forbid, and grace does not do away, our natural affections. Yet we must not be excessive in our sorrows; this is too much like those who have no hope of a better life. Death is an unknown thing, and we know little about the state after death; yet the doctrines of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ, are a remedy against the fear of death, and undue sorrow for the death of our Christian friends; and of these doctrines we have full assurance. It will be some happiness that all the saints shall meet, and remain together for ever; but the principal happiness of heaven is to be with the Lord, to see him, live with him, and enjoy him for ever.
We should support one another in times sorrow; not deaden one another's spirits, or weaken one another's hands. And this may be done by the many lessons to be learned from the resurrection of the dead, and the second coming of Christ. What! comfort a man by telling him he is going to appear before the judgment-seat of God! Who can feel comfort from those words? That man alone with whose spirit the Spirit of God bears witness that his sins are blotted out, and the thoughts of whose heart are purified by the Holy Spirit, so that he can love God, and worthily magnify his name. We are not in a safe state unless it is thus with us, or we are desiring to be so.
We also, should remain by one another, as we PRAY together, as we go from aching to better times, as we RELY ON *GOD* to guide us, and for all which is necessary to our moving forward...
Time is short; it is precious; it is NOW that we KNOW that TRUSTING THE LORD IS IMPERATIVE; we SHOULD by now, REALIZE that the world, and it's ways ARE going to rattle us, shake us, hurt us, and disappoint us, WHILE OUR LORD stands ever nearby to LIFT us, CONSOLE us, and bring us closer to HIM!!!
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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