Falling asleep

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 4:13‭-5:15 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The apostle Paul was writing this letter to answer questions about death and resurrection. The church in thessaloniki needed some clarification. So what does happen? First, that when Christians die, their souls go straight to God. When the robber who hung next to Jesus on the cross placed his trust in Him, Jesus promised that the robber would see God that very day. But those who die will receive new resurrection bodies when Jesus comes again. So when a fellow believer dies, we don't say goodbye, we say good night. They will awaken again.

The church was wondering when Jesus was coming back. So Paul addresses this. He says that the day of return will come like a thief, unexpectedly. Don't spend your time wondering about the timing, but rather live in light of the truth that Jesus will return. Our daily lives should reflect the truth of the second coming.

Here's some New Year's Resolutions, seemingly ready made for us...

1) Let us be sober and put on the armor of God. More faith, more love, more hope in salvation. Spend more time in God's word.

2) Cultivate love. Given how we spend so much time at home because of the pandemic, we have a great opportunity to live our family members of our household. And not just our household, but also to love our church family, the community of Christ.

3) Maybe you don't have the willpower, the bandwidth. So consider this, if Lord wills it, he will enable and empower us to it.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV