I Thessalonians 4: 13 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. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This is a promise of God made to us—eternal life. Paul tells us this plainly in the book of Romans. What is it based on—a belief, a concept? The Bible is the word of the Lord, not the word of man. These things are not from Paul’s imagination. He said it was by the word of the Lord. I may tell you I’ll do something but not be able to follow through for some reason. God doesn’t change. He’s not going anywhere. What he says is true. Everyone that trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior for their sins has eternal life.
We have the warmth of another country fanning us, a real hope, and a better world to come. We know this on the authority of God’s word. That’s what faith is—taking God at his word. I was saved by Jesus Christ and no one else. I know it and feel it in my heart. This is what keeps us going. We have hope for the future, and it’s based on our confidence in what God has done through his Son, Jesus Christ.
What we call the rapture consists of Jesus descending, the sound of the trumpet, the graves opening for the dead in Christ to raise and take their glorified body and be re-united with the soul. The living believers will be translated into incorruptible bodies. It all happens in an instant. Imagine it. That is our hope. We believe in the Savior who died for us and know that he rose from the dead and is living for us. He’s coming back for every saint that has ever lived. When we believe and accept that Jesus died and raised again, that saves us and gives us the promise of eternal life. The saved of all ages from all cultures, from prior to the cross to his coming, will meet the Lord in the air. Whether our ashes are on top of Whitetop Mountain or our bones have been eaten by possums, God knows where they are. There is no grave too deep. The seas will give up their dead when Jesus comes in the clouds on that resurrection morning.
Our mortal ship is going down. We won’t last forever in this body. When I take my last breath I want it to be taken in the faith. If I live in the faith I can die in the faith. I’ll meet my brothers and sisters who died in the Lord. I’ll meet the old saints of God—Peter and Paul and many others. This is all possible because we choose to believe God. Jesus was not dead in trespasses and sins like we were, yet he got in front of us so we wouldn’t have to taste death. He took our place at Calvary. The resurrection is possible because of Jesus Christ.
In Ezekiel 37, he saw the dry bones come together. A valley of death came back to life. When asked if it could happen, Ezekiel admitted he didn’t know, but the Lord knew. He stood back and watched it take place. It sounds crazy. A Savior-believing Christian is considered crazy today. The old mind may not be just right, but Jesus is where he should be in my heart. The Lord won’t listen to what society has to say when he comes back. He knows how to deal with us. Whether we live or die, we have hope of eternal life. We have hope of meeting our loved ones again never to be parted again. It’s all because we trust in Jesus. So shall we ever be with the Lord.
There should never be an “if” in your heart. You can be sure. Have you trusted the Lord fully? Settle it. Believe with all your heart, and one day your faith will become sight.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 