Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 27
Saturday


THE ULTIMATE
REUNION

READ:
1 Thessalonians
4:13-18
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We who are alive and
remain shall be caught
up together with them.
__1 Thess. 4:17
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I'll never forget the vigil of sitting by my dad's bed as he spent his last few days with us before slipping into eternity. To this day the moment of his passing continues to have a profound effect on me. My dad was always there for me. I could call him whenever I needed counsel. I have great memories of our days fishing together; we would talk about God and the Bible, and I would prompt him to tell those fun stories from his youth on the farm.

But when Dad took his last breath, I became aware of the irreversible finality of death. He was gone from this world. And my heart had a vacancy sign hung on its door.

Yet, even in the midst of such loss and grief, God's Word speaks encouragingly into the emptiness. The apostle Paul teaches us that at the coming of the Lord Jesus, those who have gone on before will rise first and we "shall be caught up together with them....And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17). Now that's a reunion I'm really looking forward to! Not only to be reunited with my dad, but to be with Jesus forever.

C. S. Lewis said, "Christians never say goodbye." Im eagerly awaiting that ultimate reunion! __Joe stowell

```````````````````Lord, in the midst of our sorrow and loss, remind```````````````````
``````````````````us of the glorious eternal reunion that is waiting````````````````````
`````````````````for us. Comfort us in our grief and fill our hearts`````````````````````
`````````````````with joyful anticipation of the day You will return!````````````````````
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O death, where is your sting? __1 Corinthians 15:55

********************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18*******************************

13 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. 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those
who sleep in Jesus.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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.

18 Therefore comfort one
another with these words.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the Bible, sleep is a euphemism for physical death (Ps. 13:3;
Matt. 9:24; 27:52; John 11:11-13; acts 7:60). Daniel 12:2 says,
"Those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." Jesus
affirmed that "the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth__those who have done good,
to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). On that day when
Jesus returns, believers, "those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14),
will be resurrected first (v.16). Then the believers who are still alive
will be "caught up" or "raptured" to meet Christ in the air (v.17).