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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. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
What happens to the people we love when they die? Will we see them again? If so, when?
These are the questions that come up at every funeral, whether they are spoken out loud or not. Even small children ask them. I remember a Vietnamese Christian funeral when a little girl, only four years old, came running to sit next to me. She asked, “Where did Grandma go? Will I see her again?”
This is what I told her. I said that yes, Grandma has died and we are all very sad, because we miss her, and it will be a while before we see her again. But Jesus has promised to raise all His people from the dead, at the end of the world, and He will raise Grandma, too. She belongs to Him and He will not lose her. She is safe. Jesus promised us this, and He can do it, because He Himself died and rose from the dead. He is alive now, and He will never die again. And He will share that life with all of us, and we will live forever with Him, in His kingdom—Grandma and me and you and all His people, everyone who trusts in Jesus.
The little girl was so excited! She jumped up and ran to the front of the church, to her mother who was sitting by the casket. She said loudly, “Mommy, I have good news for you!”
And she did. Because Jesus has given Himself for us, the power of death is broken forever, and we, too, will rise from the dead. This is good news for us. Let’s share it with everybody!
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, I am so glad that You have gone through death and resurrection ahead of us. Hold on to me when I am afraid and grieving, and let me trust You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Who do you know that has gone to be with the Lord already?
- What do you think it will be like, on Resurrection Day when we all see Jesus and each other again?
- Does it help to know that Jesus has already gone through death and come out the other side? How does that affect you?
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