Inspiration & Worship
Got Hope? M
ost of us fear the end of our lives here on Earth. After all, we’ve never known any other kind of life. This fear of the unknown is natural. Even Jesus prayed for God to take away the impending physical death set before him. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will. (Matthew 26:39, AKJV). But after his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus made many appearances to his disciples and others for 40 days, before ascending into a cloud. As his apostles watched, two angels told them: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11, NIV). Knowing that Jesus Christ will return and that we will spend eternity with him is our source of hope, joy and comfort. Writing to Christians at Thessalonica, Paul told believers: Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 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. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. 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. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, NIV). Fear not. The best is yet to come. ❚
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– Janine Pumilia Smart Living Fort Wayne
July 2021 • II
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