THE QUESTION

Believers Who Have Died

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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. 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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Revelation 21:1–4 NKJV

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Introduction

Madison to Wayne

This morning as I seek to bring comfort to your hearts I would be disingenuous if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that in times like these questions arise.

All of us remember and wish we could go back to a time when life was more simple and answers seemed easier to find.

Then when got a little older and just new awe had life all figured out! I’m gonna live in this type of house , drive this type of car, marry this type of person and life will be so grand!

I. I’ve Got some Questions

Until one day… Something hits us with a challenge that shakes us to our core. Isn’t funny how life can have you up today………

Everything is going fine until you get some bad news from the doctor.

Everything seems grand until devastating news stops at your door.

Power Principle: Bad news doesn’t come empty handed … But it leaves you with… Questions….

How could this happen to me?

How am I going to make it through?

How can I hold it together when I feel like falling apart?What is life going to look like after today?

If you’d be honest some of these questions roll around in our mind

Does anyone know how I feel?

Well the Bible tells us that there was a group of believers down in Thessalonica. 49-51 adAnd they were waiting for the return of Jesus. For some 15-20 years ago Jesus had gone back to Heaven and they were hopeful that he would return to save them from the perils of this world.

Big momma saw it … but time has passed and Big mamma is gone.

Mamma can remember it but her footsteps are getting shorter and Jesus still had not returned. And we find themselves saying ., How long must I wait until Jesus returns? How long must I live in a world where the earth disappointment and sadness makes their Rounds?

II. Your tears are not wasted

Paul says something that is Vital

He does not discount their tears. He does not tell us to stop crying. He just tells them to not weep as those who have no hope.For if you know Jesus, death is not the end! It is only the beginning.

So the question Paul indicates as most important is will I be ready when he comes?

Conclusion

Has lived her life and has finished her course. But ours still have chapters to be written. The obituary says she received Christ later in life but she received Him.

Will your story end like hers? When that is the story Paul says you can find comfort in those words.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[a]

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:1-4