2008-11-20 09:15:00
"And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us" (Luke 16:26). "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" (1 Thessalonians 4:17,18).
Right up the road from us is an old country cemetery. It is well maintained and still receiving earthly remains. Often the line of cars coming to a burial service comes right in front of our house giving us pause for consideration of another one "for whom the bell has tolled".
Last week we learned of a young girl our daughter's age that died unexpectedly. We were especially prayerful as we saw the long line of cars pass our home headed toward the cemetery this past week. Having lost our parents, other loved ones, and a number of friends we consider one emotion in particular that many experience; the sense of finality and a desire that in some way we could communicate with the departed. But of course we cannot.
In considering the Scriptures the first daily text comes to mind. It is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. It is a powerful portion from the very words of Jesus and much can be gleaned from the conversation. (A link to the entire passage is noted below.)
However I am especially intrigued by the phrase, "a great chasm has been fixed." Now this is specifically referring to the chasm between the rich man in hell and those who remained on earth whom he desperately wanted to warn.
However, clearly this same chasm exists between heaven and earth as well for it is equally true that, "Those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." We just can't willingly pass back and forth between heaven and earth. Once we die this chasm is indeed fixed, that is until the appointed time.
That's what we experience at the death of a loved one with this great chasm. The two way communication we may have been so accustomed to is suddenly completely curtailed. This is so hard!
But the second daily verse has a wonderful promise. It's the great "rapture" passage and the entire context is linked to below. It's a promise concerning the coming of the Lord and expressly addresses a concern the Thessalonian believers had regarding their deceased loved ones. Paul assured them that actually the dead would rise first, then those living will be caught up together with them. That will be a glad reunion day (sounds like an old hymn, doesn't it). "We will be with the Lord forever." Think about it, we will be with our loved ones who lived for Christ and the Lord forever!
Paul wanted them to "encourage each other with these words." The word encourage is also translated comfort. The basis of this encouragement and comfort is that they would once again be together with their loved ones, no longer deceased and separated but very much alive and reunited. This is a Biblical truth so we also have the very same promise.
Let us be filled with anticipation for this future heavenly reunion. I pray that each reader will find similar encouragement and comfort in this wonderful truth!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, we know that living in the light of eternity gives us an unending hope that surpasses our journey here below. It takes our spirit to heights that soar beyond the brutish world we live in and motivates us to lay up our treasures in heaven where greed and corruption do not exist. It gives us a deep, settled peace that our loved one who walked with You on earth now worships You in heaven. We anxiously await that wondrous day when we will be joined with our loved ones in giving praise, glory and honor to our everlasting King of Kings around the heavenly throne. Our hearts are encouraged and our spirit is strengthened as we meditate on these wonderful future events. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Tags: daily encouragement,archive,blog
|
