Comfort one another with these words

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

What a reunion shall be one day! The dead in Christ shall rise first, and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up! We will be caught up from this world into the arms of the Savior. We shall be caught up out of the chaotic, cacophonous, calamitous world that we inhabit into the beautiful and bountiful world to come. That world shall be perfect. All tears shall be wiped away, and there shall be no more sorrow, pain, or death. We shall live in the light of our Savior for eternity. Therefore, we are to take hope! For those that we have known in Christ that have preceded us in death shall be there when we see the Lord. They are the firstfruits, and afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. The souls of the deceased in Christ shall be reunited with their bodies, and the bodies shall be changed. This is a great mystery! But it shall happen! We shall not prevent them which are asleep. This is all made possible because Jesus died and rose again.

We shall meet the Lord in the air! What a glorious promise, and a joyful hope! That we shall all be together again, but this time, with the Lord. We shall be together with those whom we have loved. But we shall also be together with the Savior, whom we have served. And that shall make all things infinitely better. We shall ever be with the Lord. Forever! That will never change! From that point across the years of eternity we shall never be separated again! We shall ever be with him!

No wonder we are told to comfort one another with these words. Are there any words that can minister greater comfort than these? Are there any more consoling statements than these? I cannot find any! Every Christian may be comforted with these words of Scripture, and we should minister these same words to others. Be comforted today, and rest in the peace that He provides; for we shall see one another again, and we shall be with the Lord forever.

“Dear Lord, we praise you for giving us the comfort of the Scriptures today. We often need this comfort, and it is constantly and readily available. Thank you that we will be reunited with those that we love and we will be once and for all united with our Savior. This will truly be a wondrous day beyond compare. May we not look at the discouragements around us, but let us look at the encouragement of that which is to come. And in the meantime, may we derive the strength we need from this every day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”