GOD'S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE
I Thess. 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: tend so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. "
This is the first of the thirteen letters the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write. It is said that this letter was written around 52 -53 A.D. Paul, Silas and Timothy had ministered in Thessolonica for a time and then were forced to leave because the Jews envied the success of the gospel. They fled to Berea. Paul preach three Sabbaths in the synagogue, but was not allowed to. return. From Berea, Paul and Silas went on to Corinth, but sent Timothy back to ascertain the condition of the new church at Thessolonica. Timothy reported the manifestation of great faith among the assembly, but he also re- ported there were some misunderstandings among them; perhaps related to the brevity of the ministry Paul had enjoyed there.
In response to the situation we have Paul's very first epistle, or letter, to a Church of Jesus Christ.
As far as we can ascertain, this is also the very first written Word in the New Testament about the great doctrine of the Second Coming. Of course, many of the Old Testament prophecies foreshadowed the great event, but many also had a dual meaning and an application to both the first and second advent. During His ministry Jesus and taught at length about the subject, but it is indicated that the first of the four gospels would not be written and disseminated to God's people for another 8-10 years. His great resurrection dissertations in his Corinthian letters have not been penned either.
To understand the full import of the words we will consider today we must apply the simple rules of Bible analysis. The letter is written by Paul to those who are saved, baptized and in fellowship in the assembly. But the letter is obviously a personal letter from God to His people. Not only to His people in this church, but to His -people of like precious faith in every similar assembly in the future. But what is the basic subject under consideration?
It is obvious in the background and context that Paul has been informed that there exists in the church a serious misunderstanding about the resurrection and rapture of the saints. Since some of their brothers and sisters have passed on, have they missed the Second Coming? What will be their fate when the Lord does return? Will there really be a resurrection? The occasion and purpose of this letter is to answer these questions and put these things in order. He writes to intellectually inform and spiritually illuminate God's people. But more than anything else, his purpose is to comfort, encourage, and energize those who have been troubled and discouraged by doubt, fear and uncertainty. In doing this, Paul focuses upon GOD'S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE!
GOD WISHES HIS PEOPLE TO BE INFORMED AND ILLUMINATED about spiritual matters. He would not have His people to be ignorant. The people of the world are ignorant, ill informed, and incapable of understanding the great truths of the Word of God. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned." (I Cor. 2:14) The focus of Satan's attack is just at this point He is constantly at work through the new and old age philosophies of this world and the false teachings of the religionists of this world. His goal is to blind the lost and hide the glorious gospel from them, lest they hear and understand and are saved, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. " (II Cor. 4:3-4)
In a message I shared about this passage once I emphasized, “What Satan Doesn't Want The Lost To Know." I outlined those things in this way: Satan doesn't want the lost to know: THE FACTS, THE FORCE, THE FAITH, THE FEAR, THE FREEDOM OR THE FUTURE OF THE GOSPEL.
But those who have had the light of His glorious gospel shine into their heart and the love of God shed abroad there have no excuse for spiritual ignorance. God may call us from such a background, but He does not wish us to remain mirred in it. There was a time in the past in which I am afraid that the people of God rather gloried in the idea that God’s people were of the lower classes and should not strive to rise above their basis estate. Some made a fetish of the fallacy of His people being poor, illiterate and humble folk; even to the point of discouraging an educated or trained ministry. According to their misunderstanding, God was supposed to literally pour spiritual knowledge and inspiration into His servant's heart. Any attempt to study and prepare somehow short circuited this imagined spiritual process. I'm afraid too often this false concept was just an excuse for laziness and ignorance.
The history of God's true people confirms that our persecuted forefathers of the faith during the dark middle ages understood God's wish and will in this matter. The priests of the so-called established church of that era were often absolutely oafish, illiterate and ignorant. They were denied education and training and many did not even have the capacity to read the very Word of God. It could be surmised that the reformation ultimately confirmed that Popish fears of the danger of an educated ministry were ultimately proven to be well founded by Luther and his contemporaries. But the record shows that the tradesmen, craftsmen and small merchants compromising the ministry of the dissidents; travelled and ministered in the villages and cities of that day. These courageous men of God were not only literate, but handled the Word with great skill as capable expositors and evangelists as well.
Yes, God’s wishes His people to be informed and to inform others also as witnesses of the Word. "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. " (II Tim. 2:3, 15) The Word of God is the ultimate source of all intellectual and spiritual wisdom and light. His Word is to be the light that illuminates the path we tread through this world. (Psalm 119:105) His Word is not only to inform those in our little corner, but is to shine out and inform those around us as we place our lights together upon the candlestick of our church to expand its collective witness as well. (Matt. 5:16)
GOD WISHES HIS PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT MORTALITY AND IMMORTALITY. It is obvious that Paul is writing to counter misconceptions and false teaching about the eternal future of man and to clearly and concisely outline the divinely inspired truth of the matter. He makes it clear that the Lord has not returned yet. He asserts that no one has missed the rapture. He emphasizes that when He does return there will be a physical resurrection and rapture and that the Lord will bring those who have died in the Lord back with Him.
Not only was the matter of death a great source of confusion and discouragement for those in this church at this time, but it has been the central philosophical question that leaps to the lips of men in every age. Even on the remotest islands, in the darkest jungle, upon the highest mountains or in the most and desert man has always cried into the star studded sky, "Who am I?" "Where do I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" It was Job, in the oldest book in the Bible, who first placed into Biblical print that question of all questions about man's mortality or immortality when he rhetorically cried, "If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14) Then, after speculating on the fact that even a tree has a hope of a new life when a sprout springs from its stump, he goes on to resoundingly answer his own question when he affirms, "I know my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.. and though my body be destroyed.. yet in my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25- 26)
Man's quest for such immortality permeates all history and transcends all cultures. The pharaoh's were buried in preparation for the possibility of an afterlife. So were the nobility and religious elite of many other cultures on every continent. The search for immortality prompted the Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon, to explore what is now the state of Florida, searching for a reputed fountain of youth. Of course, he did not find it, but came to the end of his mortal life at the point of an Indian's arrow. Charlatans and con-artists throughout the centuries have taken advantage of man's ceaseless search for an answer to the riddle of immortality. The ancient alchemists, with their fraudulent formulas and elixirs of life, give testimony to the absurdity of some aspects of that endless quest.
Even today we see continuing manifestations of such sad seeking. The New Age movement, which is nothing more than a revival of certain aspects of Hinduism and ancient Eastern mystic religions, plays upon man's innate spiritual hunger and thirst for spiritual immortality. Reincarnation, spiritism, channelling and the like, are all based upon a certain presumption of the possibility of individual re- newal or resurrection of life.
But God wishes His people to know the truth about life, death and immortality. And for Christians the matter is settled once and for all in the gospel record of Christ's victory over death, hell and the grave that wonderful resurrection morning. It is surely as the apostle Paul once said, "If Christ is not risen, we are of all men most miserable." The risen Christ is the Christian`s blessed hope. When man faces death, the common denominator of all mankind, what other hope would suffice? The Christian's quest joyously ends at that empty tomb where an angel once cried, "He is not here, He is risen!" (Luke 24:6)
Yes, God wishes His people to know about the true dimensions of death for the Christian. Paul tells us that when we consider that we are eternal citizens of heaven with an unimaginable bright and glorious future, death becomes a desirable estate. "For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain." (Phil. 1:21)
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, accord- ing to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil. 3:20-2 1)
I was privileged to share these truths this week with a good sized group that had come together at a memorial service. I am sure a large portion of those present had never before heard the clear challenge of the gospel presented in its simplicity. God wishes the lost to understand his offer of eternal life to those who will truly believe. God also wishes His people to know that death is merely a shadow for those who walk through its valley hand in hand with Jesus. Death can be viewed as a gain rather than a loss for the Christian.
Ken Trivette wrote in his message, "Dead or Alive": "Paul said, 'to die is gain. The word gain is a word that means "profitable." It was used to speak of interest that money had gained. Paul was saying, "death is not terrible, but profitable. " Now notice what it was in particular that Paul considered a gain in death. He said, "having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better." Christ had been with him, but death would allow him to be with Christ. Paul had lived for Christ, but he had a desire to live with Christ, which to him was a far better life. To Paul, death didn't put him in a cemetery. It ushered him into a sanctuary. Although I have never seen it, I have been told there is a headstone in a cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama which reads: 'Under the clover and Under the trees, Here lies the body of Jonathan Pease. Pease ain't here, only the pod, Pease shelled out and went home to God'
Paul described death as a death as a 'departure.' 'For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart.' (Phil. 1:23) 'For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.' The word departure is one of the most wonderful words in the Bible. It was a picturesque word that had a variety of usages. The dissolution of a chemical is one usage. One could take a chemical compound as found in the solid form of a tablet and drop it into water. In doing so, the chemical would dissolve. In its dissolving, it would disappear but not be destroyed. Its form only changed from a solid to a liquid. When a Christian dies he disappears but is not destroyed. The form of life changes from a physical state to a spiritual state. We die, but we don't die. We just change conditions of life.
The word was also used to describe the setting free of a prisoner. The prisoner was released from his bondage and chains and allowed to go free. We live this life chained to the limitations and temptations of our body. But death will release us from these.
The word was also used by a farmer. It described taking the yoke off the oxen. The day of labor was over and it was time to rest from the burden of the yoke and the service in the field. Death means the laying aside the burdens of life and the completion of our work.
The word also described the striking of a tent. It spoke of the untying of the ropes from the stakes, packing up the tent and moving to a new location. Death is a glorious change of where we dwell.
Finally, the word was used to describe the lifting of any anchor. A ship is ready to leave the harbor and sail to a new land. The anchor is lifted, the sails hoisted, and the vessel sets sail for a new destina- tion. Death is a blessed leaving. Death is like stepping on board the Old Ship of Zion and setting sail for a Heavenly land and leaving the old land behind. One day I'm leaving out of here. No wonder Paul said death was better. No wonder he desired to die. There was the life before him the life behind him that made him declare that death was better" (End Quote)
What will that delightful dimension and glorious existence really be like? No one knows for sure but it is thrilling to speculate on it as I did in my article entitled, "Like Him. "
"As the twenty-first century approaches it becomes increasingly clear that man's desire to be free of the surly bonds of earth and soar into the heavens has brought him to the very brink of new era. He has reached for the stars and seems to have taken a first feeble step into near space: Armstrong's historical statement, "One small step for (of) man, one giant leap for mankind," seems to summarize man's eternal quest for the heavens.
In spite of all the fantasizing of science fiction, man is quickly becoming acutely aware of the many practical scientific problems posed in his penetration of outer space. It would seem that man is just too inhibited by the continuum of time, matter, energy and space to ever conceivably achieve his dream. The time required for man to travel safely at the speed required, using any propulsion and environmental survival systems that can be envisioned today, far exceeds man's survival capacity. The fragility of man's frame and the sensitivity of his biological systems mitigate against successful extended space travel.
Man's only real hope of breaking away from the forces of gravity and truly leaving the restrictive confines of this earth, lie in another direction entirely. Man has the answer he seeks and the freedom he desires, but he does not seem to be willing to understand it or accept it. Man is truly designed for the stars, but he does not seem willing to fully come to grips with or grasp his eternal destiny.
A simple statement in the Word of God clearly settles the issue. John, in speaking of eternal sons of God said, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.. " If we are to know the fantastic future our Creator God has in store for those eternal sons he has chosen as the eternal objects of His love in Christ Jesus, we only need to know what He is like. What he is like, physically, intellectually and spiritually is the key to our eternal existence.
One of the primary attributes of the eternal Son of God Who created this universe, and man, is His omnipotence. He is all powerful. This simply means that He Who created the scientific systems of mathematics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and physics, etc., has the power to repeal, change, or completely set aside any or all of them in any order or simultaneously. In essence it can be said that the continuum of time, matter, energy and space do not rule over their Creator or control Him; rather He rules over and controls them.
We see this illustrated in a very limited way during His personal ministry upon the earth. This limitation was self- imposed because of the very nature of His incarnation. Yet we see that He on occasion entirely set aside the power of gravity. When it suited His purpose He momentarily repealed the scientific principles governing meteorological phenomena. He annulled the biological laws involved in disease and death, completely reversing their negative effects.
But to really explore our future we must examine what He is like in His resurrected body. Because, as even Job understood two thousand years before the event, eternal sons and daughters of God will be given a completely new resurrected body - like Him. Paul made sure we understood that this new body entailed an entirely different and glorious sphere of existence. Physically, that automatically entails transcending the continuum of time, space and matter. The record of all the observed activities of our resurrected Saviour during the days He spent among upwards of five hundred of His followers before His ascension gives us some indication of that fantastic future. The first observable phenomena was the complete reversal of all scientific laws involved in the bodily resurrection. Such infinite power is beyond the comprehension of finite minds.
The next apparent phenomena is the setting aside of the limitations of time, space and distance.
Evidently he travelled from earth to paradise, to heaven and back to earth in an instantaneous manner. We can only speculate about the vast stellar distances that may be involved. In doing so, laws relating to energy and propulsion would of necessity be negated. Even those who by faith incredulously accept the ideas of space warp and other ridiculous propositions of science fiction space travel, would perhaps be astounded by this. No space ship is mentioned or indicated! His final ascent into space would seem to be deliberately slowed for reasons of communication, but that makes the observed phenomena even more fantastic.
The phenomena of materialization and dematerialization is even more remarkable. He appeared in the midst of them and then evidently disappeared. His attributes of omniscience and omnipresence are also clearly implied and demonstrated in His resurrected body. Shall we be like Him in all of this? The concept is so far beyond our capacity to conceive and comprehend we are hesitant to fully accept it or speculate upon its full implications. Perhaps it is enough to rejoice in being the eternal sons of God who will some day see Him as He is and be like Him in eternity!"
GOD DESIRES HIS PEOPLE TO LIVE AND BE HAPPY. Paul clearly tells us we should not live our lives in the shadow of sorrow and grief. Jesus tells us that He came we might have a more abundant life. What is called the Beatitudes in His Sermon on the Mount has been termed a formula for Christian joy and happiness. If this is God's desire for us, it is reasonable that we fill our lives with all those good and worthwhile things that would please our Father in heaven and bring real joy and peace to us here on earth.
Abundant life is in the doing and living. It is not the completion of a worthwhile project that gives the most benefit and joy, but the labor and endeavor itself. The experience of building the taber- nacle and the temple was obviously the greatest benefit and blessing to the participants; not the com- pleted structure itself. The same could be said of every analogy used in the scripture to describe the Christian's life of service to the Lord. It's the running of the race, the fighting of the battle, the planting and cultivation of the field and the building of the house that grows, matures and fulfils the Christian.
Through the years I have used the building of a tree house with my small children many years ago to illustrate this principle. As a father and student who worked full time to support his family, I managed to squeeze in the time over a number of weeks to work with them in constructing a great tree house. The day of completion when all the "furniture" and toys were moved in was a great day. But I noticed in just a few weeks my children spent very little time playing in their tree house and eventually did not do so for weeks on end. As I looked back over the experience and remembered the enjoyable time we had spent together in building it, I concluded that life is in the building and doing.
Oh, how our generation needs to revisit this principle. In our materialistic culture today the attitude seems to be the opposite. Instead of having a full cup of life in the service of God, so many seem to be saying, "Empty my cup Lord. " "Empty it of my responsibility to You, my family, my church and to the world around me. Let me live life for me. "
The Lord truly desires His people enjoy the Christian life. He even tells us that we are to lay aside our tithes and offerings weekly with a hilarious attitude. (II Cor. 9:6-7) John tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments and His commandments will not be grievous. (I John 5:3) The mean- ing is obvious. Instead of sadly seeing service to our Savior as a sore burden, we will happily heed his command to bring help and healing to all those who are hurting around us. We are told by David that those who go forth with weeping bearing precious seeds will eventually return rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.
Francis of Assii expressed the Christian's way of joy through serving God by lovingly serving those around us in his famous prayer: "Lord, make mean instrument of Thy peace, Where there is hatred let me sow in love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where their is doubt; faith; Where there is despair, light; Where there is sadness, joy. 0 Divine Master, grant that I may not so seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood; as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned: It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. "
Again, joy in the Christian life is not only permissible, but desirable. Jesus said He wished our joy to be full. Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always. and again I say rejoice." (Phil. 4:4) Peter spoke of the joy unspeakable and full of glory. I understand the term could be understood to mean, "leap with joy." A basis of real Christian joy is found here in relation to the Second Coming of Christ. Paul speaks to young Titus of our blessed or happy hope. This is hope and the happiness it brings is based upon a real and living faith in God, His presence, promises and power in our life. It has given hope to the hopeless in all the ages of real Christian history. The following lines found scrawled upon the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany, after World War II seem to catch the essence of such faith: "I believe in the sun, even when it isn't shining. I believe in love, even when I see it not, I believe in God, even when He seems to be silent."
GOD DESIRES HIS PEOPLE TO BE COMFORTED AND ENCOURAGED. In our day of so much darkness when our world is recklessly rushing downhill to destruction, there is a great need for divine encouragement among the people of God. True pulpits around the world should be ringing out the joy of the promise of His coming! The mouths of God's preachers and people alike should be shouting forth the words of comfort found here. The lives of God's people should loudly speak volumes about the blessed hope that sustains them. The words of our Savior set the tenor and tone for the tale we should tell out about this comforting truth, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " (Luke 21:28) (See John 14:1-3)
But if we are to be comforted, the lost first need to be confronted, convinced, convicted and made uncomfortable about their future as it relates to His Second Coming. Just this morning as I set out to do a bit of door knocking, the Lord brought two people to my door. They wanted to know what I thought about future events. I am sure my answer was a bit unexpected. I told them in no uncertain terms that I was optimistic; because I knew the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and felt He would be coming soon. But if His coming was a bit further in the future, I knew I would go and be with Him. Then I was able to spend about ten minutes or so sharing Christ with them. Even though they were offering their religion to me, I am sure they needed to understand sin and its wages. That they are without God, without Christ and without hope outside Jesus Christ.
Lost sinners need to be made to feel as a lost man in my home town was once made to feel. A flight of Air Force jets passed through and broke the sound barrier a number of times during their passage. The noise in the heavens was considerable. Not knowing the source and having never experienced the phenomenon before, the man rushed into the street and begged his Christian neighbors, who had also rushed outside, to tell him how to be saved. He thought the Lord was returning! May we so live in the light of His coming that our life will give a certain sound that the Holy Spirit can use to convict sinners and bring them to our Saviour!
