For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
We don't have to ask if Jesus is coming back, because He is coming. We are not sure of when, where, or how. The fact is that the Lord is coming and on His return those who are asleep with the belief in Jesus will see the Lord, before those yet alive when He comes. He is coming back.
Rebecca Gibson died on Sunday, August 31, 2008. When persons die in our community of faith, the minister turns to the Bible for words of comfort. Some times those words come easy. There are times when words of comfort are difficult to find. In the case of Ms. Gibson the Word jumped into my mind without opening the Bible. Easy, I would say! Not amazed? Well, check this out.
I did not know Ms. Gibson. I do not know her life at this moment. I cannot tell you the numbers of years, months, weeks, days, etc. of her life. Nothing has been presented to me to say the number of moons and sunrises or sunsets she saw. Yet, the Word of God for her service came easy.
Paul in his elderly state of life wrote to churches, which embodied people that he loved. He left with them through writings his theological believes and wishes for the children of God. In one of his messages to the church of the Thessalonians, Paul encourages them to love one another and those beyond their city. A city, very much, like New York City having major Jewish influence and people worshipping various gods in the midst of the existence of God. Boldly the champion for the cause of Christ asked that those yet alive believe in the second coming of Jesus. In by so believing, increase in the love of people, strive to live in peace as you mind your own business, and work and walk right toward others as you prosper in life. What a message!
The comfort to be found in the death of Rebecca or a love one is in the message they leave. The comfort may be found in the message from their experience of time on earth. A message that reflects love above hate, peace to replace war, self-reflections as oppose to false accusations, an attitude of do unto others as you would have them do unto you, so that you prosper without harm to another soul. What is the message of Rebecca? It is a simple one. How do I know? I have just told you. Her message jumped right into my mind as though her spirit placed it there. Ready? It is real simple, because she died as she lived - in comfort.
Her message is this: "Comfort one another!"
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bring peace to our souls and love through our lives, one person to another. Amen.
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2 comments:
In the old days, that's what our parents taught us - to care for one another in our communities and our communities weren't just the areas in our direct vicinities. It was anyone who needed help within driving distance.
Today, people just stay to themselves and mind their own business. Living in a big city, I can see why sometimes it might be difficult to reach out but people in the city need help and comfort as much as anyone anywhere. What are we really afraid of, Preacher? I think we might be afraid that if we really do reach out, people will actually accept and become our friends. It takes work to be a friend and quite frankly, I think we're too busy and selfish to be anything more than a casual acquaintance. I might be wrong but I think we are more comfortable being lazy Christians.
I saw a lady, who professed to be Christian. She did not speak her of being Christian, as to make a confession, however, her actions bore witnessed to being a disciple of Christ. So, I asked her about her faith and she said: "I live each day in the hope of fulfilling the will of God, because God has filled me with the love of Jesus." Following the teachings of Christ is the cure for laziness among Christians. Jesus taught that we are to be known as His disciples by the love we show one to another. We cannot be Christian and be lazy, in that the marks of being Christian require that we busy ourselves in spreading the love of God - Agape.
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