Monday, April 26, 2021

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
English Standard Version 

  Yesterday morning was a cold one at church -- we're still worshiping in the parking lot, and the wind was a bit more brisk than I expected.  See, I predict the day's weather based on whatever happened yesterday, which works really well if you live in San Diego.  Living in central Ohio means my weather system isn't very reliable.  Maybe I need to move...
  If I can't predict the weather tomorrow, I certainly can't tell you exactly what the end times will be like.  There are scholars who have done countless hours of research on Scripture to have a better understanding of what will happen when Christ returns.  We're all looking at an incomplete picture.  Here, Paul is telling the church that upon Christ's return, the dead will be resurrected first, and then those who are alive who will be caught up together, so that there will be one community meeting the Lord in the air.  If we are to be one community in the end times, we are called to live as one community in the here and now.  
  When will Christ return?  What warnings will there be?  How will we know?
  Those we don't know.  We are called to trust God -- the God who comes to save us has taught us that God is trustworthy, so when we reach the end of our knowledge and look forward into the unknown, we can do so with confidence that God will provide a safe and secure future for us.

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