Despair and Hope

Today's Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV) - 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

When Paul wrote his First Letter to the Thessalonians, he wanted to reassure this church that those Christians who had died under the Roman persecution had not died in vain. Paul is contrasting those Christians who have hope in Christ and those non-Christians who do not. He is sending words of encouragement so that those in the church do not give up out of despair.

Today's Comments:

During the years that Paul wrote his letters, many considered death as the absolute termination of existence. There were also many other ideas concerning existence after death, as well. As Christians, however, we believe in the resurrection of the dead, and Paul, here is stating the creedal formula to which we currently adhere:

• On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven
• We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
  

It is upon that hope, that Paul exhorts all men to action. We have absolutely no idea as to when Christ will return. But until he does, we are urged to live our lives as Christ would want us, loving our God and our neighbor.