“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you 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 to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to 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: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (vs13-18)
Comfort the saints with the gospel of God’s grace. We have tears and trials, but don’t let anything make you believe that salvation is limited and cannot help these ails. Don’t say, “Hope is lost”, and don’t say, “I don’t know what to say”. You have the word of God to preach and hear: you have the gospel to encourage and BE encouraged thereby. And, don’t refuse your comfort (Ps 77).
Just as there is comfort in death, there is comfort in every area of life, as all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom 8:28). We may have sinned, which is why death comes upon us, but through the Lord Jesus, it has lost its sting, so that DEATH is no more an enemy to fear; it is something God uses to bring us to Christ, rather than away (1 Cor 15:54-57). That most feared thing is fearless to us now, because we shall come back with Christ, safe and sound. The curse and wrath are gone, and God loves us and counts our death as precious (Ps 116:15).
The word of God, O child of Christ, is the comfort that God gives, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep through 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 shall not come before them which are asleep” (1 Thess 4:14-15). Don’t be comfortless because you and I refuse to hear and believe the truth. Don’t refuse the word of God when life has you miserable: that is the lure of sin and deception of Satan, that by doing things my way, blocking God out of my mind and using trouble to EXCUSE rebellion, I can improve my life. Tears and pain are included in the life of saints, and God’s given us the gospel of Jesus Christ to keep and comfort us. Don’t forsake it because of pain; draw near and you’ll get God’s comfort and be able to help others.
This world is NOT about you. We are COMMANDED to comfort, rather than forsake and neglect each other - “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do” (1 Thess 5:11). Just like we need to hear good things, we need to preach them to others. Hear the command, “Comfort one another” (1 Thess 4:18). Do not be so selfish as to care about yourself, while God’s children struggle in need. If you’re in need, then COME to hear Christ and be comforted. If you have comfort in Christ, then come to encourage someone else. Love will cause you and I to do what is right. We have a responsibility, and more than that, we have a Christ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we are His - “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by out Lord Jesus Christ“ (1 Thess 5:9-10). This obligation is nothing to those who taste of Christ; it is the LEAST I could do. If He died for and loves me - choosing me out of this world and dying for my sins before God - the sin that I have in me now, then I should be obedient enough to help others because He loves me.
