Hovering over a well known passage this morning, quite often a common “funeral” passage. But as I noodle on 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, I realize it’s really a “for everything” passage.

One of the things that first hits me is that Paul wants his readers to know that what he’s saying is not just speculation but is, in fact, revelation.

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord . . .

(1Thessalonians 4:15a ESV)

Not just Paul’s informed opinion, but the Lord’s inspired declaration. Not just wishful thinking, but a word from the Word. So what’s the word?

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

(1Thessalonians 4:16-17 ESV)

Chew on the “He” and “we” of it . . .

He’s coming, thus we’ll be going. He’s gonna return, and we’re gonna rise. He will Himself descend from heaven, so we will always be with the Lord. (Did I mention that this isn’t just informed opinion or wishful thinking?)

There it is! Wanna know the future? We will always be with the Lord! That’s it! That’s the bottom line! No fortune teller needed. No crystal ball crystal clear enough. This is a word from the Lord. The risen Lord. The coming again Lord.

But it’s the “so what” of this passage, the conclusion often cited when we gather to mourn the loss of a beloved one who has gone before, that primes the pump for this morning’s meditation.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers (and sisters), . . . that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

(1Thessalonians 4:13 ESV)

The Lord’s coming. We’re going. So, says Paul, don’t grieve as others do who have no hope. Don’t mourn like those who don’t know Jesus. Sure, lament at the separation currently experienced, but don’t lament as those who have never experienced the new birth and have never been reconciled to God and adopted as His child, through faith in the finished work of the cross where Jesus’ death fully paid the debt owed for their sin. No, says Paul, in light of Jesus’ resurrection, His ascension, and His soon coming again; in light of us living in the reality that one day soon we will always be with the Lord, grieve, mourn, and lament in a different way — as those who have hope.

And as I chew on this I get to thinking that I can insert any verb within Paul’s encouragement and it makes just as much sense, it’s just as worthy a word of exhortation. Try it . . .

Don’t work as those who have no hope. Don’t party as those who have no hope. Don’t parent as those who have no hope. Don’t invest as those who have no hope. Don’t argue as those who have no hope. Don’t vote as those who have no hope. Don’t prioritize as those who have no hope. Don’t live as those who have no hope.

Get the idea? Go ahead, try it for yourself. Grab a common verb or two, think of an experience or activity, any experience or activity, and insert it: Don’t _____________ as others do who have no hope.

Whatever we do, all that we do, shouldn’t we do it as those who have hope? As those who will be going on that day when He is coming? I’m thinkin . . .

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

(Colossians 3:2-4 ESV)

As those who have hope. Not just a grieving mindset, a “for everything” mindset.

Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.