"So Shall We Ever Be With the Lord"

In slightly over a week’s time, many people will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. During this period of festivities, it is customary for people to gather in the houses of families and friends, for a reunion meal. It is a time to see those who we do not meet as often, to catch up and rekindle family ties and friendships.

Nevertheless, we are mindful that there are those for whom a reunion is difficult, if not impossible. There are those whose family members are in another country for work or study. There are those who may have migrated to a different country, and find it prohibitively costly to fly back for a reunion meal. There are also those whose loved ones are severely ill, or who have even departed this mortal realm. For these people, Chinese New Year may not be a time of happiness, but a time of sorrow over their inability to reunite with their loved ones.

In the book of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul addressed the Christians at Thessalonica who were concerned about their loved ones who had died before them. What would happen to them? Would they ever get to see their loved ones again? The apostle Paul reassured them, by saying:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye 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 unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15).

Paul was reassuring the church at Thessalonica that since they believed in the resurrection of Christ, for which there was ample evidence (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8), then they could also have confidence that those who died, faithful to Jesus, would not be left behind when the Lord returns in His Second Coming. What would happen at the Second Coming?

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 (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

What a comforting thought to know that if we who are alive remain faithful to the Lord, we will get to see all the dearly departed saints – and “so shall we ever be with the Lord”. What a wonderful reunion that would be! It would surpass any reunion dinner we could possibly have in this life. In this Chinese New Year season, I hope that for those of you who are thinking about dearly departed faithful family members and brethren, that you will find comfort in these words.