Whether We Wake or Sleep
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians from Athens intending to provide them with encouraging words with which they could “comfort one another.” He explains that Jesus is coming again, we will be caught up together with him in the clouds, and death (for the Christian) is nothing but a lengthy period of sleep. It’s glorious!
This glimpse into the future entices our imagination to ponder what it might be like to sleep in Christ and to be with him in glory. Our natural curiosity wants us to focus on the details we don’t have about the future. “When is this all going to happen anyway?” sparks endless debates.
Although much of Thessalonians 4 and 5 is future focused, Paul leaves us with a promise that we don’t have to wait for everything. Yes, it is appointed unto man once to die. We don’t know when the day of the Lord will come, and yes there will be a lot of waiting.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
But we don’t have to wait to live together with Christ until we see him on the other side of our mortality. Paul emphasizes that we can live together with him today too. That’s right now! Yes, when you’re done reading this you can choose to pray without ceasing, immerse yourself in the word, and walk daily in the light of Christ.
Speaking of which, I’m off to do the same!