“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 4: 14 NASB)
The wee hours of the morning of March 3rd will forever be etched in my mind. We were there, the family, standing close to her bed, standing far across the room, sitting near the bed in a pulled-up close chair, and even perching ourselves on the edge of her hospital bed.
Pause for a moment and see a small, frail-looking lady. Yes, a lady!
- See her eyelids closed (most of the time).
- Hear the quiet. Only hushed whispers filled the room as the large group of people permeated the confines of Grandma’s tiny room in the care center.
- Ms. Lois, bless her heart, had willingly agreed to move out of the room she shared with Grandma, and the staff moved Ms. Lois (bed and all) completely out and into a new room, but only for a span of time.
“But we do not want to be uniformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
(1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14 NASB)
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
The preceding night before March 3rd, we knew what tomorrow would bring, for the nurses told us, “It won’t be long.” Such odd words for the end of a person’s life. Everyone knows what “It” refers to—Death.
Pause for a moment and see a small, frail-looking lady. Yes a lovely lady!
- See her eyelids open and see her blue eyes look my way.
- I knew it was “my turn” to sit near Grandma.
- So, I perched there, on the edge of her bed, and as I did, her eyes seemed to lock with mine.
- Hear the quiet spoken between us. Hear the whispered conversation of the others, words, thoughts, and even stories that we could not really hear (Grandma & me) there in the moment.
- When she opened her mouth, I did what I knew I needed to do—I leaned over and placed my ear very near her lips.
That’s when I heard her question: “Nancy, do you think Jesus will come for me?”
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17 NASB)
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep [died in Christ].
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
This morning when I arose, I was met with a WhatsApp message, one sent by a lady I met on my last international flight. This precious lady had just lost her dear husband in suddenness, why he slept in the bed beside her. She was flying to America to visit with friends, and God had placed this beautiful lady in the seat next to mine.
Pause for a moment and see a gorgeous lady, one who appeared more aged than me. Yes see this lovely lady!
- See her beautiful black skin.
- See the way she refrained from drinking during the flight.
- Hear her speak the reason why—“My legs do not work well, and the flight attendant placed my crutches above us in the luggage bin. I don’t want to bother anyone, so I only take small drinks during the 8-hour flight so that I can remain seated during the whole flight.”
Wow!
- See her compassion.
- See her courage.
- See her love for others.
Unfortunately, we did not talk throughout the flight, during our precious time together. &
Unfortunately, she did not share about her legs until the end of our time as the flight neared our destination. That was when our conversation really began.
We had spoken about our husbands, about our children, and about her faith.
- I learned she was a believer—just like me.
- I learned she was surrounded by a community of believers & that she even encountered many unbelievers during her life-walk—just like me.
- I did not learn about her husband’s sudden death until we began talking and sharing life.
- We spoke as we parted, sharing WhatsApp numbers, this beautiful lady and me.
We spoke a few days later, once she settled in with her friends and I returned home.
- We spoke again in the wee hours of this morning—she from a 6-hour time difference away & me, when God shook me awake extra early with pain in my legs.
God—He does work in mysterious ways!
This gorgeous lady, who has lost her husband & who has now returned to an empty home across the sea, reached out to message me. We shared conversations, and then I sent her these words: “As you know, God walks close beside us as we take our steps, as we walk our valleys and climb any mountains that come our way. HE IS THERE—ALWAYS!
What an amazing blessing to know He is here with us!”
We decided to talk later today.
Amazingly, as I finish writing, the melody by Tauren Wells “Hills and Valleys” plays into my ears.
Won’t you pause to listen today & be comforted by God’s Truth.
Father God—truly He is a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty Warrior, and a Promise-Keeper!
This wonderful lady I met on the airplane reminds me so much of a gorgeous lady who asked me her question: “Nancy, do you think Jesus will come for me?”
- Just yesterday during my class devotion, I shared with my students the story about Grandma’s question, and as I looked at their faces, I shared my response to Grandma & her reaction on that March 3rd morning.
“Grandma, I believe Jesus will send His angels for you because the Bible tells us He will.”
- Immediately, her blue eyes closed in rest, and it was not long before Jesus came to take her home to heaven!
- May you rest in God’s Amazing Peace, Grandma Hall.
- Someday soon, we will again be together in heaven—with our Heavenly Father!
Surely, we serve an amazing God!
- Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again—
- Since we believe that Jesus will come again—
- Since we believe—we can also believe that when Jesus comes again—He will bring with Him all the Christians who have died & already gone on to be with the LORD.
- Since we believe that Jesus will come again—we can “comfort one another with these words.”
“But we do not want to be uniformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
(1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 NASB)
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep [died in Christ].
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
Therefore comfort one another with these words.”