MARCH 20, 2012
Long-Awaited Reunion
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. —1 Thessalonians 4:17
As a boy, I had a collie named Prince Boy, a great dog that
I really loved. One day, he disappeared. I didn’t know if he
had been stolen or if he had simply run away—but I was
devastated. I searched everywhere. In fact, one of my
earliest childhood memories is of climbing a tall tree from
which I could scan our neighborhood in hopes of spotting
him. I desperately wanted my beloved dog back. For weeks,
I was always watching and hoping to see Prince Boy again.
But we were never reunited.
There’s a much greater sense of loss when we think we’ll
never again see a loved one who dies. But for those who
know and love the Lord, death’s parting is only temporary.
One day we will be reunited forever!
Paul assured the Thessalonians, “The dead in Christ will
rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
The words that provide comfort to the grieving heart are together and we. These words of reunion indicate that
followers of Christ don’t ever have to experience permanent
separation. For us, death is not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later.”
We’ll be reunited one day
With our loved ones who have died
If they know the Lord as Savior—
Then with Him we will abide. —Sper
God’s people never say goodbye for the last time.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
