THE MOST COMFORTING WORDS -- Devotional for August 9, from "Good Seeds"

Comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:18)

The mother of a dear friend just died. After nearly 93 years, she “slipped the surly bonds of earth” and flew away. As Christians are fond of saying, “She went to be with Jesus.” Is that just a euphemism for death, or is it a fact? After the apostle Paul explained the order of things regarding the death and resurrection of the believer in Jesus, he said, “Now you who have lost a loved one need not grieve as do those who have no hope” (verse 13). Our confidence of a heavenly reunion is not based on wishful thinking, but on 1) the fact of Christ’s resurrection, and 2) the “more sure word of prophecy” regarding any man who trusts God with his life in this life. Our hope is rooted in the empirical evidence for Jesus’ victory over death, that after He died by crucifixion and lay three days in the tomb, He came back to life, appeared and spoke to hundreds, and the last time He was seen He wasn’t going down, but up! It was a drama narrated by angels, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand staring into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go” (Acts 1:11). Our belief in Christ’s resurrection and ascension is based on reliable historical evidence. Our assurance of His return, and of our own resurrection and ascension into heaven, is grasped by faith. The question then comes down to this: Who better than God can we trust, regarding eternal realities? Scientists? They only know what they can observe, measure. and prove in the laboratory. Philosophers? They only believe what they can conjure up in their minds. Man’s religion? Well, on that score, you can pick and choose, looking for what best suits you. And if you can’t find it, you can always make up a new one. Maybe that's why there are so many religions in the world today. If truth is no more than what you want to believe, then it’s a level playing field, and no one can say “his truth” is better than anyone else’s. The Bible offers us no comfort for this kind of creative thinking (Philippians 3:3), but gives us instead the truth of the matter straight from God: When Christians die they will live again, and see Jesus, and one another, face to face. Oh that this promise of God were the theme behind all our dealings and discussions with one another (the best “one another”), for then we would not badger and criticize one another (the worst). What our hurting brothers and sisters need to hear from us are words of hope and encouragement. But if we fail to comfort one another with such words, what good are we to one another, anyway? Christians never see one another for the last time! This is a hope we can stake our lives on, and face death with. Now go comfort one another – someone you know – with these words. Do it today!