The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2 November 2019 – Jesus Is Coming Soon, Be Prepared
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TOPIC: Jesus Is Coming Soon, Be Prepared
READ: I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 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 by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 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.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
THE MESSAGE:
All Souls’ Day calls to our mind the remembrance of those who died in the faith of Christ. It reminds us of our hope to reign with the Lord when this earthly tent (our body) would have been destroyed by death (II Corinthians 5:1). Our text is Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Church in Thessalonica about the return of the Lord, whose advent signifies hope and comfort for believers both living and dead (verses 16-17). The perseverance of the Church in Thessalonica in the face of persecution was exemplary especially to Churches in Macedonia and Achaia (I Thessalonians 1: 2-8). However, the death of some faithful among them through persecution raised fear of what became the hope of the dead and those that were alive. The Holy Spirit however assures us that there is no cause for alarm, all righteous souls, living or dead, shall be raptured. The righteous dead will rise first (verse 16) and we that are alive at rapture will join them in the clouds (verse 17) to meet with the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (verse 17c). What a glorious hope of re-union!
Beloved, only those who died in the faith of Christ and those who have decided to live holy in the faith of Christ Jesus shall partake in this glorious experience. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrew 12: 14). The scripture says, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality for God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness (I Thessalonians 4:3,7). Therefore endeavour to live a holy life befitting of a child of God. Rapture could be today or tomorrow; the coming of the Lord is more imminent now than any time in history. Let us therefore eschew all forms of ungodliness and live a life that is pleasing to God.
Food For Thought: To delay your salvation may be dangerous; always be prepared for He will come as a thief in the night.
