The Comfort Of God’s Word
Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV.
In recent times, we have had three funerals and a wedding. One of the funerals was my dear mother. At ninety-seven and a half (don’t forget the half) she had lived a full life. She was ready to go, and we knew that day would come but were wondering for the last decade or so when it would be. She knew the Lord so her eternal future is settled.
(We will come back to looking at Perspective next month).
One time my wife and I were attending the funeral of a family member, and it was the morning of the funeral, when I was asked by the spouse of the deceased, “So Steve, have you got those words of comfort all sorted?”. I just said, “Yep. Sorted, no problem”. That was the first I knew that I would be speaking; they had not yet asked me to speak at the funeral. So, I withdrew for a while and the Lord graciously gave me some words of comfort to share with the people.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 NKJV.
For the Christian, death is not just the end of all there is, it is the gateway, the entrance, the transition into the very presence of God. Our loved ones who knew the Lord while on earth will have been welcomed into the Saviour’s arms with love, and such joy, their earthly struggle over, their life’s mission complete, their reward is waiting for them there. Their human blindness now divine sight of the glory of God. They will be exploring Heaven, and meeting people they know and other loved ones. And finding out just so much more of the vastness of the love of God and the grace of Jesus.
- And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV.
- And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Revelation 22:3 NKJV.
That’s what heaven will be like. No more pressure, pain, and problems, no more sin, suffering and skulduggery, no more curse, corruption and cancer. There’ll be no more danger, decay and darkness, no more devil, demons or deception; heaven will be completely devoid of all that is sin, sickness, evil and corrupt. What a place it will be!
We don’t hear a lot about Heaven these days. And yet for the believer that is where we are going. It seems also that those who suffer greatly for their faith are the ones who have a clearer view and vision of the wonder of where they are destined to be.
Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15 NKJV.
This verse is amazing. I have thought about this a lot lately. The moment of death of a Christian is a sad moment as we no longer have the one we love with us. They are just not there anymore. But, Heaven acknowledges I believe, that moment when all the plan of redemption is fulfilled, all the work of Christ on the cross, is finally realised as a soul enters Heaven and is forever safe in the Father’s presence. No longer subject to the temptations and the power of the world and the devil, but safe and secure at last, enjoying the provision for all eternity, of God’s love, His salvation and His glory.
That moment when a saint passes from life, through death to life eternal, is such a moment to be one that the Father calls precious. A precious moment to the Father is a precious moment to all of Heaven. I can just imagine, that it’s like all of Heaven stops, they pause, hold their breath wondering who it will be, and in anticipation, they observe and welcome another blood-bought grace-gained soul into the wonder of God’s glory, to be there forever. Then the party begins. Then the celebrations get underway. God is praised and worshipped more and more as each soul enters Heaven, and the preciousness, the significance, the magnitude, the glory of each moment is not lost to those gathered there in heaven.
There’s a mark in the eternal history books, and it is the moment when all of the plan of God to save His people, is finally realised, and another soul who loved and served God on earth amidst the pain and suffering and sin of humanity, enters heaven to love and serve Him forever around the throne.
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7 NKJV.
There’s a party and great rejoicing in Heaven when a soul is saved, and gives their life to Jesus. There’s also a moment, another party when that soul finally finishes their earthly calling and transitions into their Heavenly calling. These two moments are special moments forever recorded in the annals of time, as moments of great significance and joy. The devil has lost, Jesus is the victor. The saved soul is testimony to Jesus of His work on the cross, it is evidence of the surety of the plan of God to redeem mankind.
Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV.
Paul spoke these words in his letter to the Thessalonians. His words about Jesus and His second coming were to be words of clarity and comfort. They were to bring comfort and hope to the hearts of the saints as they looked for His appearing while they lived in a corrupt and evil world.
My friend, let God’s words bring comfort to your heart. There are many good words spoken by wonderful people, but the best words, the most powerful and truly comforting words are the words of God. His words, the Scriptures.
- This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. Psalm 119:50 NKJV.
- Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. Psalm 119:76 NKJV.
A mother comforts and calms her child. In the midst of the turmoil and trouble of this world, God through His word does the same; He comforts, calms and settles us as we rest in His arms of love.
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