‘That You Sorrow Not As Others’

‘That You Sorrow Not As Others’

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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

I Thessalonians 4:13, 14

We have been discussing for the past several days the implications of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We have considered that our hope in Christ is not ‘for this life only,’ but for the life to come as well. Today we arrive at a different text in a different book, in which Paul employs the same argument. This touches on our approach to the issue of death and the emotions we feel as we lose those whom we dearly love. Our text for today states, ‘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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.’ As we stand beside the grave, we experience wave after wave of truly human emotions. We can often barely comprehend all that we are experiencing. It is entirely appropriate for us to feel the loss, the pain, the grief, and the sorrow. There is a difference however, in the sorrow of those of us who understand the implications of Christ’s having risen from the dead. We ‘sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.’ Because Christ has risen from the dead He will, when He returns, bring those who have already died in faith with Him, more alive than they have ever been before. We feel the sorrow of the temporary separation. We miss them. We mourn their loss for the moment. We, however, ‘sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.’ The resurrection of Christ guarantees that we shall see them again, and that for all eternity.

Our, most Glorious Living Christ,
we praise You that You have risen from the dead.
We rejoice in the powerful effect which that has upon us, Your people.
We look forward to the day when all the saints of God
shall be gathered together as one Body around Your Throne of Grace.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning