See You Here, There, or in the Air (Part 2): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

About this sermon

Before the time of Christ, man men in the world lived in despair and hopelessness. The Thessalonians were familiar with the hopelessness that existed in the hearts of men. In the 1800s, authors William Conybeare and John Howson wrote in their book The Life and Epistles of St. Paul that there is a heathen sepulcher in Thessalonica with this inscription, “After death there is no revival, after the grave no meeting of those who have loved each other on earth.” They stated that people carved on their tombstones grim epitaphs: "I was not; I became; I am not; I care not." Philip Yancey describes the hopelessness of men today. He told of a unique funeral custom conducted by African Muslims. Close family and friends circle the casket and quietly gaze at the corpse. No singing. No flowers. No tears. A peppermint candy is passed to everyone. At a signal, each one puts the candy in his or her mouth. When the candy is gone, each participant is reminded that life for this person is over. They believe life simply dissolves. No eternal life. No hope. Without hope, people will pursue their own plans, schemes, ideas, or sinfulness in order to try to fill the void they are experiencing. This happened in Jeremiah’s day. * Jeremiah 18:12- And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. Your schemes will not satisfy you. They will not give you hope for eternity. Without the Lord, you have no hope for Heaven. Without the Lord you will struggle through life with emptiness, hopelessness, and guilt. He is the One that breaks the shackles of sinful habits and addictions. Without Him you are helpless. * Without God * Without God you are spiritually blind like a beggar who gropes in darkness. * Without God you are bound in sin like a prisoner shackled with a heavy lead ball and chain. * Without God you are blown by the winds of society's whims like a fallen leaf swept by the breath of a hurricane. * Without God your heart is barren and empty like a cracked creek bed bleached by the sun. * Without God you are burdened with sin like a burrow bearing a heavy load. * Without God you will be banished to the fires of Hell for eternity if you fail to trust in Jesus Christ. THANK GOD FOR HIS BLESSING AND GIFT OF HOPE! You can have hope for eternity by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You and I never know when we may see someone for the last time. Tonight could be your last church service. Thank God we can say with surety and a smile when we say good-bye to one another, “I’ll see you here, there, or in the air.” Amen! Even so come Lord Jesus! This 31-minute message was preached on Sunday morning, May 2, 2021, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.