See You Here, There, or in the Air (Part 3): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by Dr. Rod Mattoon

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

About this sermon

The truth of the doctrine of Christ’s resurrection impacts our lives everyday as Christians. It was the turning point as well as the focal point of world history. We are constantly reminded of Christ’s resurrection. Sunday is the day the Son of God arose from the grave and why we go to church on Sunday. It is ironic that the Russian word for Sunday, woskersicnye, (voos-kree-SYEHN-yuh) means “resurrection”. That means every communist, every atheist must speak of the resurrection when referring to the first day of the week in Russia! We serve a living Savior! He arose! In fact, Easter Sunday is God’s protest against death. Our Savior arose from the grave! We have hope because He arose! It is that hope that enables Christians to say to one another when they depart, “I’ll see you here, there, or in the air!” Thank God Jesus arose! * BECAUSE HE AROSE * Because He arose, we can look death in the eye with calm, courage, comfort, and confidence because we know that we are NOT going into the unknown. We go to a place prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. * Because He arose, we find strength to get back up when we are knocked down like fallen trees struck by lightning. * Because He arose, we find encouragement , faith, peace, and healing when our health drains from our bodies like drips of water from a leaky cup. * Because He arose, we have a Savior that supplies our needs when our resources and finances become like dust that blankets neglected books. * Because He arose, we find shelter and refuge in His care when raging storms of trouble batter our lives like falling hailstones on rooftops of tin. * Because He arose, we know that all those who are dead in Christ are going to return with the Lord at the Rapture. They are with the Lord now in Heaven. The souls of the redeemed in Christ are going to be marked “SPECIAL DELIVERY” and brought to planet earth by Jesus Himself. Their souls will be united with a new, glorified, resurrected body given to them by God. They will be changed and so will we who are alive when He returns for us. Knowing the dead in Christ go to be with the Lord and will return with Him when He returns at the Rapture is a HUGE source of comfort to us when we are dealing with death of loved ones in our lives. Those Christians who sleep in Jesus or are dead and with the Lord, they will return with the Lord. Jesus will “bring” them or lead them back to earth. Even so, come Lord Jesus! This 33-minute message was preached on Sunday evening, May 2,2021, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.