I recently went back to my hometown to celebrate a milestone high school reunion—one that had plenty of miles attached to it.
It was incredible. The chair and her committee had paid so much attention to detail.
Before the main event, they had a golfing opportunity and then a casual get together. Both allowed plenty of time to catch up in a smaller group.
Then at the main event, they had memorabilia on the individual tables as well as in various locations. They also provided numerous photo shoot opportunities: two casual shot locations, another to commemorate you and your classmates who went to the same elementary school, and, of course, the entire class photo.
They also paid tribute to those classmates who had already passed. The list was sobering, and one classmate reminded all of us there to enjoy each other because, most likely, there would be a few more gone by the next one.
And we did. We reached out and talked with old friends but also those we barely knew in high school because the common tie now was not high school interests, but our place as a class at the high school. We were no longer little islands of friends but one significant country.
As enjoyable as this reunion was, there is another reunion I am looking forward to so much more. That time when I am united face to face with the God of Creation and the Lord of my Salvation, and reunited with all of those believers who have gone before me. Those I have loved, those I have never known, and those I have read about and have always wanted to meet.
Though we will be with God the instant we die (as Jesus said to the thief on the cross next to him: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)) Paul reminds us that there will also be a time when all of us—the living as well—will be united in heaven with our new bodies.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)
That will be a reunion that will never end.
It was incredible. The chair and her committee had paid so much attention to detail.
Before the main event, they had a golfing opportunity and then a casual get together. Both allowed plenty of time to catch up in a smaller group.
Then at the main event, they had memorabilia on the individual tables as well as in various locations. They also provided numerous photo shoot opportunities: two casual shot locations, another to commemorate you and your classmates who went to the same elementary school, and, of course, the entire class photo.
They also paid tribute to those classmates who had already passed. The list was sobering, and one classmate reminded all of us there to enjoy each other because, most likely, there would be a few more gone by the next one.
And we did. We reached out and talked with old friends but also those we barely knew in high school because the common tie now was not high school interests, but our place as a class at the high school. We were no longer little islands of friends but one significant country.
As enjoyable as this reunion was, there is another reunion I am looking forward to so much more. That time when I am united face to face with the God of Creation and the Lord of my Salvation, and reunited with all of those believers who have gone before me. Those I have loved, those I have never known, and those I have read about and have always wanted to meet.
Though we will be with God the instant we die (as Jesus said to the thief on the cross next to him: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)) Paul reminds us that there will also be a time when all of us—the living as well—will be united in heaven with our new bodies.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)
That will be a reunion that will never end.
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