First, consider the Scripture.1 Thess 4:15 This we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.2 Cor 5:6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
Reflections:
1. There are three possibilities for Christians: A) The Rapture {1 Thess 4:17}; B) Death C) Keep living.2. It seems Paul’s preference was… in this order: A) To be raptured, B) To die, C) To continue living.3. His greatest desire was to be with Jesus (Phil 1:23-B) because of 2 Cor 5:8-B.4. To be raptured means not to experience the sting of death. But if that wasn’t God’s will…5. He was ready to die… to experience the sting of death… because he’d see Jesus quicker than IF…6. Having to live for as long God willed him to live, whether it be days, months, years, or decades.7. If he’s raptured… PERFECT! If he dies… GREAT! If he lives… IT IS GAIN!
Applications:
1. Do we view our existence the way Paul did?2. Do we look forward with anticipation to seeing Jesus?3. Are we ready to die?4. Are we living in a manner that erases the fear of death?
Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”