And so we will be with the Lord forever. therefore encourage each other with these words.
One question seems to bother the Thessalonians: When will Jesus return to the earth as he promised? That question, still asked by Christians today, has troubled the church ever since Jesus' departure. The Thessalonians have some other, related questions as well. What about people who die before Jesus returns? Will they somehow miss out on life after death? Paul gives a direct and encouraging answer.
The Thessalonians have good reason to concern themselves with the future. Like some Christians in modern times, they live in constant danger of persecution by the authorities. On any night a knock on the door or the scrape of footsteps outside could mean imprisonment or death. Understandably, the young church looks forward to Jesus' second coming with longing and hope.
Paul assures its members that hope in the future is well-founded, whether or not they live to see Jesus' return. But he warns against an undue fixation on the future. Lead a quiet life and mind your own business, Paul advises.
Reflection
The Thessalonians are merely one of the first in a long line of Christians concerned with future events. Whole generations-including many today- have been caught up in a frenzy over the exact time and place of the second coming, only to watch their predictions misfire. I believe the entire business world/ computer network was suppose to mysteriously shut down on January 1, 2000. In his letter here, Paul shrugs off such speculation (5:1-2). He presents the right way and the wrong way to prepare for Jesus' return.
1 comment:
One of the great promises of Jesus is that He is preparing a place for all believers. He said "This day you will be with me in Paradise" to the dying believer on the cross beside Him. The hardest focus for me personally is that this could be the day. It is easy to be distracted and not keep that continual focus.
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