¹⁵For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

The great secret of the believer’s death is that it is a wonderful thing for that person. They have gone on to meet the Lord. They have arrived first, before the rest of us who are still alive! They have graduated from this life to the next already. They have been honored by their early arrival.

Paul speaks authoritatively when he writes, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord.” Since we understand Paul’s writings to be inspired Scripture, this we take as added emphasis. There are times when we find great comfort and rest in the settled argument of Scripture, when we can confidently know, “Thus saith the Lord.” Our hearts and feelings so often run contrary to what our minds know. But we find rest for our souls in the Word of the Lord. And nowhere is this more important than when we face death, whether that of a loved one or our own.

Of course, too often Christians take Scripture out of context, or springboard into inferences or implications that simply stretch its meaning and intent. But there are many places where we simply need to rest in God’s Word. This is one of those places, for just as with the Thessalonian believers, it concerns us deeply, and so Scripture speaks clearly and commandingly.

The enemy of our souls would have us believe that there is a level of uncertainty. Maybe, he whispers in our ear, when you die, you just cease to exist; there is nothing. Or perhaps you will discover you were not saved after all, that your faith was not real or not enough. Or after you die, you will find out that another religion was the right one. Against all of these doubts and temptations, the Word of the Lord rings out loud and clear: Those who die believing in Jesus Christ will come back with Him. And they will be before us in discovering the truth of this.

We who are still here, though, have no less certainty than those who go before us. For we believe the Word of God have staked our eternal destiny on the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Death, although a formidable enemy, cannot stand before the Word of the Lord. And when doubts assail us, when fear seeks to grip our souls, when the loss of a loved one weighs us down in sorrow, we do not grieve as the world grieves. We rely on what God has told us, and we cry out, “Thus saith the Lord!” Our faith leads us to certainty. And therefore we know it is true.

Lord, I trust in Your Word, with the certainty that gives me true knowledge.