Are You Ready? - January 7

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15

For 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.

Reflect

Have you ever been afraid that Jesus would return and you would be left behind? What do you think caused that fear?

When I was in elementary school, I rode the school bus home. One afternoon, I went to the bathroom after school and got delayed having to wait my turn. When I was finished, I rushed out the doors hoping to still make the bus, only to see that my bus was already gone. It left without me. I was left behind.

If you’ve ever missed your bus, your train, or your flight, you know the horrible, sinking feeling of being left behind. When I was left behind, I had to call my mom and she had to leave work early to come pick me up. Maybe you’ve been left behind and it made you late for work or you had to deal with the hassle of rearranging your flight details.

But the inconvenient consequences of missing our ride drastically pales in comparison to eternal consequences of missing the Rapture. This is what the believers in Thessalonica were so afraid of. They were expectantly awaiting Jesus’ return but some of the believers in their church were dying while they were waiting. They were afraid that meant the dead in Christ would miss the Rapture.

In the previous verses, Paul reassured them that those who have fallen asleep (which means died) before Jesus’ return will not be left behind. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, they can be confident that those who have died believing in Christ, will rise from the dead at His second coming. In fact, in today’s verses, Paul made it clear that those who are alive in Christ when Jesus returns won’t even get preferential treatment over those who are dead in Christ!

Paul also made it clear that he didn’t make up this doctrine. He isn’t just saying this to make them feel better. It wasn’t wishful thinking or Paul’s best guess about what would happen. The truth about the Rapture at Jesus’ second coming was a word from the Lord Himself.

When Jesus returns, all Christians will go to be with the Lord whether they are alive or dead. People who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus’s death on the cross as payment for their sins and believe that He rose from the dead have nothing to fear! You are not going to miss your ride and be left behind!

However, those who have not placed their trust in Christ, do have good reason to be afraid that they will be left behind. Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of Jesus’ return and advised everyone to always be ready (Matthew 24:36, 42). Assurance of salvation is only available to those who are in Christ because “...there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

If you have placed your faith in Christ, you have nothing to fear in life or in death. Your soul belongs to the Lord and your eternal destiny is at peace with Him forever. But if you have not taken the step of faith and put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, I urge you to do that now. Don’t delay. Don’t wait. He is coming soon at an hour you don’t expect (Matthew 24:44). Be ready!

Respond

Lord, thank You for the assurance of my salvation! I know that there is no other way to be saved, except through You (John 14:6). Whether I am alive when you return or long dead, I belong to You body and soul. I am waiting expectantly. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Reveal

Is there someone that you’ve been meaning to share the Gospel with but just haven’t gotten around to it yet? Don’t delay. Reveal the truth of the Gospel with them today!