The Great Reconciler
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? - (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the great reconciler. Believers who have been separated by death will be brought back together by Jesus. In the rapture of the church, not only will Christians meet the Lord in the air, but we will be reunited with friends and loved ones who have already gone on to be with the Lord. Isn’t that wonderful to know?
If you have lost a loved one who was a believer, you will see him or her again. That is a great comfort for anyone who has ever lost someone they cherished in life. One moment you could be going about your life on earth, and the next moment you could be hurtled into the presence of Jesus Christ Himself and your departed loved ones.
In the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul reveals that we not only will be reunited with our Christian loved ones and friends, but we also will be reunited with the people who trusted in Jesus through our witness. He wrote, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
From this it would appear that each of us would have grouped around us in Heaven those whom we helped to believe in Jesus. Understand, God gives the increase in evangelism (see 1 Corinthians 3:7). By His grace, He allows us to participate in the wonderful process of seeing people to come to faith. And when we get to Heaven, we’ll be able to see what kind of impact our lives have had.
Doesn’t that want to make you redouble your efforts in personal evangelism? Doesn’t that make you want to do something for Him?
Copyright © 2017 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Social media summary: When we get to Heaven, we’ll see what kind of impact our lives have had.
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