1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Introduction:
1. This is another of the most difficult questions with which we must wrestle.
2. I have no immediately comforting answer for this, but we will ponder some biblical principles in hopes of strengthening those of us who are grieved in this way.
Discussion:
I. Will Not the Judge of the Earth Do Right?
A. This was the foundation for Abraham’s plea for God to spare Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 18:25).
B. His answer was an unequivocal yes, taken all the way down to just ten righteous souls (18:26-33).
C. We must trust God to do right in this situation.
D. Accepting this is the challenge (2 Samuel 12:16-23).
II. Bare Your Soul to the Lord
A. We may be reluctant to speak candidly to God.
B. The Psalms teach us to reverently bare our hearts to God (Psalms 22; 44; 73; 109; 137; Jeremiah 20:7-9).
III. Fix Your Eyes on Your Final Transformation
A. Though we know little of the details, the faithful will become like the Lord in the end (1 John 3:1-3).
B. This will finally resolve our quandary:
1. Our anguish stems from our love for them which stems from God’s image in us.
2. He loves them far more than we do, yet He will cope with the pain of every lost soul.
3. However it works, when we become like Him, surely this will be part of that transformation.
Conclusion:
1. Though little relief for the here and now, hopefully this helps fix our eyes hereafter.
2. May we all strive to embrace as much of His likeness as we can now, so that we can be assured of the fullness of that likeness in eternity.
3. May we likewise lean on one another for mutual comfort (Romans 12:15).