The words of the apostle Paul, given by the Holy Spirit of God, that are filled with life and hope, is what we read in our Orthodox Churches before we burry our dead.
During those difficult times in our lives, these words of God remind us of the eternal life (given to those who believe in Jesus Christ), that follows after our passing from here. Through these words, we find hope and courage to continue knowing that one day, we will meet again with our beloved relatives and friends who left us. And so we read:
“13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Amen.
By Gregory M. Doublas
gospetruth@frontier.com
© Copyright 2019 by Gregory M. Doublas, P.O Box 15552, Fort Wayne, IN 46885.
No part of this message can be used or copied in any form without the written permission of the author.
