Finding Comfort in Hope

I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

When is Jesus coming again? There are books upon books about this subject. There are teachers among teachers that preach this subject. There is a fiction series (Left Behind) that captured the minds of millions - yes, me too - as they described the years of tribulation and the fight of those who turn to God because they do not want to be without God when Jesus sets foot on earth again.

Paul did not want this to be a problem of discouragement for the church. Our excitement and hope rests in the return of Christ. Jesus spoke of his return numerous times but even He did know when He would return. We can guess and try to crack the "code" but to be honest, I think it is a waste of time. Our time here is time we are to spend well. If we knew the time, we would take advantage of God's grace. Many would wait to the last minute before making a "sincere" attempt at change.

We know that a last day is coming, and this should be what drives our passions and compassion for spreading the good news. There are plenty of spiritually "dead" or asleep people who need to be awaken. We have to do so without falling victim to same crushing death (sin) that follows those who do not have hope. Faith and love are to be our breastplates of protection for our hearts against sin. We use the hope of salvation as a helmet to guard our thoughts and our minds. God's Word is available to us for times when we face those without hope and when we attempt to show them the true love of Jesus.

So Paul challenges us to look beyond the truth of the return of Jesus and the destruction of those who refuse Him. Our challenge is to encourage one another and build each other up. So the question, is your spiritual "battery" being recharged by your everyday actions? Do you feel recharged after being around other Christians? If not, what's in your way from being encouraged and built up?