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Scripture Readings : 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11

Therefore comfort one another with these words … Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Some of the Thessalonian Christians had died. This was a great sorrow to the bereaved. They had hoped that Christ's return was so imminent that they would all be alive when He came. They thought that those who had died would lose the blessings of Christ's return. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 was written to show them that even those who had died in Christ would share the blessings of that event—even be more favored than those who were alive at His coming. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). The verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, which also exhorts us to comfort one another, is likewise linked with the coming of the Lord through verse 10; "Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." In these verses the Lord lifts the curtain of the future so that the weight of sorrow of the bereaved may be lifted. Many a bereaved Christian has found balm for a wounded heart in this portion of God's Word.

He is coming

It may be that some recently bereaved will read these lines. If so, be encouraged by the joys of the coming of the Lord; that the moment a Christian dies he/she is absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:20-24, etc.). All saints who have died are in conscious bliss with the Lord. We do not have to think of them as cold and silent in the grave. This alone should be a great comfort to all of us. However, the day is coming, perhaps not far off, when Christ will return for His own. At that time, living Christians will go to meet Him in the air to never see death, and those who have died will be raised to be with Him. Then we shall enjoy His glory forevermore (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15, etc.). Bereaved children of God take heart, go on; your dear Christian loved one is in bliss, and when the Lord returns you will be together again, never more to be separated. “So shall we ever be with the Lord" (1Thess. 4:17).

World of sorrows

This is a world of sorrows; sad hearts are everywhere—in hospitals, homes, and jails. It is wonderful to be able to bring them comfort. Most need the Gospel, and often the sorrowing are the most ready to let the Lord come in with His balm of Gilead. Also, many Christian hearts are sore and wounded by battles with this cruel world. It is wonderful to be able to comfort them, too. Bringing them the Word of God is the only real way to bring consolation.

Poor Bobby

For many years, due to health problems, poor Bobby was a physical wreck. Usually he manifested a happy Christian spirit, but one day he was extremely downcast. A friend read 2 Corinthians 4:17 to him. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The friend applied this to his case, but poor Bobby could not see it. Who could have a heavier affliction than he; and as for the part, "which is but for a moment," he remarked that for fourteen years he had known the problems. So, he asked, “How in the world can this work for me?” The friend tried to compare his sufferings with those of the Lord Jesus, and tried also to tell him that his sufferings were short and light compared with that of the lost down in hell, but all this did not seem to help. Then, the friend told him something of the joys of heaven, but even this did not seem to lift him up. Finally he asked him, "Bobby, if you and I both died today, which of us would enjoy heaven the most?" He immediately answered, "Why I would because the contrast would be greater." When the reply that this was one way in which his affliction worked for him, was offered, his weight seemed to be lifted. "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb. 12:12).

The sorrow of bereavement

Perhaps the greatest load of sorrow comes from bereavement. Most of us have personally felt its awful pangs with the passing of loved ones. But He gives us grace to say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Also, most of us have personally discovered that next to the comfort that the Lord Himself gives, the most blessed thing at such a time is the comfort of Christian friends. But sometimes the pain is so deep that even they can not allay the pangs of sorrow that grips us. But, thanks be to God, by His grace He does not permit sorrow to completely overwhelm us.

To lost a child

Some have not personally experienced the lose of a child, but those who have say that to lost a beloved child is, without a doubt, the worst of the worst. One faithful Christian brother and sister were heard to say that although their son had died many years ago, every thought of it still stabbed them deeply in the heart. One couple lost their only child, a boy of around twelve. Nothing that anyone could say or do seemed able to bring them comfort. Others seem to brood over their sorrows, becoming more melancholy as time goes on. Some who are bereaved of children, lose their minds. If a Christian is right with the Lord, certainly his sorrow will be softened by faith and hope, though it is doubtful that the loss of a child will ever leave the heart in this life. Bereavement is sure to come and when it does it will be a hard time, but let us lean heavily on the Lord. Christians should not wait for the preacher or elders to do all the comforting. Remember, our verses say, "Comfort one another."

Christ the Great Comforter

Our Lord Jesus was a great comforter. In fact, He spoiled the funerals we know He attended. He turned sorrow into joy. He said to the widow of Nain, "Weep not." She might have replied, "Have I not cause to weep? First my husband dies and now my only son in whom all my hopes rested. Please do not mock me." But before she could say a word, He says, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the young man sat up and began to speak (Luke 7:11-15). The woman's sobs were changed to singing. He also brought joy to sorrowing Jairus, and the sisters of Lazarus. He brought gladness by healing many sick bodies and countless who were sick at heart. We cannot do the wonderful things He did, but perhaps we can bring a word of comfort, or a deed of kindness to allay a bit of the sorrow we see around us.

Why does He send sorrow?

The Lord may send us sorrow so that through the experience we may know better how to comfort those who are in sorrow. In 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4, Paul says,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

One thing is sure, if we have never felt the pangs of bereavement, we will never be able to enter into the feelings of the bereaved, and will be little suited to comfort them. If the Lord has came in, filling our bank of bereavement with His sweetness, let us try to share that sweetness with others who are going through similar trials. Let us not forget to thank the Lord when He brings comfort in time of sorrow. Sometimes Christians do not give God the glory as they should. Our health is restored or our wealth recovered and we think of it as good fortune and do not give God the credit. Such will be utterly useless when it comes to comforting those in trouble.

A word of praise

Notice again that Paul was always ready to give a note of appreciation to any who did anything worthy of praise. This is a great point in getting along with other Christians. Notice 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." These Christians were comforting and edifying one another. What a noble young church that such things could be said of it. Hopefully, it can be said of us, too. And if so, then it is unlikely that there will be much trouble.