September 15, 2010: Preparing to Go Home.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
¹³ Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
¹⁴ We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
¹⁵ According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
¹⁸ Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Yesterday I received a phone call from a member of a church I pastored years ago. When I answered the phone this is the conversation I became part of, "Pastor Phil, this is . . . . The reason I am calling is because I have been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and I have been on hospice since April. I am in so much pain that I just want to go home. Would you pray for me that God will give me grace to endure?"

We talked for a few moments and shared memories of what God has done in our lives. As the conversation was ending I asked this person if they had any unfinished business, any relationships that needed to be mended, any thing left undone. The reply was, "I have met with all of my family and those that I needed to make things right. Pastor Phil I am ready to go."

I then asked, "How do you want me to pray?" The answer was quick in coming, "Pray that Jesus will come for me soon. I just want to be with him now more than ever."

Before I prayed I read the scripture in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. After I finished I prayed that the Lord would come to take this saint home soon. We said a few more words of encouragement and then hung up the phone.

I have been privileged to be with several saints who passed from this life into eternity and each time I am reminded of the confidence we have in Christ as we face life's end. Are you having a hard time facing the difficulties of life then read this passage more and remember it often? Paul tells us that this is a way to find encouragement in the hard times.

Let us spend our days here preparing for the time when Jesus will come for us. Let us live as to be ready when he comes for us.