Wherefore, Comfort One Another With These Words

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 says, “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.“

On February 7th, I fell at work and broke my ankle (which had me out of work for several weeks – and off my feet).  So, I was home when news spread around the world concerning the passing of Rev. Billy Graham.  For the next week, I was glued to the television as the world celebrated the life of this “chosen vessel.”

I watched as his earthly body was carried to the nations Capitol Rotunda, where he laid in state.  I watched as the President, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Speaker of the House all gave warm remarks concerning Rev. Graham.  I then watched the crowds that came to pay their respects.  I then watched as his body was at the family home, where Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush came to pay their respects to the family.

I watched as he was then carried to the Billy Graham Library, and the crowds that came to pay their respects.  I then watched the final service under the “big tent.”  I watched as one of the Graham Grandson’s (an active duty Army Ranger) escorted President and Mrs. Trump from the Library to the tent, and then Pastor Don Wilton as he escorted the “Hope Chest” carrying Rev. Graham’s remains, with the Graham family following behind.  I listened to the singing and the messages.  One thought that stuck out to me was one of the family members who said “He would have said it was too much about Billy, and not enough about Jesus.”

I then watched the final grave side, attended by the family.  As I watched, I Thessalonians 4 came to my mind – followed by this thought:  Long before the remains of Rev. Graham were moved to the Capitol Rotunda, and long before former presidents came to pay their respects to the family, and long before President Trump and Pastor Don Wilton escorted the family to the final service, “The Lord Himself” had already escorted Rev. Graham into the presence of God.

What does that mean for us?  I think it means this:

When it is time for us to cross the Jordan River, it’s not going be some dignitary, or some politician that is going to escort us over – it is going to be “the LORD Himself.”

“WHEREFORE, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.“