1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says
"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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
As I was taking a break from Hermenutics homework, I ran across this passage and it was so encouraging to me. We have hope in Christ because we have Him. And the people we know and love that have passed away who also have Christ, will be reunited with us one day. While our hearts are sad those people aren't here with us, they are rejoicing in heaven with Christ and will see us again someday soon. Soon and very soon.
And that day will be absolutely glorious beyond compare.
In Christ,
Damaris Bruce