ATTRIBUTES—-
ALIVE
WHO IS GOD? ALIVE
At some point, we all think of death. Death feels final, and it causes deep grief, concern, and mourning. Paul was writing to people who were concerned about what happened to their loved ones after they died, and this passage shows us something about God that has great impact: God is not dead. Jesus Christ, who died a tortured human death, did not remain dead. He rose from the grave and is alive today. That may feel easy to pass off: Good for Jesus, but what does that have to do with us? Everything! Because Jesus, God in the flesh, defeated death, He now promises the same resurrected life to us—and not just in our spirits, but also in resurrected, undying bodies for eternity. Because God is alive, we do not have to fear death anymore. All believers, past and present, will be brought back to life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
WHO AM I? DESTINED FOR RESURRECTION
Death overpowers us all. That’s why it’s a consistent theme in all human history. Every human culture has been harassed by the inevitable finitude of life. It’s no surprise that the Thessalonians were worried about their loved ones who had died. They were wondering, Does our belief in Jesus Christ have any impact on how we think about and mourn for them?
The truth sets us free when we believe it. And the truth about death is that although we are decaying in our current bodies, God has a plan for our resurrection—and He has already accomplished it. Christ died while He was in His earthly body, and then He rose again. Now He has a destination in mind for believers who follow Him in death and then resurrection. This is an incredible promise and a great source of encouragement for all who believe in Him: We will be with Him forever in new, heavenly bodies without sin!
WHAT DO I DO? THINK & BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY
Why does belief matter? Because it matters to God. He wants to know if we will take Him at His Word and believe what He has accomplished. God values it when we believe what He has said because doing so shows that we truly trust in Him. Belief is also powerful because it changes our thinking. Belief is not just a consideration or a hypothesis; it leads to action and has an impact in our world.
Death is one of the biggest tests of our belief. Do we trust God to give us resurrection, new bodies, and eternal life after our current bodies pass away? He offers us the solution humanity has searched for for all time. How do we live forever? Believe in God’s Son.
Belief causes us to think, act, mourn, and live differently. Who rules over your thoughts, attitudes, worldview, and feelings about death? Does God’s Word inform you more than your fears or the culture around you? Does 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17 encourage you?