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!