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Colin Smith: Jesus died and rose again. Your loved one has died, but they have not risen. It's like an unresolved musical chord. It leaves you straining for the next note.

Steve Hiller: Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. And Colin, I think that begs the question, what is that next note?

Colin Smith: Well, the next note is the resurrection, and what a marvelous note that's going to be. The resurrection is still to come. When your loved one dies, their soul goes immediately to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is better by far. But there's still a great day that lies ahead of all of us. When Jesus comes, that's when those who are with him are going to receive the gift of the resurrection body. And that's when we who are still alive are going to receive the gift of the resurrection body as well. It's like the whole Christian family gets this at the same time.

And what a day that's going to be. We're going to rise and meet the Lord in in the air. And that's the day of our great hope that we're looking forward to.

Steve Hiller: Absolutely. For those who maybe have been living life in chronic pain, you've had ailments, you've had problems, what a thing to look forward to. A day when we receive those new bodies, and we're going to look at that today from the book of 1 Thessalonians in chapters 4 and 5 as we continue this message, the urgency of heavenly hope. Here is Pastor Colin.

Colin Smith: I want you to notice that in verse 17 here, Paul says that we who are left will be caught up together with them, together with them. There's something wonderful here. And I have to say as I've studied it, it's come freshly to me. And I don't want us to miss it. We'll be caught up together with them. Now, who's the them? Now, remember, Paul is writing to believers who are grieving over their family, friends who have died. He's writing to real people. Fathers, mothers, children, husbands, wives. And their grief isn't about death in general. Their grief is about the person they have lost in particular.

And Paul writes to comfort them in their sorrow, and he says, now encouraging your bereavement one another with these words. What words? That we will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. Now, though what he says is obviously true of all believers, he's not thinking as he writes surely about believers in general. He's thinking about the loved ones of these bereaved Thessalonians in particular. And the whole point that Paul is making here surely, if it is to be an encouragement to them, which is what he says, is that these Christians may have the comfort of knowing that they will see and immediately enjoy the company of their own loved ones whose loss they mourn right now.

They will see them and they will enjoy them again. Listen to this from Jonathan Edwards. The special affection that the saints have in this world towards other saints who are their friends will in some respect remain in another world. The special affection known in this world, Edwards says, because it is a wonderful gift of God, and God always gives more, but never less. The special affection will remain in another world. And when Paul says we will be caught up together with them, he's not talking about the vague, faceless generality of believers. He's saying you will share with your loved ones the greatest moment in all human history, and it will be the entrance into the eternity that Christ died and rose to prepare for you.

So comfort one another with these words because we're not grieving like the rest of people who have no hope, who have no idea about what lies ahead and have no entrance into it if they are outside of Jesus Christ. I've noticed too just pondering this, and we're at the edge here of what is revealed. And but look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 in verse 19 where Paul in this very same letter, chapter 2 in verse 19, is talking about what is our hope? What will be our joy when Jesus Christ comes? That's the question in chapter 2 verse 19.

What will be our joy when Jesus comes? And Paul says, is it not you? And you see the power of what he's saying, that there is a special relationship between us now, Paul says to these Thessalonian believers, and that special bond will not be decreased, but it will be increased, and the joy of it will be more, not less. As we enter into the presence of Jesus, therefore comfort one another with these words. I am so sure it will be very different in a thousand ways that we cannot say. But please don't ever think it will be less.

For God never gives less, but always more. Therefore encourage each other with these words. And you know, let me just draw your attention to one more phrase here in verse 14 as we're trying to bring this into our minds together. Do you notice in verse 14 there that Paul says God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. God will bring them. Isn't that beautiful? God loves bringing people together. God brought Eve to Adam. God has brought the people who are a blessing in your life to you. God sets the solitary in families.

God does that. God brings brothers and sisters together in the church. God has brought your loved ones to you in this life, and Paul is telling us that God will bring them together with you again on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed. He will bring them. He himself will bring them to you. And so verse 17, we will be with the Lord forever. Now, one more quote from Jonathan Edwards here that again I found very helpful to just stretch my own mind thinking about this. Edwards makes the point that we shall grow in holiness and happiness in eternity.

See, we shouldn't think of it as static. We have such vague, uninteresting views of heaven sometimes that we are not lifted by it as we should be. Edwards says we will grow in holiness and in happiness in eternity. And here's how he makes the argument, and then I'd like to read you a short quote. He said, now think about this. As you move through life in this world, you add to your experiences and you add to your joys. Your memory of some things fades and it you know, there's a whole things in the last 10 years that have filled your life that that are beyond what was in the previous 10 years and the the joys of your life increase and the experiences of your life abound.

And the scripture makes it very clear that God will wipe all tears from our eyes, that all pain and all dysfunction will be healed and removed, and every grief will be taken from us so that we will not live with any of that. And all that is less than God purposes it to be will be made perfect. We won't carry any pain into heaven. We will not carry any sorrow. We will not carry lasting regret. But the joys of this life and of his grace in us will remain. And on top of these joys that remain will be the joys of heaven that will go on adding to the joys of earth.

It's always more, never less. So as year on year and decade on decade, the richness of life is expanded for you, so into eternity, experience upon experience will cumulate, Edwards says. And he says we cannot suppose that we will ever entirely forget everything that has happened on earth, nor can we suppose that we will ever entirely forget everything that has happened in heaven. So here's his point, Edwards says. Think about what it will be like then when you have been in heaven for a million million ages. And here's what he says. Your knowledge will increase to eternity.

And if your knowledge sow your holiness, for as you increase in the knowledge of God, you will see more of his beauty. And as you see more of his beauty, you will love him even more. And as you love him even more, you will delight in him and have more happiness in him. We will be with the Lord forever. Folks, we are talking about exponentially increasing joy. Now, look at the application Paul makes. Over to chapter 5 and verse 8. So in the light of all of this, he says, you put on faith and you put on love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

You see what he's saying? You draw strength here. So you are enduring pain and sorrow. Put on faith as a breastplate and hope as a helmet. For what is this sorrow in the light of a million million ages of exponentially increasing joy. You have come to church today and you are facing pressure and disappointment put on faith and love as a breastplate and hope as the helmet of your salvation. For what is disappointment and what is this pressure to a man or to a woman who will save her joy that goes on increasing forever. And you have suffered an injustice and there is no way of writing it in this world and it gnaws and it gnaws and it gnaws at you and it threatens to take you down.

Oh, put on faith and put on love as a breastplate and hope as the helmet of your salvation for what is injustice in this world to a man or a woman who will know the presence and joy of Christ forever. And are you facing death? Do you know that you have a serious illness? What is death to a man or a woman who will be forever with the Lord? Now, Paul says, encourage one another with these words.

Steve Hiller: Well, we have to pause right here, but we'll come back and continue this message, the urgency of heavenly hope in just a moment. If you joined us late, have to leave early, or you ever want to go back and listen to a message again, you can do that at our website, openthebible.org. Well, Open the Bible is a listener supported ministry. That's exactly what it sounds like. It is your generosity that keeps Pastor Colin's teaching available each day. And as you give a gift of any amount this month, we want to say thank you by sending you a copy of Tim Keller's book called What is Wrong with the World?

And Colin, who is this book for?

Colin Smith: Well, I'll give a very broad answer to that question, Steve. I mean, first, in the broadest category, I think this is a book for any thinking Christian. I mean, any thinking person actually needs to grapple with some fundamental questions. And what is wrong with the world is clearly one of them. The Bible addresses this very clearly and very directly. And this book by Tim Keller really gives us, I think, wonderful light not only on what is wrong with the world, but in God's mercy, how things can actually be put right. Then I think if you kind of drill it down, I'd say anyone who wants to understand themselves better because, you know, sin actually indwells our hearts.

And if you want to understand why you keep going on repeating things that you regret having done the last time, you know, there's an answer to that. What's wrong with you? Well, sin is actually in us. And this book really gets to the heart of the truth that sin is not simply bad things that we do. It's actually a power that's at work within us that explains the bad things that we do. And then one more thing. If you have experienced real evil in your life, you are not going to be impressed with being told that the source of evil is some kind of sociological deprivation or some economic explanation.

What you're going to need to deal with what has happened to you is the Bible's explanation of the reality of evil and sin in this world and the wonderful hope that there is healing and grace in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. So I think that many people are going to benefit from this, and that's one of the reasons that we've chosen this book to make available this month.

Steve Hiller: Again, it is called What is Wrong with the World? And it's our thank you for your financial support this month. You can give when you call 1 877 open 365 or at our website, openthebible.org. Again, the phone number is 1 877 673 6365 and our website is openthebible.org. Let's get back to the message. Here is Pastor Colin.

Colin Smith: Now, the very last thing I want to say is simply this. We've talked about hope for those who have died in Christ. We've talked about hope for those who are alive in Christ. And I want simply in these last few moments simply to land on this, that there is no hope without Jesus Christ, no hope without Christ. And I say that because Paul mixes that in plainly to the middle of this passage. In fact, he begins in chapter 4 in verse 13 by saying that we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.

And there are millions of people today living without the hope that we have spoken of for the last half hour. And this hope does not belong to them. It is a hope that is in Christ and it is found and experienced and belongs to those who are in Christ, but there is no hope outside of Christ. And so that is why in chapter 5 it seems to me Paul goes on to describe people who are living in darkness. And he draws attention to the fact that apart from Jesus Christ, you find yourself in this darkness.

And if you're in this darkness, you shouldn't think that you have hope. This is the way the Bible frames it. If you're in darkness, you're without Christ, there is no hope in the darkness. The only way that you can find hope is to get out of the darkness. Some of us have thought that we could live in darkness and still have the hope. You can't. Don't deceive yourself if you're walking in darkness. And Paul describes it here. He gives some examples of walking in darkness. He he talks about verse 7. Those who sleep, sleep at night.

Those who get drunk, get drunk at night. Verse 5, people who belong to the night, people who belong to the darkness. Some folks take their character from darkness hidden, always having to remember the secrets you can't speak about, double life. And for those who secretly or more openly following what Paul identifies here, you've given yourself to drink and you've given yourself to drugs. You wouldn't have done that if you were happy. You wouldn't have done that if you had hope. You've done that, feeling overwhelmed by life, feeling that there is no way out, feeling that it is so bleak, so pointless and the pain is too great.

You're in darkness. Notice what it's like to be in darkness. One of the distinguishing marks of darkness is that you feel secure. It's a deception, of course. Paul says in verse 3, it's when people are saying peace and safety, the destruction will come upon them suddenly. You come to church, you know that you're not following Jesus Christ now. But you come week after week and you're you're okay with it. You know that there is stuff that is hidden, that is dark, and it's been like that for a while. But you feel secure. You feel okay.

And you cannot see when you're in darkness. Not only do you feel secure, you darkness means you can't see. And honestly, some of us come to church and you don't see the glory of Jesus. Bible says the God of this world, Satan, has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. You read the Bible, you see nothing great nor magnificent. Can't really understand what other people see in it. You're in darkness. Paul says if you're in darkness, you will be taken by surprise. Verse 2 of chapter 5, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

You imagine a wasp's eye view of the world. Can you get inside a wasp? Here you are buzzing around with all your friends. And you find a wonderful little nest in a crack in the siding in the side of the house. And you feel very very secure as you go about your daily work because after all, you've got a stinger. I mean, who can touch a guy with a stinger? From time to time, one of your friends dies, doesn't come back to the hive, but that's all part of life. You've got work to do, food to find.

So on you go, not realizing that the owner of the house is walking down the path with a spray can in her hand. And in a moment, the whole nest will be gone. No clue. Now, Paul saying this is what it's like to live in darkness. You feel so secure. You don't see the glory of Christ. You will be taken by surprise. And look at what he says in verse 3. I wouldn't say this if it wasn't there. He says you will not escape. Destruction will come upon them suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

So there is no word of hope for people who continue in darkness, for people who belong to the darkness. And if that's you, you have to change your position. You cannot remain there because the future for the darkness is as clear as the future of the light, but it is polar opposite. So don't deceive yourself today, boy, if you're in darkness. Get out of it into the light. And I know some of you will be saying in your heart even now, you don't understand. I can't get out of the darkness. Listen. That is why Jesus Christ has come into the world to deliver you from darkness.

The gospel is not just forgiveness, it is power, the power of God for the salvation of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose for you. His saving work is like the freeing of hostages. It is bringing people out of darkness and into his marvelous light for men and women in darkness. Older people who have lived their lives in darkness, never really seeing the glory of Christ, here's the good news. There is someone who can deliver you. There is someone who can get you out, can reclaim and rebuild your life and position you for eternity.

His name is Jesus, and he is the one who died and rose again. And you will see him as your judge in the life to come, but he offers himself to you as savior in this life today. And you can come to him in repentance, and his sin bearing death will be yours. And the power of his resurrection life will come to you. And you will share in his ascension all this he offers to you. And if today your eyes are opening so you see even a little bit of your own need and his ability, thank God because it is the Holy Spirit who's showing it to you.

Other people don't see it, but right now you do. So today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. He's calling you. So come.

Steve Hiller: You're listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. And maybe as Pastor Colin's been extending that invitation to come to Christ, you felt that tug, that pull in your spirit. You know you don't know Jesus, but you'd like to know more, or you'd like to begin a relationship with him today. I hope you'll contact us and talk to one of our staff members. Our toll free number is 1 877 open 365. That's 1 877 673 6365. Well, Colin, it's Friday and the weekend's coming.

Colin Smith: Yeah, and I want to encourage you to get to church on Sunday. Find a church where the Bible is opened and where Jesus is the center of attention. And if you live in the Chicago area and you don't have a church home, I'd love for you to join us at the Orchard. There are six locations in the northwest suburbs. For more information, go to the orchard.church. That's the orchard.church.

Steve Hiller: Well, thank you, Colin, and thanks for listening. I'm Steve Hiller, and I hope you'll join us next time. This program is a listener supported production of Open the Bible.

Colin Smith: This is Pastor Colin. And I want you to know about a resource that will help you in your devotional life. It's called Open the Bible Daily. My colleague, Pastor Tim Augustine, takes what you hear on Open the Bible and he edits it into daily bite sized chunks that you can read in your devotional time in less than 3 minutes. Every day you'll find a verse of scripture, a short teaching from God's word, and an application that you can carry with you through the day. People who use this tell us that they read it every day.

And I think that if you try it, you'll love it too. For more information, visit openthebible.org/daily. That's openthebible.org/daily.