1 Thessalonians 4: 13 -18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Yesterday, we had another saint march home. James Laza Jr. passed on to be with our Lord He was the Pastor of New Hope Community Church of God in Huntington. He is survived by his mother Shirley Laza who lost her husband only this past May. Please keep the Laza family and friends in prayer as they grasp and grieve the earthly loss of this fine man. Also keep in mind that we do not have to grieve as unbelievers. Paul writes (see above) that because of the resurrection of Jesus, THE Christ, when we graduate from this earthly course, we will be present with our Sovereign Savior. So although we can express the personal loss of a beloved believer from earth, and morn the physical loss of a dear friend, we should also acknowledge the “promotion” to a heavenly place beside Creator of All.
I am certain that Brother James is hearing the words directly from THE WORD – “Matt 25:23 - His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
May God Bless You and Yours
Gene
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