When you travel, you pack, you get ready to leave. You’re thinking about where you are going. You might need transportation like plane tickets. You might need a passport. You might need clothing for a different climate. You have an intinerary including lodging and meals. Everything is focused on where you will be going, and how you will enjoy that destination.
Something similar can be said of life after death? Are we ready? What will life after death be like? What do we need to do to prepare for it? In today’s post, I’d like to suggest that when we prepare to travel beyond the grave, we need to think opposite to how we think about preparing for travel in the here and now. Let me explain.
Throughout Christian history, Christians have hotly debated the return of Jesus. Bible scholars, theologians, and culture observers have long speculated about when and how Jesus is going to return.
Why do Christians think Jesus is going to return? In Acts 1:10–11, Jesus ascends to heaven, and we read this, “[His disciples] were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”
Jesus, therefore, will return again, but we don’t know when. In fact, he himself said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42–44)
Jesus’ followers, then and now, are to be ready at all times for his return. That begs the question: how are we to ready ourselves for his return?
In 1st Thessalonians, it seems that Paul has this question on his mind. Skim through the letter, and you’ll notice that he often talks about Jesus’ return. In fact, whomever first divided up the letter into chapters seems to have done so by observing the places Paul refers to the return of Jesus. Notice that each chapter of the letter concludes with a mention of Jesus’ return: 1:10, 2:19; 3:13; 4:13–18; 5:23–24. Additionally, Paul has a longer teaching section about Jesus’ return in 5:1–11. In today’s post, we look at Paul’s reference to Jesus’ return at the end of chapter two, and we’ll see how Paul answers the question: how are we to ready ourselves for Jesus’ return?
So far in 1st Thessalonians chapter two, Paul has been sharing numerous descriptions of his approach to relational ministry. At this point, we are going to jump to verse 17. Next week, guest blogger Kirk Marks will talk about those verses I’m skipping. Why the skip? Thematically, I believe Paul continues talking about his relationship with the Thessalonians in verse 17. Here’s what he says,
“Brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.”
Remember that Paul had only been in Thessalonica for three weeks before he had to flee for his life because some anti-Christian Jews started a riot. Weeks go by and then months, and Paul is desperate for news. How are the Christians in Thessalonica doing? When he says Satan prevented him from visiting them, he is likely referring to the people who wanted to kill him.
Now as he writes them, he wants the Christians to know how distraught he was about not being about to visit them again. But he is not just sad because he can’t visit them. He is also extremely joyful because of the good news he heard about them. Look at verses 19–20.
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
Paul is trying to encourage the Thessalonian Christians. Though he can’t see them, he really loves them. When Jesus comes, Paul tells the Christians, Paul is imagining he will say to Jesus, “Look, Jesus! Look at these amazing people in Thessalonica! Aren’t they faithful disciples?” The faith and commitment of the people in Thessalonica are a shining example of Paul’s ministry. He is so happy.
Therefore, Paul’s answer to the question: “How do ready ourselves for Jesus’ return?” in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 is, “We practice faithful discipleship to Jesus, just like the Thessalonian Christians did.” In other words, we ready ourselves for the afterlife by living a particular way in the here and now. We choose to live as faithful disciples now. Think about that, as it pertains to your life. Would people say that you are a faithful disciple of Jesus?
Paul has more to explain to them about what was going through his mind, and we’ll turn to that in the next post.
Photo by Mantas Hesthaven on Unsplash
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