I LOST A FRIEND AND HEAVEN GAINED A SAINT

1 Thess. 4:13-18

Morning Meditation 10/1/12

These are the words of Paul written by inspiration of God to the saints in the church at Thessalonica. These words were to be words of comfort to those who were already having their saved loved ones depart this life and they were confused about the death of the saints. The preview takes:

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

My friend was Bro. C. L. Mattlock. He fought Leukemia for well over two years. Bro. Mattlock was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church here in Bossier City, LA. I have visited many times in his home. It was more than a pastor member relationship. I had a close personal love for him and all his family. He was a fighter. The doctors did not think he would live past three or four months. But while he spent a lot of time in the hospital, he fought a tremendous fight. But on April 19, 2001 he slipped quietly out of this old body made of clay into the presence of the Lord. My wife and I had visited him yesterday and had prayer with the family and asked the Lord to remove the suffering and let him depart this life peacefully. This is exactly what happened. Let's look at what out text says. First,

WE ARE TO BE INFORMED BY THE SCRIPTURE

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."

Paul said, "But I would not have you to be ignorant." The word "ignorant" translates "agnoeo" to be ignorant, not to know, not to understand, unknown." When the children of Israel were told to take a lamb from among their flocks and sacrifice the lamb and put its blood on the two side posts and over the door that the death angel would pass over them when he passed through the land of Egypt. The head of each household did exactly as the Lord had told them. The first born had nothing to worry about. They have made the sacrifice and have been blessed with a Spirit of revival as they heard the crying of the Egyptians. One could not help but feel sorry for the poor blind Egyptians as they experienced death in every home. But emotions cannot enter this. The time of salvation had passed for many of the Egyptians. God saved the first born of the Jews and He took the life of every first born in Egypt including the Bulls, and all the live stock in the land. The thing the Egyptians needed to do was to cast themselves upon the mercy of God and pray for the best.

We are always better off when we put things into God's hands and let Him make the choice. Paul says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep . . .." The word asleep does not mean that their loved one were not dead. It is just a term that softens our look at death for the Christian. Death is not a horrible thing for the Saints. It is like going to sleep and taking a short nap and waking up in the presence of the Lord surrounded by the saints that have gone on ahead. That is something to look forward to and not dread.

Paul said in Philippians 1:23-24, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Paul was a soul winner and a great teacher of the Word. So it certainly was better in his case at that time for him to remain on the earth. This is exactly what he is talking about. However, it is very comforting to see this great man of God say that to depart in death to be with Christ is far better. Paul had been caught up to paradise and saw things there not lawful for a man to utter. I think this is kind of like a judge in our day putting a gag order on people during a trial so that one can have a fair trial and not have people try him before the legal trial takes place.

We are to be informed by Scripture. It is the Scripture that tries us and finds us guilty. And it is the Scripture that clears us of guilt before a trial ever starts.

WE ARE NOT TO GRIEVE OVER THE LOSS OF SAVED LOVED ONES LIKE THE UNSAVED DO

1 Thessalonians 4:13, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." Paul says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep." Why shouldn't they be unhappy. Why shouldn't they be completely miserable in the loss of their loved ones? The reason is that the unsaved loved ones will go to eternal death in a burning hell and will be raised from that to go to the lake of fire. There will be no hope for them. The are lost without an advocate. They will be raised in the final judgment without a hope. They know in advance of it that they will not survive this judgment. They should truly be mourned over. We have a right to mourn over these. We have good reason to mourn over these.

Is hell eternal? Will people who go there, exist forever in that horrible place?

When I take but a moment to look at that horrible place, it is not for the purpose of mocking those who stay behind. But the sad sad story that the truth of that horrible place is that it hangs heavy around the necks of those who have never received repentance and trusted Jesus for themselves; and be the doctor to those who will always need it. Imagine standing in line for hours and have the doctors of no value standing there waiting for those who can cure them but are not granted the high privilege of giving out medication that will alleviate the pain that torments their bodies for the sinful acts that they have done. If only one of the things that the doctor has to wring out of his doctor's kit of mercy would hold hope that a tiny ray of mercy that will allow them to see way down yonder road there is a place where there might be someone who will have suffered enough to satisfy God; but one will only arrive to realize it was just a phantom. No one can suffer long enough to satisfy a holy God for the things done in this body. O Jesus the lover of my soul, wilt thou have mercy today before it is too late for the multitudes of them who are lost? Is there but a small ray of hope yet to be extended to that lost soul who cries out now for a small ray of thy gentle mercy. Who knows but what God in His mercy will pull from His kit of mercy and grace and give that everlasting soul that ray of light and tender mercy that he needs. The invitation is open: "Come unto me all ye that are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

It is the way of the cross that leads home. No other way that will do. But thank God when the gospel is preached and the tender mercies of God are extended through this great heart of God, they are passing you for the last time. It is either now or never. What are you going to say. Will you come to His open outstretched arms.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White