Ephesians 5 is a treasure of instruction on how to live NOW in service to the Lord. Priorities become more clear when we base our hope on the promises of our future with the Lord. Why know about the future? PRIORITIES NOW The section closes with the charge to “comfort each other with these words.” No doubt they did comfort each other with those words - and we certainly still do today. In chapter 4 he makes it clear that when Jesus returns THEN the dead in Christ will rise (with new bodies) and those who are alive and remain will be changed (with new bodies) to meet the Lord in the air and begin forever with the Lord. Paul’s letter we call “I Thessalonians” must have been a huge comfort to this young church. They might have feared the deceased believer would miss out on the Lord’s return and miss out on the gathering together. Imagine the Thessalonian’s dismay when one of these believers died - and Jesus had not yet returned. It seems he had taught them to watch for Jesus to return and gather them in the clouds. We sing about the future “city called Glory” and future “mansions” Jesus is preparing for us and future joyful reunions with loved ones - and we also sing about what to do with that information TODAY.Give it a sing-along listen, and come back for a chat about the future - and what to do about it NOW.īelievers gain comfort by knowing what lies ahead.īefore writing the Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul had visited and taught them in person. Our song brings the future into the present with artful balance. We don’t want to focus only on one at the expense of the other. There is no question the Lord wants us to include the future in our present-day thinking.
“I am of the opinion that there is no comparison between the pain of this present time and the glory which we will see in the future.” (Paul to the Romans)