This morning we’re focusing on death - aging and mortality.  Right now all of us are getting older.  If you’re young.  Just keep going.  You’ll get there one of these days.  We’re going to keep on getting older - and unless Jesus comes back first - all of us - one day - each of us will die.

Someone said, “The only way the aging process could be slowed down is if it had to work its way through Congress.”

There’s a story about two elderly women who were out driving in a large car - both could barely see over the dashboard.  Ever seen that?  Maybe you’ve been there.

As they were cruising along they came to an intersection.  The stoplight was red, but they just sailed on through.  The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, “I must be losing it.  I could have sworn we just went through a red light.”

After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection and the light was red again . . . and again they just sailed right though.  This time the woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red.  She didn’t say anything because she was concerned that she might be losing it.  But, she was getting nervous and decided to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection to see what was going on.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red, and they sailed right through.  She turned to the other woman and said, “Mildred!  Did you know we just ran through three red lights in a row!  You could have killed us!”

Mildred turned to her and said, “Oh, am I driving?”

Its been said that we know we’re getting older when we stop to think and sometimes forget to start again.  We’re getting older when we need a fire permit to light all our birthday candles and we need oxygen after blowing them out.  Or, you finally get it all together but can’t remember where you put it.  Everything hurts.  And what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work.

The woman on the left is Fagliyu Mukametzyanova - age 49 - shown here with her husband.  Fagliyu last month in Kazan, Russia - a city about 400 miles east of Moscow - Fagliyu collapsed at her home with chest pains.  She was rushed to the hospital and declared dead from a heart attack.

At her funeral - as mourning relatives were filing past her open coffin - Fagliyu suddenly woke up and started screaming when she realized where she was.  Can you imagine this?  She lived for another 12 minutes before she died for good.

The hospital declined comment pending an investigation.  Duh.  We can imagine they’ll probably be more careful from now on to double-check whether their patients are not just “almost dead” but “completely dead.” (1)

We joke about getting older.  We joke, often because we know that beyond aging is death.  And death is a serious concern in our minds.

We all face issues of physically failing.  We seem to all share the common fear that we’re going to end up warehoused in some institution someplace riding out our days in a wheelchair - hooked up to a bag - and drooling incoherently.  We all face feelings of sorrow and loss - concern with the legacy we leave behind - the uncertainty of what comes or doesn’t come next.

Our mortality is serious stuff.  Yes?

Please join me with your Bibles.  We are coming to 1 Thessalonians 4 - starting at verse 13.  This morning we are looking at what it means to be Victorious in Death. 

Verses 13 to 18 Paul is responding to a fear that was being expressed by the believers in Thessalonica.  Before we come to verse 13 its important that we understand just what it was that was rattling the brains of the Thessalonians - The Thessalonians' Fear.

Paul had taught in Thessalonica for about 3 weeks plus and then he was driven out of the city - escaped in the night.  During those 3 weeks of teaching Paul had shared the Gospel and many had come to faith in Jesus.  Paul had shared the great doctrines of our faith and the church was maturing in their walk with God.  Paul had shared about eternal life in Jesus and the return of Jesus.

The Evangelical Free Church of America - our statement of faith Article Four sums up what we believe as a congregation about Jesus’ death and resurrection.  In part Article Four says that we believe that Jesus “...lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.”

There are some amazing truths in that statement.  Jesus was crucified to death.  He really did die.  He remained dead for three days and then was resurrected with a recognizable glorified body suitable for heaven - a body that isn’t subject to the restrictions of our mortal bodies - such as physical death.  All that is a historical fact.

The bodily resurrection of Jesus assures us that when we enter eternity as a follower of Jesus - trusting Him as our Savior - we’re going to receive our own imperishable body and that we’re also going to dwell eternally with God.  Jesus’ resurrection confirms that He is the only means of salvation.  His resurrection assures us of His victory and triumph over death and the forces of evil - the same victory and triumph that is available to each one of us who are in Jesus.

There’s some great truth there.  Yes?

Article Nine of the EFCA Statement of Faith focuses on Jesus’ return.  If you’ll bear with me a little more theology - in part Article Nine says that, “We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Acts 1 - the disciples and Jesus standing on the mountain - Jesus taken up into a cloud and up into heaven.  The disciples left standing there with their mouths open - jaws on the ground - staring up into the sky.  Two angels came and said what?  “Jesus will come in just the same way as you’ve watched Him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:11)

In the same personal and bodily manner with which Jesus ascended to heaven we expect Him to return.

The Thessalonians knew that.  They’d been taught all that by Paul.  They’d believed what Paul had taught them. 

But - in Thessalonica there were some who had begun to teach that the Messiah - the Christ - had already returned.  They went so far as to spiritualize Jesus’ return.  His return wasn’t physical.  But some kind of spiritual awakening.  The resurrection of the believers had already taken place and they’d missed it.  Missed out on physical resurrection and eternity with God. 

And time was passing.  The believers in Thessalonica had made too many trips to the cemetery.  Too many of their loved ones - those who had trusted in Jesus as their Savior - too many had died.  They we’re beginning to question if they had understood correctly what Paul had taught them.

Just as there are people today - some even claiming to be Christians - who muddy the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Jesus really didn’t die on the cross.  He just sort of passed out and they took Him down prematurely.  Or Jesus faked His death and ran off with Mary Magdalene to the south of France where they founded a dynasty of Frankish kings.

Islam teaches that someone else took Jesus’ place.  Jesus - one of the best known - most visible public figures of the day - someone is made up to look like Jesus.  This person fools Pilate - Herod - the entire Jewish religious and political leadership of the day - fools all of Jesus’ followers who weren’t in on the hoax - fools the representatives of the Roman Government who would have had to be duped or paid off in order to crucify the wrong guy.

This guy - taking Jesus’ place - whoever he is goes the whole nine-yards - the beatings - the scourging - the ridicule - being spat at - everything that was done to Jesus - including - and not least - the whole crucifixion thing with the nails through the hands and feet - and even death - for something he knows is a lie.

Can you see this?  Asking for volunteers?  “Who wants to play Jesus for the crucifixion?”

Or maybe Jesus really didn’t come back from the grave.  Jesus being born is understandable.  His dying for us kinda makes sense.  But resurrection is over the top.   

Despite the fact that the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea was a private burial vault of a well known wealthy and influential man - not some unmarked grave in a public cemetery - the women - the disciples - and even the angels - got mixed up and all went to the wrong tomb.

Maybe Jesus wasn’t physically resurrected.  Maybe it was kind of more of a spiritual thing.  Maybe all those hundreds of witnesses to the resurrection just saw a ghost or had some kind of wishful thinking mass hallucination.  Maybe the disciples endured tremendous physical mental and emotional hardship - even horrendous martyrdoms - they went through all that teaching something that they knew was a lie.

Lest we get on the case of the Thessalonians - there are billions of people today who are misled by all that deception and pseudo intellectual garbage.

The bottom line is that the believers in Thessalonica were beginning to doubt that they would ever be reunited with their loved ones.  They were wondering what would happen when they died.  Maybe they’d misunderstood.  If Jesus isn’t alive we’re all in really big trouble.  What we say to each other at funerals is just a bunch of religious happy thoughts.

That’s the Thessalonians’ fear.  Maybe echoed by some today.  Pushed back someplace in our minds.

Verses 13 to 18 are Paul’s Response.  Let’s say that together, “Paul’s response.”

Verse 13:  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

Paul’s point number one:  Our Time.  Let’s repeat that together, “Our time.”  Our time verses God’s time.

One day, when Jesus had come to a large crowd out by the Sea of Galilee, a synagogue official named Jarius came and fell at the feet of Jesus.  And Jarius began begging Jesus, “My little 12 year old daughter is at the point of death.  Please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”  Imagine the grief of this man.  Its every parent’s worst nightmare.

Jesus starts to go with Jarius.  After some time and delay - as they’re slowly making their way towards Jarius’ house - some people come from the house and tell Jarius, “Your daughter is dead.  Its too late.  Don’t bother Jesus any more.  Nothing more can be done.”

When Jesus hears this - He turns to this distraught father and says, “Don’t be afraid.  Only believe and she’ll be made well.”

When they finally get to the house its really obvious that this little girl - the apple of her parent’s eyes - she really is dead.  The professional mourners - the people who made a living mourning for others - the professionals have had time to arrive.  They’re wailing and weeping - doing the professional mourner thing..  There’s this loud commotion - a large crowd has gathered.  Its hopeless - grim.

Jesus comes and says, “Why are you weeping and wailing?  The child hasn’t died.  She’s asleep.”  And they all start laughing at Him.  Because they all know she’s dead.  Sleep is sleep.  Death is death.

Jesus takes Peter, James, John, and Jarius - the father, and the girl’s mother into the house and goes to the room where this dead child’s body is laying.  Jesus takes her by the hand - and in the presence of her grieving parents - Jesus says to her, “Little girl, arise.”

And this little girl - who was dead - gets up and starts to walk around the room.  Jesus turns to the amazed parents and tells them to get something to eat for the girl - who’s hungry. (Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56)

Someone has said that when you’re old and take a nap people get worried and think that you’re dead.

When someone we love goes to sleep we don’t immediately call an ambulance.  We know that they’re resting and that they’ll wake up and we’ll go on with our lives together.  That’s the way the New Testament regards the death of believers - they’re asleep.

We struggle with this because we struggle with eternity.  For us time has a past, present, and future.  Before we were here in this building we were someplace else.  Maybe in our homes - getting ready - on the road coming here - past time.  Now we’re here sharing this moment in time together - the present.  After this - we’ll have coffee and share together - and go our separate ways - future time.  We’re locked physically into time that moves from past to present to future.  Linear time.

But eternity isn’t like that.  Eternity has only one dimension.  It is.  Its happening - simultaneously.  When we stop to think about that our brains begin to go into overload and shut down.  Smoke comes out of our ears.  Things start to make strange noises up here.  Maybe for some that’s not too unusual.

How can someone who has died be asleep and we’ll see them again and it’ll be for them like they’ve been asleep and haven’t noticed the passage of time like we have?  How does this eternity thing work?

Have you heard this?  “Do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:8,9)

We’re here focusing on this little molecule of time here on this music stand.  We’re checking the calendar app on our phone and wondering where Jesus is - when what comes next comes next - and how that happens.  We’re focused on this little molecule here and God is existing. 

God exists forever that way and that way and that way and that way and any other way.  The eternal God patiently using His creation of time according to His purposes.

You know what we need to do?  We need to get over it.  Because we aren’t going to understand it - not now - maybe not even when we enter eternity.  That’s just the way it is.  And we need to know that and be okay with it and trust that God knows what’s going on.

Those who are in Christ are not dead.  They’re asleep.  And when they awaken we’ll see them again and go on with our lives.

Paul’s response - his second point comes at the end of verse 13:  (S5) Paul writes, I’m telling you about those who are asleep... “so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”

Response point number two:  Our Hope.  Try that with me, “Our hope.”

I’ve always appreciated this passage for what Paul does not say.  Paul doesn’t say, “Stop grieving.  You all are Christians.  We have hope in Jesus.  So stop all this grieving nonsense.  Suck it up, the pagans are watching.”

There are far too many times when this world hurts - times when all we’re left with are questions - no answers.  Life is unfair.  Have you noticed that?

There are times of loss when all we can do is grieve - times when grief is the only way we can cope with the pain and loss.  God created us with the ability to grieve.  If we didn’t grieve we’d pop.  But, there’s a difference between the grief of someone with hope and the grief of someone without hope.

Look at verse 14:  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

We’ve been in Merced for 8 plus years now.  Which is long enough to get to know people and have memories of people that have died.  Together - many of us have been out to the cemeteries.  I’ve had the honor of being apart of a number of funerals.

Sometimes when I pass a cemetery - sometimes I stop and visit the gravesites of people that we’ve known - some of them your family.  To think about memories - people.  Sometimes I just slowly walk through a cemetery reading the headstones and talking with God.

Maybe that sounds weird to you.  But I’ve found that a cemetery is great place to gain perspective on life.  True? 

In the Chinese section of one of cemetery over in the Bay Area I read this quote on the tombstone of a sister in Christ - someone I hope to see someday.

When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears,
Be thankful for our many beautiful years.

I gave you love, you can only guess,
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you all for the love you each have shown,
But now, it is time I traveled alone.

So grieve a while for me, if you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It is only for a time, that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.

And then, when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and say, Welcome Home! (2)

We may feel sorrow and loss - grief.  But we don’t need to feel hopeless.  Jesus cried at the death of His friend Lazarus.  But Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.  Even the deepest sleepers wake up.  Eventually - if we are trusting Jesus - our relationship will begin again.

That Jesus is personally and bodily resurrected and returning means that He is not an idea, philosophy, spirit, or the product of religious wishful thinking, but the returning King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).  Jesus is alive and returning.  Jesus is victorious over death and if we are in Him we shall be victorious over death.

Paul’s third point is Our Basis.  Let’s say that together.  “Our basis.”   The foundation our hope rests on.

Verse 15:  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

If you’re flying - in an airplane - especially flying international - as you’re flying they usually have a display showing where you are.  As you’re flying there’s this little picture of an airplane superimposed on a map of the world.  As you move, the plane moves, showing where you are.  How many of you have seen these?

From time to time they display other information - like how fast you’re moving - how high you are - what the air temperature is outside in case you want to step out and take a stroll.  And they give information about where you’re going - your destination:  what time it is there - how long until you get to where you’re going.  We’re on a journey that will end at a certain destination.

The difference with the return of Jesus is that we don’t know when.  But, we do know that it will happen - maybe today - maybe tomorrow.  It will happen. 

Planned out before creation was creation - written into the fabric of unfolding human history - ordained - initiated by God - is God’s plan of redemption - spoken of through His prophets and brought to fruition by an act of His sovereign will.  God gave His Son Jesus to exile among men - to be born in a manger - to work in a carpenter’s shop - to be among scribes and Pharisees - and their cruel tongues and slander.  He gave His Son to hunger and thirst - amid poverty and desire.  He gave Him to be scourged and crowned with thorns.  He gave Him to die on a cross - crucified.

Some people may choose to deny His crucifixion.  They may choose to deny His death.  But, under the scrutiny of the historical record we know without a doubt that Jesus was crucified - put to death in exactly the manner God foretold - according to God’s plan - in God’s timing - and for God’s purposes.

No less a part of God’s plan is Jesus’ resurrection - an historical fact.  No less a part of God’s plan is Jesus’ return and our eternity with Him.

Scripture tells us over and over again that God’s word is truth.  (Psalm 119:160)  God’s word is the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.  It is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.  (3) 

Jesus Himself said that He is truth.  (John 14:6)  Jesus said that to base our lives on what He said was like building our house on a rock.  Living our lives based on what Jesus said is building our lives on the surest foundation there is.  (Matthew 7:24-27)

Many people today - including a number of Christians - view the return of Jesus Christ as a philosophical or religious idea to be discussed or debated.  It may or may not happen.  Some equate the return of Jesus with some type of cosmic planetary alignment or alien visitation.  Our eternity with God is something we hope for.  But its kind of like the Hollywood version of what comes next.  Big on hope.  Small on substance.  Not truth to base our lives on.

Paul writes, “This we say to you by the word of the Lord.” 

The return of Jesus isn’t like the disciples ate some bad Gefilte Fish - had stomach problems - and in some delusional state dreamed up this whole Jesus returning thing.  The return of Jesus is based - not on the words of Paul - not on human philosophy and reasoning - the return of Jesus and our future with Him - what we believe is based on the certainty of God’s word - on God Himself who is enacting His plan in human history exactly as He said He would.

Resurrection will happen.  Reunion will happen.  When Jesus comes back we will all be together again.

Paul’s fourth point comes in verses 16 and 17.  Our Future.  Let’s say that together, “Our future.”

Verses 16 and 17:  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 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 and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

Three things we know will happen when Jesus returns.

First, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.”  This is going to be a powerful scene.  Jesus, in all His majesty as God, descending from the clouds with a loud shout - a cry of command.

Jesus speaks in John 5:25 and says, “I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”  The cry of command is addressed to those in the tombs who have fallen asleep in Jesus.  When they hear the command they will come forth from the grave.

Second, “the voice of the archangel” - Michael - will be heard.  In Daniel 12:1-2 we’re told that the Archangel Michael will call the righteous of Israel from the grave into eternal life.

Third, “the trumpet of God” will sound.  In 1 Corinthians 15 - another  great chapter about the return of Jesus - in 1 Corinthians 15 - Paul writes this:  “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52)

I’ve heard that some church nurseries have a sign that says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”

We shall not all sleep.  We’re not all going to die before Jesus comes back.  Some believers will be alive.  And, when those who are alive hear the trumpet sound they will be caught up - changed into immortal bodies that can inherit eternity - and they will be reunited with those who have been asleep.

Paul’s last response point comes in verse 18:  Our Comfort.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Our comfort.”

Verse 18:  Therefore - because we can trust God’s use of time - because we have hope - because we have a sure basis for what we believe - because we know who holds the future - Therefore - even when we grieve we can - comfort one another with these words.

A while back the brother of someone we knew died.  This was a man who knew Jesus intimately - personally.  Who lived trusting in Jesus as His Savior.  A little before noon, on the day he died, his son read 1 Corinthians 15 to him - the passage about the return of Jesus - about our victory over death.

As the son finished reading, this dying man began to share from this passage - to share with his family gathered there around his bed.  He reminded his children and grandchildren about the promises of God for them.  He called on them to be warriors for Christ.  When he was done he asked his son to pronounce the benediction.  And shortly afterward fell asleep and later that night God called him home.

There is such a difference between the home goings of those who fall asleep knowing Jesus and the funerals of those who die without hope.

The word translated “comfort” - in Greek - has the idea of encourage.  When we’re discouraged - broken down - depressed - at those times when we’re grieving - there’s a huge encouragement in what Paul writes here - that should bring comfort to us - that we can encourage and comfort each other with.  We have victory - even in death.

Its been said that the fear of old age is the false assumption that I still have many years of life ahead of me.   

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You - God - a heart of wisdom.”

None of us knows the number of our days.  That’s a God thing.  That’s a sobering reality that comes with our mortality.  In many that brings fear.  Wisdom in the face of our mortality is trusting God with our lives.

This morning if the return of Jesus Christ is a philosophical or religious  idea and not a certain hope in your life - you need to come to trust in Jesus as your Savior.  You need to know with certainty that when your days are done - and when He returns - you will spend eternity with Him.

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1. Kelsey Williams, SFGate: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=91690#ixzz1QKAC4EZr
2. Amy Chin, 6.11.32 - 6.27.92, Cypress Lawn - Colma
3. From EFCA Statement of Faith - Article 2

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.