My
grandfather refused to say “goodbye”; he felt the word was too final. So, when
we would drive away after family visits, his farewell ritual was always the
same. Standing in front of the green ferns that lined his house, he would wave
and call out, “So long”!
As
believers, we never have to say “goodbye” to the ones we love, as long as they
have placed their trust in Jesus as Savior. The Bible promises that we will see
them again.
The
apostle Paul said that we should not “sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13),
because when Jesus returns, the Christians who have died will rise from their
graves and—together with the believers who are still alive—will meet the Lord
in the air (vv.15-17). We have confidence that one day in heaven there will be
“no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Rev. 21:4). It’s
in that wonderful place that “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).
Christians
have the hope of an eternal reunion with Christ and with believing loved ones
who have passed away. That’s why Paul exhorted us to “comfort one another with
these words” (v.18). Today, encourage someone with the hope that allows us to
say “so long,” instead of “goodbye.”
At death,
God’s people don’t say “Goodbye,”
but “We’ll see you later.” (RBC)
but “We’ll see you later.” (RBC)
