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)
