Thankful in the Face of Death

Each semester our Christian Formation team puts together the King’s Liturgy which outlines rhythms such as Scripture readings and events where we can grow together as a Christian community. Every week, a staff or faculty member writes a Lectionary Note to expound on the week’s Scripture readings–this lands in students’ email inboxes every Sunday.

Please be encouraged by this week’s Lectionary Note written by yours truly based on 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Psalm 103. I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

I have never witnessed as many deaths as I have in 2020 (none, surprisingly, related to Covid19). The unexpected death of a dear friend in January sucker-punched me with its suddenness. Within the span of eight months, both of my biological paternal grandparents passed away. Additionally, I’ve prayed for and with many others who’ve lost a loved one this year.

Like many of us, the Thessalonian Church in 1 & 2 Thessalonians had experienced several deaths in their community and were wrestling with questions concerning the salvation of those who had died and their own salvation. The Apostle Paul (along with Silvanus and Timothy) reassured them that both those who died in the Lord and any believers still alive at the second coming of Jesus “will always be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:17).

Interestingly, while Paul does address their fear of death and encourages the Thessalonian Church, Paul pulls the gaze of the Thessalonian believers from worry of the future to the here and now. He hones in on the importance of holy living in the present. 1 Thessalonians reminds us of two important truths: 1) “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:9) and 2) The will of God is our sanctification (4:3). Simply put: God’s steadfast love and mercy coupled with holy living frees us from the fear of death. We have the promise of obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and living with Him eternally.

The beauty of not having to dread death prompts us to proclaim along with David in Psalm 103, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” David also acknowledges that man’s life is like grass—here today and gone tomorrow—“but the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him” (103:17). Let’s rejoice in this hopeful truth, pray for all to know and receive this truth (go and share it!), and give thanks in all circumstances; “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5:18).

Paul commends the Thessalonian Church for living to please God (1 Thes. 4:1) and embodying brotherly love (1 Thes. 4:9-10)—and he spurs them to do so “more and more.” Instead of agonizing over death and fearing the future, this encouragement reminds us that as long as we have breath we cannot “grow weary in doing good” (2 Thes. 3:13). There is more growth, more faith, more holiness, more love. No, we don’t need to fear death, but until it comes, there is work to be done.

// Photo by Pro Church Media //