천국에서 다시 만남(A HEAVENLY REUNION)

💙 천국에서 다시 만남

 ✝  데살로니가전서 4:13 - 4:18 

“우리가 항상 주와 함께 있으리라”[데살로니가전서 4:17]

어머니의 부고 기사를 쓸 때, ‘죽었다’는 표현은 우리에게 약속된 천국에 가서 다시 만난다는 소망을 생각하면 마지막이라는 너무 부정적인 느낌이 들었습니다. 그래서, 나는 이렇게 썼습니다. “어머니가 예수님의 팔에 안기셨습니다.” 그래도 아직 나는 최근에 찍은, 어머니가 빠진 가족사진들을 보고 며칠 동안 슬픔에 잠기기도 합니다. 
그런데 얼마 전, 가족 초상화에 돌아가신 가족들을 포함해 그리는 화가를 만났습니다. 그 화가는 우리보다 먼저 간 사랑하는 가족들의 사진을 보고 살아 있는 가족들과 함께 그들을 그려 넣습니다. 그 화가는 천국 재회에 대한 하나님의 약속을 붓으로 표현하는 것입니다. 내 옆에서 웃는 어머니를 다시 볼 생각에 감사의 눈물을 흘렸습니다.

바울 사도는 예수님을 믿는 사람들은 “소망 없는 다른 이와 같이” (데살로니가전서 4:13) 슬퍼할 필요가 없다고 말합니다. “우리가 예수께서 죽으셨다가 다시 살아나심을 믿을진대 이와 같이 예수 안에서 자는 자들도 하나님이 그와 함께 데리고 오시리라”(14절). 
바울 사도는 예수님의 재림을 인정하고 모든 신자가 예수님과 다시 만날 것이라고 선포합니다(17절).

사랑하는 가족을 잃고 슬퍼할 때 천국에서 다시 만나게 되리라는 하나님의 약속으로 우리는 위로를 받습니다. 또한 예수님이 이 땅에 다시 오시거나 우리를 주님의 품으로 부르실 때까지 영생을 기대함으로 우리는 부활하신 왕과의 약속된 미래에 대한 영원한 소망을 가집니다.

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하나님께서 어떻게 천국에서 다시 만날 약속으로 슬픔 속에 있는 당신을 위로하셨나요? 
천국에서의 재회 약속은 왜 당신에게 큰 소망이 되나요?

<사랑의 구세주, 주님께서 저를 본향으로 부르시거나 이 땅에 다시 오실 때까지 다른 사람들과 나눌 수 있는 영원한 소망을 주셔서 감사합니다.>

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[데살로니가전서 4:13 - 4:18]
13. ○형제들아 자는 자들에 관하여는 너희가 알지 못함을 우리가 원하지 아니하노니 이는 소망 없는 다른 이와 같이 슬퍼하지 않게 하려 함이라
14. 우리가 예수께서 죽으셨다가 다시 살아나심을 믿을진대 이와 같이 예수 안에서 자는 자들도 하나님이 그와 함께 데리고 오시리라
15. 우리가 주의 말씀으로 너희에게 이것을 말하노니 주께서 강림하실 때까지 우리 살아 남아 있는 자도 자는 자보다 결코 앞서지 못하리라
16. 주께서 호령과 천사장의 소리와 하나님의 나팔 소리로 친히 하늘로부터 강림하시리니 그리스도 안에서 죽은 자들이 먼저 일어나고
17. 그 후에 우리 살아 남은 자들도 그들과 함께 구름 속으로 끌어 올려 공중에서 주를 영접하게 하시리니 그리하여 우리가 항상 주와 함께 있으리라
18. 그러므로 이러한 말로 서로 위로하라

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💙A HEAVENLY REUNION

 ✝  1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 4:18 

“We will be with the Lord forever.”[ 1 THESSALONIANS 4:17 ]

When writing my mom’s obituary, I felt that the word died seemed too final for the hope I had in our promised  reunion in heaven. So, I wrote: “She was welcomed into the arms of Jesus.” Still, some days I grieve when looking at the more current family photos that don’t include my mom. Recently, though, I discovered a painter who creates family portraits to include those we’ve lost. The artist uses the photos of loved ones who have gone before us to paint them into the picture of the family. With strokes of a paintbrush, this artist represents God’s promise of a heavenly reunion. I shed grateful tears at the thought of seeing my mom smiling by my side again.

The apostle Paul affirms that believers in Jesus don’t have to grieve “like the rest of mankind” (1 THESSALONIANS 4:13). “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have  fallen asleep in him” (V. 14). Paul acknowledges Jesus’ second coming and proclaims that all believers will be reunited with Jesus (V. 17).

God’s promise of a heavenly reunion can comfort us when we’re grieving the loss of a loved one who has trusted  Jesus. Our promised future with our risen King also provides enduring hope when we face our own immortality, until the day Jesus comes or calls us home. 
-XOCHITL DIXON

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How has God used the promise of a heavenly reunion to comfort you in your grief? 
Why does the promise of a heavenly reunion give you great hope?

<Loving Savior, thank You for giving me an enduring hope to share with others until the day You call me home or come again.>

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[1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 4:18]
13. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as  do the rest who have no hope.
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
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,  shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16. 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 shall rise first.
17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the  air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.