“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

We do grieve when those we love die. I have shed quite a few tears at funerals and gravesites. Yet, this is a Scripture I have read many times both publicly and privately when faced with death. We grieve but not without hope. This passage has informed us about those who have fallen asleep in Him.

“Fallen asleep” isn’t an empty phrase we use to soften the blow of death. It is reality. Our loved ones don’t cease to exist when they die. Life goes on for them. When they fall asleep in Him they are immediately in the Lord’s presence. Paul wrote about this to the Corinthian church. “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

However, that isn’t the end of the story, either. There will be a reunion someday when Jesus returns. He will bring those who have fallen asleep in Him with Him when He comes. They will be raised from the dead first! We believe that not only was Jesus raised from the dead, we will be raised as well.

I’ve been to many cemeteries and I often imagine that day when those peaceful, pastoral scenes will be suddenly alive with activity. My parents and many of my friends have preceded me to heaven. But I didn’t say good-bye to them. The proper expression is “I’ll see you again.”