Terminals and Departures

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV). In leaving for Kipnuk, Alaska I have several flights to board; and, though I’m not a nervous flier, two signs at the airport remind me of an important truth. They are “Terminal” and “Departure.” No wonder some folks get all jittery when they think about flying! Think of the imagery — we’re all destined to die (TERMINAL) and we’re leaving to go away (DEPARTURES). In fact, it sounds downright biblical! Remember what the Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27? “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...” Sounds very sobering, doesn’t it! We don’t think much about being terminal or about the reality of our sure departures from this earth. It’s not in vogue. It conjures up terms like morbid, fatalistic, negative, and gruesome. We want the finality of our physical lives antisepticised (I hope that’s a word) and kept separate from the everyday world where we live, work, and play. But as distant as we like to keep it, reality breaks in as surely as it breaks our hearts. Thankfully, neither terminal nor departure is the final words! Jesus answered every one of our enemy’s attacks with victory and he also answers our terminal condition and our certain departure with his triumph. The Spirit didn’t end his reminder of our mortality in Hebrews 9:27. He let’s Jesus recast our most certain journey as a journey to the great house of joy, when he says: “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” You see, there is also one other prevalent sign at the airport I didn’t mention: “ARRIVALS.” While on our side of the great journey the TERMINAL and DEPARTURES signs loom large, on God’s side of the journey, there is only one that matters to him: ARRIVAL! He is waiting for us to come home with his Son who brings with him all those who stand in eager expectation of his return to take them on the return flight home.