Daily Devotional for Friday, April 26

The Return of the Lord

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him,” 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

At the battle of Inkerman in 1854, a soldier was just able to crawl to his tent after he was struck down. When found, he was lying upon his face, his open Bible before him, his hand glued fast to John 11 by his life-blood which covered it. When his hand was lifted, the letters of the printed page were clearly traced upon it, and with the ever-living promise in and on his hand, they laid him in a soldier’s grave. The words were, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

The promise of eternal life and Christ’s return to gather His children brings great hope to the child of God. Paul gives us great hope whenever we face the death of a loved one. Christians do not grieve as those who have no hope. As we stand at the grave of our saved loved ones, we can say good-bye with the promise that we will be reunited one day soon.

Not only do Christians have hope in light of death, we have hope in light of the trials of this life. When this world seems to be so dark and weighs us down, we are reminded of our blessed hope. Christ will return some day to conquer His enemies as He reigns in righteousness. We know that every injustice will be made right, and every evil act will be accounted for. These truths give us hope and encouragement as we continue to serve God in this world.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Do not lose heart. Christ will return very soon.

Steven Ridings