I love family reunions. Although I’ve never had anything like the super official reunions you see in movies, I remember fondly the times we had large gatherings of Lupos. We were excited to catch up, to laugh, and to play with our aunts, uncles, and especially our cousins. Though we hadn’t seen each other in years, the love that we shared always seemed to grow deeper.
However, as the years went on, eventually there were some that didn’t come anymore. Some moved far away. Some left the family. But, the ones that hurt the most were those that had passed away, never to be seen again in this lifetime.
Nothing hurts like losing a family member. Whether it is a grandmother, a cousin, an aunt, or a father, something feels missing in your life. When the family gets back together, you can’t help but notice that the dinner table needs less chairs. It’s a feeling that never seems to go away.
What if there was a family reunion where all of our loved ones got to be present? What if there was a family reunion where even those who passed on got to come back and never miss a family gathering again? This reunion is real, and it is promised to all who are part of the spiritual family of Jesus Christ, His church.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul tells us of the most wonderful day that will ever happen. It is the day that the Lord returns to bring His children with Him into heaven. Paul says that on this glorious day, Jesus will “…descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 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.”
Can you imagine what that day will be like? All of His faithful children who we love the most, Jesus promises us, we will get to see again and never be separated. This is why a Christian doesn’t sorrow like the rest of the world. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (vv. 13-14). Not only will we be united with our Lord and Savior, we will also be reunited with our dear friends and family in Christ.
Do you want to be at Christ’s reunion? There is one thing you need to keep in mind. The only ones invited are the members of God’s family. Are you a faithful member of the church Jesus died for? Are your children, your parents, your friends, members of God’s family? Let’s make sure there are no empty chair at God’s table (cf. John 14:6).