Paul wrote about those who face the sorrow of death and “have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). Their loved one was outside of Christ—a place where there is “no hope” (Eph. 2:12). But, he wanted those inside of Christ to know that they may sorrow at the loss of a faithful child of God, but their sorrow is tempered by hope. How?
Those who have hope at the death of a faithful child of God are those who truly “believe that Jesus died and rose again” (1 Thess. 4:14). That gives hope! They truly believe that, when Jesus returns, He “will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (4:14). That gives hope! If Jesus is bringing them with Him, that means that they must have gone “from the body…to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). That gives hope! One day, we will “be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17). That gives hope!
Those who suffer the loss of a faithful child of God still have grief. But hopefully God’s “words” of “comfort” (1 Thess. 4:18) instill a renewed hope in the midst of that grief.