We who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thess. 4:15)
Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:15
My dog loves life and he does not want to miss out on anything. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks he will be forgotten. Every time my wife and I get ready to go camping, my dog is terribly concerned he might miss out if he is not already in the car waiting. No matter how excruciatingly hot it is, he feels the need to wait in the car while we load the trunk, as if he needs to make sure he is in the right place at the right time. In reality, it has already been decided that he will not be missing anything. All those details have already been worked out. No one will be forgotten. Of course he is going!
Apparently, there were some believers who were concerned that those who had already passed away might miss out on the big day of the Lord’s return. The apostle Paul makes it very clear. No one is missing out on this. God has all the details worked out. He has the timing down to a T. It does not matter when a person passes away. All of God’s people are important to him and will be present for the big day. Sometimes, we just need to trust that God has everything planned out perfectly and he has not forgotten us.
Trust in God’s perfect plan for those who love him.
Tyler Hardy is a husband, pastor, substitute teacher, and camp volunteer. He enjoys writing, hiking, and perhaps most of all, cooking a good pizza.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
