“others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13, NKJV)
Often the idea of hope leads us to wishful thinking along the lines of “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” We can’t know for sure that it will be good weather for our picnic, no matter what the meteorologist said, but we sure hope so.
Early on in his letter to the Thessalonians Paul spoke of hope (1:3), but now he brings us to a deep dive into the subject. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13).
He will go on to explain the ground for our hope as Christians but first he wants to make a distinction. Brothers have a hope; others do not. Those in Christ have a hope; those outside of Christ have no hope.
When Paul speaks of possessing hope, he is not saying that Christians have a chance but non-Christians do not, akin to those who say of the lottery, “if you don’t play, you can’t win.” He is not saying unbelievers have no chance but believers at least have some chance because they are in the game.
No, the apostle is making an absolute distinction based on an absolute certainty. The hope he refers to is not “hope so.” Rather, biblical hope is a confident expectation, an assured conviction, a vibrant certainty that rests on the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. The Christian’s hope is secure because Christ’s saving work cannot fail.
Why does Paul get into this subject? It because the believers were confused about the way things worked with fellow believers who had died. Paul will spell out how it all will play out but for now he offers them the comfort of Christ.
He doesn’t tell them not to grieve. Grief is natural and expected in this fallen world. When Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, He was reacting to the sober reality of death and loss.
Rather, Paul tells not to grieve as those who have no hope. The surety of the Christian’s hope is the basis for mutual comfort and edification (1 Thess. 4:13, 5:11). Were there no certain hope, there could be no actual comfort or basis for edification, only sentiment.
Grief over the death of those we love carries anguish and emptiness. Hope may mitigate the pain but the loss hurts and will require adjustment in life. But the certainty of Christ’s conquering sin, death, and the grave bathes the heart of faith with the refreshing waters of God’s grace.
So when someone we love has died in the Lord, we want to remind ourselves that they have “fallen asleep.” This expression is not mere euphemism for death, like we might blunt the sting by saying someone has “passed away.” It is filled with theological significance stressing that image-bearers of God are immortal beings. In Christ, we who die will immediately pass into glory and be with our Lord. Yet to come is reunion with our physical bodies, no longer subject to death, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15.
We also want to remind ourselves of God’s mercy to us and work of redemption by Jesus for His sheep. Death is not the final answer. Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again. He who died for us lives for us and holds us fast.
Not only do we remind ourselves of this hope, we draw alongside others to minister to them in their grief. Not that we use the message of hope to dismiss or rebuke their grief, but we are ready with the word of life to apply the balm of Gilead to their aching souls.
What does it mean to grieve as those who have hope?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
