WITH THE LORD

Our generation has been chosen to witness the final stage of human history. Biblical prophecy is rapidly being fulfilled and according to scripture, Jesus could come for His church at any moment.

For the Lord Himself 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 

We can gain insight into this glorious event by prayerfully studying the Word of God and reading trusted commentaries on the subject, but today I'd like to focus on the end of that passage ... 'And thus we shall always be with the Lord'.

As a follower of Christ, you have been 'with the Lord' from the day you surrendered your life to Him. 'Yoked with Him', you found rest for your soul. 'Crucified with Him', you no longer live to yourself. 'With Jesus', you walk a path separate from that of the world. 

You have been 'with Christ' in this life, and you will be 'with Him' in the next. 

Spurgeon - Before long we shall be with Him in His rest and in His royalty, in His expectation and in His manifestation. To be forever with the Lord is my idea of heaven at its best. Not the harps of gold, nor the crowns unfading, nor the light unclouded is glory to me; but Jesus, Jesus Himself, and myself forever with Him in nearest and dearest fellowship.

If you genuinely love Jesus Christ, there should be a deep longing to be with Him. If that desire seems to be absent from your life as a believer ... Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 

... and run to His side.