1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is a guide to give evidence that our hope is not tied to this world but is found in Christ 540 - 4 - 4

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 13, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Unlike unbelievers we are assured that someday we will be in the presence of Jesus as is the case with those believers who have passed.

2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." So those present with the Lord will come with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, “15, For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

First those who are present with the Lord will rise.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18, 17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18, Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

While we wait for the Blessed Hope we are to be a separate people. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

I have to constantly remind myself that I’m just passing through on the way to my eternal home. That said, it is so easily to get caught up in the day-to-day drama of world politics and with friends and family drama. Good words to live by in this fallen world: Psalm 34:14, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."

As a believer, I strive to honor God and not to be a stumbling block to others. I’m fortunate in the fact that I passed the biblical threescore and ten and yearly feel more removed from this secular world. Evil is growing exponentially and seems to be more persuasive as many are rushing through the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”