【双语灵修】更美的还在后面SO MUCH MORE TO COME!

帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13-18

论到睡了的人，我们不愿意弟兄们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样。我们若信耶稣死而复活了，那已经在耶稣里睡了的人，神也必将他们与耶稣一同带来。我们现在照主的话告诉你们一件事：我们这活着还存留到主降临的人，断不能在那已经睡了的人之先。因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音，又有神的号吹响，那在基督里死了的人必先复活，以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇；这样，我们就要和主永远同在。所以，你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。

2月28日

更美的还在后面

「不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。…… 我将一切都更新了！」 -启 21:4-5

耶稣已经挪去了我们与神和好的障碍，所以我们现在就可以享受与神的亲密关系，并在祂的国度里享受丰盛的生命。然而，还有更美好的事情仍未来！当信徒离世时，我们会为他们的离去感到悲伤，但我们知道，他们已经与主同在，比我们今生所经历的更了不起。因此，虽然死亡会令人悲伤，但因着基督，它已成为通往神同在的桥梁。

不但如此！当耶稣再来的时候，所有的信徒——已经死去的和活着的——将会在肉体上和灵魂上改变为不朽的、荣耀的身体（林前 15:50-55）。

神将要把「新耶路撒冷」带到被更新的地上，在那里，祂将与祂的子民永远同住，再没有死亡、悲哀、哭号或疼痛，因为神将一切都更新了。

那么审判日呢？是的，审判日将要到来（启 20:11-15），但 「那些在基督耶稣里的就不定罪了。」（罗 8:1）因此，我们要降服于基督，接受祂白白的救赎恩典，这是至关重要的。

这样，我们就能用一生来事奉祂，不断敦促人们悔改信主，叫他们也得着永生。因着主，我们可以活在盼望和期待中，毫无惧怕。

祷告

主耶稣，求祢更新我们，使我们能完全为祢而活，在各地传扬祢的爱和福音。阿们。

SO MUCH MORE TO COME!

“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” . . . “I am making everything new!” —Revelation 21:4-5

Jesus has removed the barrier to reconciliation with God, so we can enjoy fellowship with God and abundant life in his kingdom even now. And yet there’s much more to come! When a believer in Christ dies, we grieve their loss. But we know they are in the Lord’s presence in a greater way than we experience now. So while death brings sadness, it has become, through Christ, a bridge into God’s presence.

And there’s still more! When Jesus comes again, all believers—those who have died and those who are still alive—will be transformed physically and spiritually, with glorious, imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).

God will bring his “New Jerusalem” to a renewed earth, where he will live with his people forever. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, because the Lord will make everything new.

What about Judgment Day? Yes, it’s coming (Revelation 20:11-15), but “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). So it’s crucially important that we surrender ourselves to Christ and accept his free gift of salvation.

Then we can serve him with our whole lives, urging everyone to turn to God in repentance and faith so that they too may have eternal life. In the Lord we can live in hope and anticipation and without fear.

Lord Jesus, transform us so that we may live fully for you, sharing your love and good news everywhere. Amen.