Tonight, at The Way Assembly of God in Middleton is our Annual Candlelight Service where we remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone to be with the Lord ahead of us. It’s a special time where we can acknowledge the fact that amid all the “Wonder of wonders” our hearts may ache with loss.
Whether a spouse, sibling, parent, child or that special friend, losing a loved one changes our lives forever. Life will get good again, but in a new way, a way not always welcomed. And even amid that new good, we grieve still, especially so when holidays and anniversaries roll around. We celebrate but often with that tinge of sadness included.
Some people think (and may even admonish us) that we should hide our feelings of sadness, or be over our grief, or have moved on with our lives. Understanding doesn’t come until they experience loss themselves.
So, on this special night, we remember, and we celebrate. We celebrate those we love who are no longer with us. We celebrate with laughter and tears freely expressed. We remember and we are encouraged.
The church at Thessalonica wondered what happened to those who died in Christ and Paul in his letter gave this reassurance. It’s still valid today. “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” [1 Thess 4:15-18 NIV]
