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WE SHALL ALL NOT SLEEP (1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-58)

REFLECTION

“We shall not all sleep” is the theme for our reflection. In the Bible, the concept of resurrection makes us understand lifelessness as the period of sleep. In other words, sleep is the metaphor for death because of the understanding that those who die shall be resurrected. We shall all not sleep means that we shall not all experience the first or physical death of the body or lifelessness when Jesus returns the second time. We shall deliberate on the fact that whether we sleep or not, Jesus will come therefore we must be prepared for the last trumpet.

Beloved in the Lord, it is a fact that we shall not all sleep (die) when Jesus comes the second time because Paul reveals to us that “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) Jesus also declared prophetically “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28) Although this statement refers to His resurrection from the dead, it also depicts how His second coming will be experienced. Beloved in the Lord, some people will not sleep when the last trumpet sounds yet they will not experience the new nature and the glory of the Lord because of sin and unrepentance. God’s plan for our salvation while we are not sleeping or dead is that He “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). However, if we are not yet asleep or dead but reject His love and offer of salvation then John 3:18 assures us that “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18). In other words, a person is regarded as a living dead if he or she has no salvation in Christ. The death here must be understood as spiritual death because it is not all who have died or slept who are considered to be dead spiritually. Some have been saved before sleeping therefore they are only waiting for the last trumpet to sound so that they will be transfigured into their new nature. It is for this reason Paul says, that those who have been saved shall experience the new nature and the glory of God or salvation when the trumpet sounds, “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Beloved in the Lord, for us to remain prepared for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ while we are still alive or awake, Paul admonishes and encourages us to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) My dear friend, how are we preparing for our transfiguration and salvation? Should the last trumpet sound today what will you be found doing? We are being invited to repent, seek forgiveness and regeneration or new birth through faith in our Lord and Master Jesus Christ before the last trumpet sounds.

In summary, we have meditated on the theme “We shall not all sleep” We have discovered through our reflection that whether we sleep (die) or not, Jesus will surely come, therefore, those of us who are still alive or not sleeping have the opportunity to embrace the grace available to us today, repent, be born again and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour before the last trumpet sounds. Shalom.

PRAYER

1. Do you have unconfessed sins in your life? Are you addicted to sin and find it difficult to let go? Do you want to be one of those who will experience the transfiguration when the last trumpet sounds? There is no better time to surrender your life to Jesus if you have not yet done that. We have been promised that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9-10) The decision is yours today, take that bold step. Decide to follow Jesus and turn back no more! Pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen you as you take this bold decision.

2. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to sustain us and enable us to remain faithful to God so that when the last trumpet sounds we shall also experience the salvation and glory of God God.

3. Let us pray for those who are still beyond the walls of salvation. Let us pray for their transformation even as we reach out to them through the preaching of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, continue to lead us and help us to live according to your perfect examples even as we put our trust in You as the author and finisher of our faith. Amen.