When I first started this post I had just gotten home from the memorial service of a beautiful vibrant lady, who loved Jesus and loved serving others. She’d been struggling for over 5 years with various forms of cancer. No treatment seemed to work for more than short periods at a time.
She left such a legacy. As I had sat watching photos of her, and listening to testimonies, I was filled with such joy that finally she’s out of pain, and is face-to-face with Jesus! Yet there are always those left behind that grieve – beloved family, friends and others who may not have known her real well in person, but nevertheless had been touched by her in ways that will always hold a cherished spot in their hearts.
But even before that service, I’d been thinking off and on lately about the future day when those of us who are still living will hear the trumpet blast talked about in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (GNT): “There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven…”
Did you catch that? Our Lord is going to come with a shout – a loud command (NIV) – and a trumpet will be blasting. If you think you might not hear Him and are worried about missing it, think again. If the Creator of the universe says He’s coming loudly, it will be loudly! For me, I can’t wait.
And just what’s that trumpet all about, anyway?
Well our God has certainly used a trumpet to call or forewarn people many times, including the following:
In Exodus 19:10-19, God revealed His presence to His people the Israelites by the sound of a loud trumpet blast. Again, it states it was loud. No excuses by people saying they didn’t hear Him. As a matter of fact in the NIV, v. 16 says it was “very loud,” and v. 19 says the blast got “louder and louder.”
You might also remember that God used trumpet blasts when the walls of Jericho were reduced to a heap of rocks (Joshua 6:2-5). I have no doubt in my mind that the people inside the city of Jericho heard that trumpet sounding!
Years ago, I was involved in a study on the rapture, and during that time I came across a great song by Clay Crosse called “Midnight Cry.” The lyrics state in part:
I hear the sound
Of a mighty rushing wind
And it’s closer now
Than it’s ever been
I can almost hear the trumpet
And Gabriel sounds the chord
At the Midnight Cry
We’ll be going home
Wow!
1 Corinthians 15:50-58, talks about the rapture – and again we’re told a trumpet will sound (v. 52)! All God’s children will be changed as Jesus takes us home to be with Him.
It says in v. 54 that at that time death will be swallowed up in victory.
And v. 58 tells us to keep working for the Lord, as our labor will not be in vain.
Friends, I already mentioned that the sweet sister whose “welcome Home” service I attended last week loved to serve the Lord. She hated it when she went through bouts where the effects of the cancer took away all her energy and she was unable to serve. Yet she prayed – she prayed for those God had placed in her life, and she encouraged people anytime she was able.
And now this sweet friend is with Jesus, and indeed her death has been swallowed up in victory. I can almost hear our Lord saying to her as it states in Matthew 25:23: “Well, done, my faithful servant, well done. Come and share your Master’s happiness!”
May all of us who call ourselves Christians leave such a legacy. I know I want to.
The God Of All Comfort 