One Day Nearer: 10 Devotions in Anticipation of Jesus’ Glorious ReturnSample

Day 5: Why Christ Died

First Thessalonians chapter 5 opens with 11 verses about the coming day of the Lord. Paul packs several important truths about the end times in this passage. And as he draws near to his conclusion, he proclaims the comforting message that we are not destined for wrath, but we will be taken up to heaven before the tribulation begins.

Deep within this passage is a short and profound statement that is easy to miss. In our enthusiasm to learn all we can about the rapture, God’s wrath, and the day of the Lord, we’re prone to overlook these seemingly ordinary words that declare one of the most amazing truths in the Bible: “[Christ] died for us so that...we might live with him” (verse 10).

To get the full impact of these words, let’s rephrase them this way: Why did Christ die for us? So we could live with Him.

We are the reason Christ went to the cross. That’s how much He desired our presence with Him in heaven. That’s how precious we are to Him.

Yet another amazing truth conveyed in 1 Thessalonians 5:10 is this: So sufficient is what Christ did on the cross that He has irrevocably secured our place in heaven. Our future destiny is locked in. Nothing can overrule what Christ has done on our behalf.

Notice this incredible statement comes immediately after Paul’s assurance that we are not destined for wrath. That highlights even more the greatness of Christ’s love for us, doesn’t it? It doesn’t make sense that so great a love would ask us to go through tribulation, as some people think.

Paul then closed by saying, “Therefore encourage one another.” The fact Christ died for us so we could be with Him has to be one of the greatest encouragements a believer could have!