Because of the Resurrection I Will See My Family Again

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This sermon series includes the following messages:

Yes! In the Old Testament, when a person died, the biblical writers said he was "gathered to his people" (cf. Gen. 25:eight; 35:29; 49:29; Num. 20:24; Judg. ii:ten). In ii Samuel 12, when David's infant child died, David confidently said, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (v. 23). David obviously expected to see the child again--not just a nameless, faceless soul without an identity, only that very child.

The New Attestation indicates even more conspicuously that our identities will remain unchanged. While sharing the Passover repast with His disciples, Christ said, "Accept this [cup] and divide information technology among yourselves; for I say to yous, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:17-18). Christ was promising that He and His disciples would drink the fruit of the vine together once more--in heaven. Elsewhere Jesus makes a similar, simply even more definite, promise: "Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 8:11).

Furthermore, Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Fifty-fifty though it had been centuries since Moses died and Elijah was taken to heaven, they even so maintained a articulate identity (Matt. 17:3)--Peter, James, and John evidently recognized them (v. 4), which implies that we will somehow be able to recognize people nosotros've never even seen before.

All the redeemed will maintain their identity forever, merely in a perfected form. We will be able to have fellowship with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Moses, Joshua, Esther, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, David, Peter, Barnabas, Paul, or whatever of the saints we choose. For that to be possible, we must all retain our private identities, not turn into some sort of generic beings.

Describing the Lord's appearing and the resurrection of the saints who take died, Paul writes, "And so we who are live and remain shall be caught upwards together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus nosotros shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. iv:17).

Paul's purpose in writing was to comfort some of the Thessalonians who evidently thought their dying loved ones would miss the return of Christ. He says in verse 18, "Condolement one some other with these words." The comfort comes from the prospect of reunion. Little comfort this would exist if in the reunion we could non even recognize one another. But Paul's hope that nosotros volition all be "together" forever implies that nosotros shall renew fellowship with all whom we take known.

We volition be reunited non merely with our ain families and loved ones, simply also with the people of God from all ages. In heaven we will all be one loving family. The immense size of the family volition not affair in the infinite perfection of heaven. There will be aplenty opportunity for close relationships with everyone, and our eternity will be spent in just that kind of rich, unending fellowship.

If you're worried nigh feeling out of identify in sky, don't. Sky will seem more than like home than the honey spot on globe to you. It is uniquely designed past a tender, loving Savior to be the place where we volition live together for all eternity and enjoy Him forever--in the fullness of our glorified humanity.

Is it any wonder that the psalmist said, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Ps. 116:15)?

Adapted from John MacArthur, The Glory of Heaven (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1996), 138-41.

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Source: https://www.gty.org/library/questions/QA100/will-we-recognize-and-be-reunited-with-our-loved-ones-in-heaven

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