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Much of the book of I Thessalonians is concerned with giving instructions. The Christian believers in the city of Thessalonica faced persecution from the outset. In spite of this, the Thessalonian church appeared to be a faithful community of believers.

The apostle Paul, author of I and II Thessalonians, often praises them for

Yet he also wants to make sure that they are thoroughly instructed in the issues of the faith, because he knows they will come under great pressure from the surrounding society – just as we are.

Keep away from promiscuity, he says to them,

Holy Paul – that’s good advice for us.

The first half of I Thessalonians, chapter 4, teaches the believers in Thessalonica how to LIVE as Christians.

The second half of this chapter teaches them how to DIE in the same manner. And here is where St. Paul's attitude is so much healthier than our own.

We all crave instructions on how to live better, but rarely do we give much thought to the question of how to die better. In fact, we would rather avoid the subject altogether.

Paul says – Don’t grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

He says we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will raise us up with Jesus -- those who have fallen asleep in him . . .".

Dying is an important part of living, so let's spend a few moments thinking about this unique event in human experience. Where do we begin?

PEOPLE AROUND US DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH DEATH--EXCEPT IN JEST. If you are going to talk about death in polite society, you better do it with humor.

Most people will think you are being morbid if you even mention the obvious--that sooner or later all of us must die. We can laugh about the Grim Reaper.

Before British actor Robert Morley died, he asked that his credit cards be buried with him.

Isn’t that a new way to try to take it with you. I wonder if they take Visa in Heaven? After Morley's funeral, the London Times was bombarded with letters from readers pondering their own needs after death.

Another man wrote "In the unfortunate event of a miscarriage of justice and [I spend] several thousand years in hell . . . and while hoping that my sentence will be quashed, I will take a fire extinguisher with me to the grave."

The old saying goes - “If in heaven we don’t meet – I hope we both enjoy the heat.”

If you are going to mention death in front of most secular people today, you better do so in a joke. Secular people don't like to think about death.

I have several humorous stories about dying and reporting to the pearly gates: About a Baptist minister who was killed praising the Lord, the Priest who drowned in a flood -- even though God sent a row boat, motor boat and helicopter, the cab driver from New York City.

And yet, dying is part of living and we need to face up to it and prepare for it. But there is a second thing we need to see.

THERE IS A HEALTHY AND AN UNHEALTHY WAY TO GRIEVE WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE.

When someone you love dies, it hurts. Sometimes the hurt is overwhelming. We call the process of dealing with that hurt, grief.

People handle grief in different ways. Some people try to deny their grief. They keep a stiff upper lip. They cram their emotions deep down inside and maintain a cheery countenance to their family and friends.

Aren’t they the ones who suffer most. For grief that is not expressed in one way will be expressed in another. And if they hold it in it is far more destructive.

Other people become fixated on their grief. They refuse to be consoled. They refuse to move on with their life--as if life has lost all meaning.

According to a study done by the National Institute of Medicine a few years ago, "Many persons who have a death in the family suffer such intense grief that they jeopardize their own physical and mental health."

Severe, continual grief can create enough physical stress, according to this study, to cause heart attacks or cancer.

ST. PAUL DOES NOT TELL US NOT TO GRIEVE. WHAT HE SAYS IS, DO NOT GRIEVE AS THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE.

Grief is a natural part of losing a loved one to death.

A healthy person must grieve.

The question is, what is different about how a Christian grieves?

FIRST, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HURT THROUGH BOTH TEARS AND TALK. Talk to those closest to us honestly and openly about the pain we are feeling, including our anger and our disappointment.

AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT BOTH LIFE AND DEATH ARE TEMPORARY – one follows the other.

Walter L. Wilson, M.D., was talking with a man who was an atheist. This non-believing man said he believed death ends all. Dr. Wilson agreed with him.

To the surprised atheist, Wilson said:

"Death ends all my wanderings, all my tears, all my perplexities, all my disappointments, all my aches and pains; death ends it all, and I go to be with my Lord in glory."

When a Christian grieves, he or she grieves with hope, in the knowledge that their loved one has met the Lord face to face.

Believers find their completeness in death, because it leads to the life that is truly life abundant.

Can we face death with rejoicing and thanksgiving?

I'm not suggesting that we deny ourselves the chance to grieve. We must grieve--but we grieve in hope.

Jesus came to save us from death, and he gave his life as a sacrifice so that we could live forever in communion with him.

Friends how do we face grief? Openly and honestly, but always in the knowledge that Christ has triumphed over the grave.

And how do we help others who are going through the grieving process. The apostle Paul says near the end of this passage,

"Therefore, encourage each other with these words." -- that Jesus died and rose again, and we grieve with Hope.

The take-home message for today is:

Encourage each other by talking about death? Yes! That's exactly what he means.

Talk about it.

Vent your emotions.

Express your fears.

Ponder the mysteries.

But emphasize the hope!

This is the reality of death for followers of Jesus Christ:

Death hurts.

It hurts bad,

But it is not the end.

We will be raised up to eternal life, and we will be with the Lord forever!