Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost November 7-8, 2026
“Uninformed” I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
I should tell you where I am going today in this message.
½ of this sermon will be about the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). The key word to listen for is “unprepared”.
½ of this sermon is about the return of Christ, our text from Thessalonians. The key word to listen for is “uninformed” or “ignorant”.
And ½ of this sermon is about the hope and expectation we have now and forever. The key word to listen for is “anticipation.”
I have a problem here, or maybe I should say, you have a problem here: ½ + ½+ ½ = 1 ½. Some years ago, we had a member here whose name was Lyle Landhuis who told me I didn’t preach long enough. He came from a denomination where the preacher would speak for at least half-an-hour, and he said when I said my amen I was just warming up. So, Lyle, if you are still watching us online, this sermon is for you!!
The first half. A parable about being unprepared for eternity. 10 virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive for the wedding. But the bridegroom was late. And they had to wait. Our reading from Matthew 25 says, “Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming.” (Matthew 25:2-5)
The bridegroom, Christ, was ready to come and to bring people into His kingdom. He was going to return and start His eternal reign in heaven. But half of those ladies were unprepared. Their oil ran out. And when the oil ran out, they went to buy some more but during that period Christ, the bridegroom arrived.
The picture in that parable is about being ready for the day of judgment, the day of death. But some are unprepared. They are not ready. They have never dealt with matters of their soul. They have not come in repentance to God. They have not considered how to be right with God. They don’t trust or follow Jesus. As we read last week, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Their heart was empty of faith in Jesus. One of the saddest sections in the Bible is found in this parable, “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir! Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ ‘Therefore keep watch, because you don’t know the day or the hour.’” (Matthew 25:10-13)
In the life of every person, including us, God speaks strongly of how much we need Him and His forgiveness. He has made known to us the new life given through faith in Jesus. No one should be unprepared to meet God on the day of judgment. How awful that any one on the day of their death finds the door shut and locked.
The first word, a harsh word, is the word “unprepared.” Our second word, taken from the epistle reading from Thessalonians is “uninformed”. Another translation uses the word “ignorant.” “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep.” (I Thessalonians 4:13 NIV) “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep. (I Thessalonians 4:13 ESV)
What happens to people when they die? I think that the majority of the world does not believe in an afterlife. So many say, “Dead is dead.” No hell. No heaven. Just dead. You get to live for 70, or 80, maybe even 90 years, but after that you are but a memory.
The early Christians didn’t quite know what was to be expected for believers who died prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Would there be life for them? Some people have asked a similar question about others who lived before Christ. Would any of those Old Testament folks be in heaven? They lived before Christ and they didn’t know of His death and resurrection – would they be in heaven?
This is what we read about those who died with faith in God’s promises in the Old Testament before Christ and those who have died in faith since the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (I Thessalonians 4:14-17)
So – according to the Scriptures – dead is not dead. Those who have fallen asleep – a word for those who have died – their bodies will be resurrected. At death, those in Christ, enjoy life in heaven. But for now, just their souls, just their spirits, are in the presence of Christ. No bodies in heaven yet. But when Christ returns bodies are resurrected. First, the ones who are dead. The Old Testament Believers. All those who have died and gone to heaven, in their souls. And if we are alive at the moment of moments, when Christ returns, we’ll follow them. “The dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
In Corinthians we read, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (I Corinthians 15:51-52)
You can’t be uninformed or ignorant about what happens when you die and what will happen to you at the return of Jesus Christ.
Now the final half of the sermon. In the first half the word was “unprepared”. In the second half the word was “ignorant” or “uninformed”. In the third half the word is “anticipation” or “excitement”. Paul ends our reading, “And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (Verses 17-18)
Pastor Harold Senkbeil gives an encouraging picture of death in this illustration, “Every child knows the strangely comforting experience of going somewhere with mom or dad – perhaps to grandma or grandpa’s house – falling into exhausted sleep there on grandma’s couch, and then waking up next morning in his or her own bed, safe and warm. Between the time of falling asleep and waking up, many miles and much time have intervened. The child was carried bodily to a car, transported long distances, dressed in pajamas, and tucked into his or her own bed, oblivious to any pending danger. So also at life’s end, the child of God can safely fall asleep in Jesus, confident of the resurrection to eternal life.” (Concordia Pulpit Resources, November 9, 2008, Page 14)
Some people – I pray not you – are unprepared and ignorant about dying and eternity. There is no reason to be unprepared and ignorant. In the next chapter in Thessalonians Paul writes, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:9-11)
I want you to know what you have next in life. Listen to what God says, the one who has never lied nor can He lie, “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new.’” (Revelation 21:3-5)
Excited? I hope so. God prepared you for Him. You belong to Him forever. I can’t wait to see all God has planned for us. Amen!!
