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. – 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.
God didn’t save us to condemn us (John 3:17). No, he saved us so we could come home to him and enjoy his gracious presence for all eternity. God wants us in his presence; that’s what salvation is all about. He is not about to let anything keep us from that presence when our hearts belong to him. We are all headed home to our Father so that “we may live together with him” — whether we are awake (by that he means alive) or whether we have fallen asleep in Jesus (by that he means dead in Christ) — we’re going to live together with him, forever!