HOPE
28th Feb 2024
Yesterday we attended the funeral service for a young family member. She had two severe strokes that resulted in her physical death. We gathered to give thanks for a very fruitful life and to support her husband and children, and the wider family members. It was an unexpected and untimely death and there was solemnity and great sadness, but the outstanding emotion of the occasion was Hope.
There was the certainty of resurrection, and the assurance that she is with Jesus. For those of us who believe what Jesus taught know that death was defeated when He rose from death, and that believers are given the gift of everlasting life and will live eternally.
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “We do not grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. 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.”
Of course there is sadness, many questions, loss, far reaching decisions effecting each family member; but the overwhelming certainty for me was the presence of hope, the knowledge that Jesus is alive and will be everything each individual needs as they process the passing of their loved one, and adjust to the reality of life without her.
Death is not a subject we talk about in this generation, but the glorious reality is that Jesus died so that you and I will never have to face the bleakness of death, but will know His abiding presence, for now and eternity, so we can rejoice, even as we grieve.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God.”
There is a great song on YouTube - Comforter by Ce Ce Winans - look it up and listen; it will bless, comfort and encourage you.
by Joyce Sibthorpe