A LIVING HOPE
22nd Jun 2016
As I awoke this morning there was a message on my phone to say that a 43 year old cousin had died from cancer leaving a widow and two children aged 12 and 10. This is so sad and my heart feels heavy as I think of the grieving family in USA.
His wife’s message to the family included these words, “At 4pm, he passed into the arms of the LORD.” That heart rending message, however, is full of hope and points to a future for all who know Jesus as he did.
My mind immediately went to 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you.”
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives an amazing account of the power of Christ’s resurrection and the future hope of all believers and includes this statement, “If for this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)
Again in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul says, “We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” He then describes what is going to happen when Jesus comes and concludes with these words, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
In the letter to Titus, there are these words of encouragement, “Let us live upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
When Jesus rose from the dead, death was defeated and eternal life made available to all who believe. Grieving is very painful and I do not minimise the effects of the loss of loved ones, but when I read these scriptures I know the best is yet to come and we will be united with our loved ones in a glorious reunion in the presence of Jesus.
by Charles Sibthorpe
