Hope

Have you ever attended a funeral for someone who was not a Christian? Conversely, have you ever attended a funeral for a Christian? If you have much age on you, it is a sure bet that you have likely attended funerals for both Christians and non-Christians alike.The big difference to me is hope. To me the saddest thing in the world is to attend a non-Christian funeral. When I refer to non-Christians, I emphasize that no one but Godknows a person’s heart for sure; however there are those who have openly stated their rejection ofa belief in Jesus and/or in other ways have conveyed to their friends and family that they are a non-Christian.

There is no hope for a non-Christian once they die. A Christian’s funeral is sad in the context of knowing that this person will be missed, but also not overly sad because we know that the battles are over for them and they are nowwith the Lord and will bebasking in His glory forever.When we as Christians subsequently die, we will be reunited once again with them. There is hope! With the non-Christian, the Bible tells us that when they die, they will be sent to Hell, where they will be alone in darkness and torment and that there will be no escape for eternity.There is no hope! We will notbe reunited or ever see them again.That isa tough pill to swallowfor anyone who ever cared for this person. (And for the person who died…)

There is hope with Jesus Christ. Trust in Him and you will be fine. Trust in yourself and ignore Jesus and there can be no hope.
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1 peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has
begotten us again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that does not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of
God through faith for salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time,
In this you greatly rejoice,
though for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by
various trials,
that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious
than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you
love.
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How well do you know the Bible?
One of the disciples only believed that Jesus had been resurrected after he saw Him. Jesus told him that he believed because he had seen Jesus in person. He went on to bless those of us who have not had that opportunity, but believe in spite of not seeing Him with our own eyes. Who was the disciple?
John 20:29
If you miss this one, you need to get busy studying your Bible! This is too easy!



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