A friend of mine recently lost his dad to a heart attack. I wrote a short note of condolence and he responded that his father was wonderfully saved and he described him as “very much looking forward to heaven and a very strong believer”. He went on to say, “I would describe him as welcoming of death”.
“Welcoming of death”, yes I understand that entirely. Anyone who has read the Bible looks forward to spending all of eternity with our Lord and Savior in a place of perfection with no tears, sadness, sickness, death, or other blights of sin. Just sheer joy, peace, and love radiating forever.
Another friend of mine recently lost his dad and sadly he was not a believer. There is no hope for him now and he faces eternal damnation and separation from God for eternity because of his rejection of the sacrifice made for his sins by Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. Mere words cannot describe the pain my friend, who is a born again believer, feels as he mourns. I cannot envision anything sadder than the funeral of a non-believer and knowing that they will never see or experience the love, goodness, and light of God again. I have prayed that the Holy Spirit will comfort my friend as only He can do and I ask you to do so as well.
I will be preaching about hope this Sunday at Honey Lake Church. At one point there was no perceived hope for me and I was about as far from God as north is to south. Had I died at that point in my life I would be in hell right now eternally separated from God forever. But thanks be to God He wonderfully saved me. I want to assure everyone that in Jesus Christ there is always hope and what He did for me He can do for you or someone you know! I think I can safely say that if I could find Jesus Christ, ANYONE can!
Do you know anyone whose funeral you would absolutely hate to attend for fear that they have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior and if they were to die today would spend all of eternity separated from God? Then please bring them to church with you this Sunday to hear this message of hope and perhaps the Holy Spirit of God will touch their hearts in order that they too can put out the welcome mat to whatever may come in this old sinful world, (including death).
1 Cor. 15:54
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
October 21, 2014 – Click here to listen