Tag: Hope

Grief’s Hope

Posted on by scott

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Uninformed

Yesterday, we laid to rest the remains of little Isaiah. Our grandson who was stillborn on April 3rd. Precious little Isaiah is now buried at the foot of our daughter Brooke’s grave. If he takes after his father he will need to have his aunt looking over him!

As I try to process the events of the past week, the passage quoted above from 1 Thessalonians keeps coming to mind. It appears that the Believers in the early church were uninformed/misinformed about the truth regarding their loved ones who had died in the faith. If they were not alive when Christ returned, would they be left behind? Would they be at some sort of a disadvantage to those who were living when Christ returned for His Bride? Or perhaps, they were concerned that those who are asleep would miss out on seeing Christ in His glory when He returns.

Whatever their specific concern was, Paul would set them straight. If we pay close attention to Paul’s words, we see a good reminder for all of us. The best way to cure our sorrow is to remove our ignorance.

Brothers, those I love in the faith, we were never promised protection from physical death. In fact, we can expect it. And death brings with it grief. Deep grief. BUT, our grief is coupled with hope. That grave is just a temporary resting place for our loved ones to “sleep” until Christ comes back for them.

Facing East

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. – Matthew 24:27

The graves of Brooke and Isaiah, like most in the United States are facing the east. Because of our Christian heritage, most cemeteries traditionally were laid out so that the deceased would be buried facing the east in anticipation of the return of Christ. When Christ comes in His glory for all the world to see, we don’t want our deceased to miss out on it!

It appears, at least from our burial tradition, that Paul’s teaching did not go unheeded. Who would think that something as simple as the direction we face our gravesites would remind us of our great hope? Jesus lived a perfect life. He died a brutal death. Then He conquered death and rose from the grave, and ascended back to Heaven. But He is coming back!!

When lightning strikes we are awed by the flash of light it creates, but it can’t compare to the glory of Christ. When He returns in His unveiled glory, we will not only be overwhelmed by His radiance, but we will join Him in it! If you are a child of God, it doesn’t matter if you are still alive at His coming or have fallen asleep, we will be caught up with Him and will always be with Him!!

Glory

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” – Exodus 33:15

It was time for Moses and the children of Israel to leave Sinai, but Moses was weary. Accordingly, he pleads with God. “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me” (Ex 33:12). And God comforts Moses with the fact that it is His presence that will go with him and give him rest. Moses, as daunting as the task may appear, you are not alone.

But Moses wanted more than God’s promise of His presence. He wanted God to reveal Himself in all of His majesty. Moses wanted to behold God in the “manifest beauty of His holiness”. Moses wanted God to reveal to him all of His “manifold perfections”. “Please show me your glory”.

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” – Exodus 33:19-20

Moses, for the time being you will have to be content with my presence. You cannot handle my unveiled glory. I am too holy for your eyes to behold.

Dim Sight

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. – 1 Corinthians 13:12

Historically, Corinth was the producer of some of the finest bronze mirrors in antiquity. But no matter how good the quality of a mirror may be, there is a big difference between seeing an object indirectly versus seeing it directly. Especially if that object is the face of Christ.

As Christians, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Similar to Moses, we know what it means to have the presence and the peace of God with us. In the Bible, we have the inspired Word of God. Or as Paul writes in fourth verse of Second Corinthians chapter four, “the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”. 

With the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we can see the glory of Christ, who is the exact representation of God, revealed in various ways in Scriptures. As Charles Spurgeon once preached, we can see the glory of Christ in His love, incarnation, perfect life, atoning sacrifice, resurrection and enthronement. And eventually, His second coming. Which is where we began with Paul.

With the Lord

The grief we have experienced since we received word of Isaiah’s passing has been intense. In all honesty, I must confess it is the most intense grief I have ever experienced. But I have reflected upon the Truth of God’s Word to “cure” my sorrow. As I have contemplated passages such as First Thessalonians Chapter four, First Corinthians Chapter fifteen, Chapters eleven and fourteen of the Gospel of John as well as the Twenty-Third Psalm, my grief has succumbed to hope.

Although Brooke and Isaiah have been laid to rest facing the east, they are not anticipating the return of Christ. Far from it. We have merely laid to rest their earthly tents for a season. The truth is, their souls are already basking in the glory of Christ. Instead of beholding Him as in a mirror, they are seeing Him face to face. They are beholding Him in all of His holiness and perfect majesty. What Moses and every saint in Church history has longed for, Brooke and Isaiah are experiencing. And will be for all of eternity.

John Chapter seventeen records the prayer of Jesus in which He says that His followers will share in His glory (v. 22). What must that look like unaffected by the sin of this world? Some day we will know when we set down the mirror and see Him face to face like Brooke and Isaiah.

Until then, keep the faith, and keep the hope. When grief makes your heart heavy, lift your eyes and look to the east. Some day we are going to “meet the Lord” and “will always be with Him”. Thank God our grief is accompanied with hope. A living Hope.

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, 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. – 1 Peter 1:3,8

The Hope of Glory

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27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Colossians 1:27

Chosen

As we read through the Bible beginning in Genesis, we see the special relationship between God and His chosen people Israel.  They are the apple of His eye.  God’s choice, however, wasn’t based on any merit.  He tells us in Deuteronomy chapter seven He did not choose Israel because they were the largest nation (most numerous), on the contrary, they were the least.  They did not catch God’s eye because of their good looks.  They did not garner his attention because of their superior wisdom.  Not at all.  They are unique because God chose them.  Plain and simple.

After the fall, God promised a redeemer.  The Messiah had to come from some people.  God chose Israel for that special lineage.  God entered into a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Despite their weaknesses, God never waivered from His Word.  He gave them the sign of circumcision.  He delivered Israel from Egypt.  He gave them the Ten Commandments.  He raised up prophets among them.  He gave them Priests.  When they asked for it, He gave them a King.  He gave them the special privilege of being His representatives on earth.  They were to be His “missionaries”, pointing the other nations to Himself and His promised Messiah.  If you were a Gentile, you would have felt like you were on the outside looking in.  But with God, there is always more than meets the eye.

Sent

Christ, the promised Messiah, would come, and meet with a Samaritan woman at a well, revealing Himself as the Messiah and turn her into a missionary.  Philip would proclaim the Gospel in Samaria and then be used to convert an Ethiopian Eunuch.  Saul, an enemy of the Church, would be saved and made a missionary to the Gentiles.  Peter would receive a vision and then be sent to the home of Cornelius and as he presented the gospel to a house full of Gentiles, the Holy Spirit descended on them.  Confusion would ensue and a Council would be held, and the Church would “welcome” the Gentiles into the “family”.  God’s mystery was revealed.  While the Jews may be unique in their relationship with God, they were not exclusive.  God’s salvation is offered to both Jews and Gentiles.  A truth that thrilled the heart of Paul.

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:12-14

Spirit

Paul encourages the Gentile believers that they have been transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.  At salvation, we are transferred to the kingdom of Christ, and Christ the King takes up residence in us.  Paul expounds on the fact that Christ is no less than God Himself.  He is our Creator and Sustainer.  He is our Prophet, Priest, and King.  He is our hope.  He has made a covenant with us that He can not break.  It is impossible for Him to go back on His word.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:16-17

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:30

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:3-5

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:13-14

Hope

Christ in us, the hope of glory.  Our hope is not wishful thinking.  This isn’t like hoping it is going to rain tomorrow or that the Lions might win a Super Bowl someday.  Look at what John, Paul, and Peter wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Christ will ask the Father and He will give us another Helper to be with us forever.  The Father will not deny the request of the Son.  Further, Paul writes that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.  Peter goes on to tell us that we are being guarded by God’s power.  To this, Paul adds that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance.  God doesn’t go back on His word.  He is a covenant-keeping God.  Our Hope of glory isn’t fantasy, it is a certainty.  It could be no more certain if we were already in heaven.  God has guaranteed it.

Hard to imagine, isn’t it?  We who were apparently on the outside looking in were always a part of God’s plan.  Like the Jews, we are not a part of God’s family because of any merit.  Our hope is not in our talents, wisdom, or good works.  Rather, our only hope is in the mercy of God.  In His infinite wisdom, He chose to stoop down and save us and secure our salvation by indwelling us with His Spirit; Christ in us!!  Our hope isn’t future, it is present.  Heaven is ours today because Christ is living in us.  No wonder Paul can write about the riches of the glory of this mystery.  Think of it, we have been delivered from the domain of darkness and now share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  All because of the love of the Father and the blood of the Son.  With the Spirit of Christ in us, we know with certainty that we will be resurrected and see Christ face to face.  Until we see our heavenly inheritance, we will continue to be conformed to the image of Christ who lives in us.

On the outside looking in?  Not at all.  Christ is on the inside looking out for our glory.  What greater hope could we possibly have?

Christ in us, the hope of Glory.

20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. – John 14:20

A Living Hope

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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – 1 Peter 1:3

2017

2017 has been a difficult year.  To say the least.  For our church family, the year began with a funeral of a young man in his twenties.  Despite multiple autopsies, the cause of death remains a mystery.  He went to work one morning a healthy man with his “whole” life ahead of him.  But he never came home.  He leaves behind a young bride; widowed in the prime of her life.  All who knew him were shocked.  How could this happen?

This unexplainable death was just the first in a string of trials as we turned our calendars to 2017.  Our church has buried other saints since.  People we have had precious fellowship with.  Friends we have worshiped with for years, even decades.  Brothers and sisters in the faith who have exhorted us, and rebuked us when necessary.  Real friends.  Those who are willing to share your sorrows and your joys.  We miss their smiles.  We miss their faithfulness.  We miss their prayers.  How will the church stand when such pillars are removed?

Night

For our immediate family, the year has been dominated by my mothers declining health.  Diagnosed with stage four cancer early in the year, her health issues have kept us busy and under stress.  While we would like to lead our “normal” lives, it is awful hard to ignore the elephant in the room.  It casts a shadow over everything else in our lives.  Welcome to “night”.

My intention is not to depress you.  I share this not because I think these issues are monopolized by me, my family or my church, but because I know everyone experiences such things at some time in their life.  When they occur, I know how easy it is to become discouraged.  I know how quickly we can lose our focus.  And so did Peter.  He wrote his epistles to encourage us in our trials and help us maintain a proper perspective.

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life. – Psalm 42:8

Misery & Hope

It is said that misery loves company.  But what is the benefit of shared misery?  As Christians, let’s make ourselves miserable company to a pity party.  Why?  We are not defined by our misery, but our hope.  While “night” experiences are common to all, let’s show the world how to sing in the night.  Ours is the privilege of pointing others to the One who gives us a song.  A song we can sing in the greatest darkness because our hearts are filled with the Light of the World.  Our hope is in One who rose from the dead.  Our hope is alive!  Pity?  As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians chapter fifteen, that would be our lot if our hope were only in this life.  But Peter reminds us of the truth that Paul so eloquently defends.  The resurrection is a historical fact.  Jesus is alive.  And because He is, so is our hope.  No need to pity Christians.

26 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” – Mark 12:26-27

Resurrection

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.  In their ignorance, they questioned Jesus about the subject with a riddle packaged as a hypothetical question.  You can almost sense the smugness in the question.  If seven men had the same wife on earth, which of the seven would claim her as his wife in heaven?  Their affluence and education was no match for God.  In order for a syllogism to be valid, your assertions have to be true.

Unfortunately for the Sadducees, their’s were not.  After addressing their misunderstanding about the marriage institution, Jesus used Exodus chapter three (Sadducees only recognized the Pentateuch as authoritative) to challenge their error regarding the resurrection.  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  Poor Sadducees.  Denying the resurrection would have limited their understanding of God’s mercy.

Firstfruits

As we know, the resurrection is not exclusive to Jesus.  Rather, He has been raised as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  Our God is no tombstone.  He is no graveyard sentinel.  No!!  He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  Men who are not dead; but alive because of the resurrection of Christ.  Jesus has blazed the trail.  A trail not just for the Patriarchs but rather for all of Abraham’s spiritual children (Galatians 3:7).  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is your God.  If you have placed your faith in Christ, you have a living hope.  A hope we receive because of the mercy of God.  A hope we have experienced.  A hope we see lived out.

When we go to church, we are reminded of our losses by the empty seats.  We are reminded of the reality of separation when we see the widows and widowers and others left behind.   But these reminders are put into perspective when we witness and experience living hope.  As we gather for corporate worship, what a blessing it is to see the spouses, parents, siblings, and children of the deceased lifting their voices in song.  They can lift their eyes towards heaven and raise their hands in praise because their loved ones are still alive.  Just like their hope.  As Peter reminds us; such is our experience when we are born again.

Living Hope

Take a moment to dwell on this.  Biblical truths are not just facts written on parchment with ink.  They are not just bits of information we accumulate to make us more intelligent.  The Bible is not just another book.  God’s Word is alive and active.  The Holy Spirit not only lives within us but He enables us to appropriate Truth; to live out the inspired Word.  In other words, we don’t and can’t manufacture hope.  Rather, it is a part of our Christian DNA.  It flows through our veins.  It is the air that fills our lungs.  It is a hope no trial can take from us.

The Sadducees can have their tombstones; their lives with no ultimate hope.  Their theology had no room for the resurrection.  It had no room for angels.  It had no room for a Messiah.  Accordingly, they had no living hope.  We will leave the pity parties for them and their spiritual descendants.  We will continue to look to our God who gives us songs in the night (Job 35:10).

This has been a difficult year, but our trials will not have the last word.  Death is difficult, but I have seen its sting succumb to worship.  I have seen its pain transformed to praise.  Rather than defeating, death has been swallowed up in victory.  When we turn our calendars over to a new year, we never know what difficulties await.  There may be an empty chair at your table this year.  There may be the unexpected diagnosis.  There may be a job loss.  But keep your eyes focused on heaven.  There is always Hope.  And He is alive.  Forever.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Our living hope.