"We Believe" (Dulaney)

Introduction

Gary Lee Dulaney was a very sweet man who was loved by his wife Yun-cha and the rest of his family and he was a man who loved his wife and family right back.

It was always an encouragement to me the few times I was able to visit with him. He professed his faith in Christ and he obviously enjoyed personal interaction.

He was not only friendly but I quickly learned he enjoyed joking around and laughing at the things he found funny.

I know he will be missed and even now you probably are wondering how can life ever be the same without him?

It won’t. As Christians we know this. We don’t look to this world for our hope anyway.

We look to another world in another place where we will be with the Lord. This is why Paul says in verse 13 that we do not grieve like those who have no hope.

We grieve but not without hope contextualizing that grief. The hope that we have is really and anchor for us, even though we grieve.

A. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 which Bill read for us tells us where our hope is to be anchored.

We live in this world but our hope is not to be ultimately anchored here it is to be anchored in eternal things.

That is the place where we find comfort but all of that hope is wrapped up in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

There are two words in verse 14 that stand out emphatically to me. They are simply the words, “we believe”.

Those two words are not just referring to faith in general but they are connected to wonderful truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ that give us reason for the hope that we have.

First we see that the belief that Paul is speaking of is in the truth of Jesus’ death and His resurrection.

Second that Christ will return and bring with him those who are his.

Third that we who are alive at that time will be caught up to meet them in the clouds.

Fourth we will be with the Lord for ever.

B. It is from those four propositions of truth that Paul derives the principle from in verse 18: Therefore encourage one another with these words

We don’t find our ultimate hope in this world. The only hope the world can offer us is temporal at best.

The Christian looks to eternity and our hearts long for it so we can be rid of all the turmoil of this world including death itself.

I think that Gary Dulaney knew there was something better even in spite of the blessings that God have given him in this world. But I think he knew that God had something better for him.

And I think He knew that God would deliver him into his rest in His time and the lord did just that.

C. May we be encouraged today in the wonderful truth of the gospel and as we grieve may our hope be forever anchored in Christ. Let’s Pray!