Our Eternal Hope

Where, in the face of death, can hope be found?  Life is precious, and when it ends, it usually brings about great sorrow.  To mourn the loss of a loved one is a difficult thing.  During times like this, it is fitting that family, friends, and community come together to grieve and to offer support to loved ones left behind.

I want to share with you a moment in the life of Jesus as recorded in John 11. Lazarus was a dear friend and faithful follower of Jesus. One day, Jesus received word that Lazarus was very sick and his sisters were asking that the Lord come quickly. However, Jesus tarried for two days before heading that way. The reason for his delayed response can only be speculation. But one might conclude that physical death is simply not the roadblock to God that it is to us. While we see it as an impassible end of which we are powerless, God sees it as something quite different. It does not stymie His will or power. For God, death has no control over life.

By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had passed. His sister Mary was very upset and said “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”. Jesus loved this family and was deeply moved when he saw Mary weeping. There is some sense of comfort from knowing that the author of life is sensitive of our individual sorrows. Mary’s grief troubled him in the spirit.

Jesus responded to Mary’s statement by saying “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”, and then he asks Mary “Do you believe this?”

Friends, I want to share with you that Don believed this. It was important to the family that I express to you today Don’s faith in God. His faith wasn’t just a way of life, but an evidence of a life yielded to the Lordship of Christ. A life filled with faith that Jesus has power and authority over all things, even death!

You should know that after Jesus said these things to Mary, he had them open the tomb and he called Lazarus forth. Moments later, Lazarus came out of the tomb. As a devout Christian, Don knew that death would one day come calling, but that Christ Jesus would call him out of its darkness and into life everlasting. This wasn’t a future hope, but one we can be certain has already taken place.

Don is already enjoying his heavenly reward, and we thank God for that! Yet, Jesus’ question to Mary remains relevant for you and me; do we believe? Don would urge us to ponder this question today. Let’s pray!