LEARNING DAILY

 

Philippians 1:20-24, For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be better for me, but it is better for you that I live. (New Living Translation)

 

I went to my third funeral Monday in the last month and a half, my second in the last four days. I heard three different messages about the hope people have about eternity. I watched as people gave honor to each individual for lives well lived and listened to words spoken that offered fond memories. I have had time to think about various verses in the Bible that offer comfort, hope, and eternal life.

 

For two of the individuals, death came unexpectedly, suddenly, certainly a shock to all of us. It is a reminder that not one of us is promised tomorrow. I have said that phrase often and what I mean is not one of us is promised to be alive on this earth tomorrow – conducting business as usual. All of us must consider that death is not the end; there is an eternity. The Word of God is clear about hell, a place of eternal separation from God, and clear about heaven, a place where the God of all creation lives. The place all of us choose is decided by each of us while we are alive on earth. The choice is made by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord or rejecting Him. The Word of God tells us He is the only Way, the Truth and the Life, the only way to eternity in heaven. Dr. Ed Newton continually tells us that heaven is not filled with good people; it is filled with saved people. Those who have chosen life through Jesus Christ “stay ready so they do not have to get ready” (Dr. Newton).

 

Believers in Jesus Christ will take their last breath here on earth and take their next breath in heaven. That is the hope we have, the faith we have because of our salvation in Jesus. Yet, as humans we mourn for loved ones that die before us. At the funeral, we can celebrate a loved one who goes before us and at the same time mourn because we will miss them. Saying goodbye is certainly painful and difficult. The comfort I find is knowing that the one we are saying goodbye to has a relationship with Jesus Christ and there will be a day when we will be reunited in God’s kingdom for eternity.

 

Once again, I got away from the verses I used at the beginning of this page of the blog. I would like to examine what the apostle Paul was saying in these verses tomorrow.