Grief with Hope
Last week, some of my good friends lost their eight-year-old grandson. He drowned in the family pool. My heart aches for their excruciating loss. I cannot comprehend the pain they are walking with. And yet as I interact with them, I can hear their Christian hope as they face this tragedy. As I studied for my sermon this week I was struck by the following Scripture.
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” When a person with a consistent secular worldview loses someone, they believe that they are gone, never to be seen or enjoyed again. This hopeless worldview offers nothing during times of grief. In contrast, Christianity offers hope in the face of death. Hope simply means confident expectation.
As a minister for over three decades, I have watched the stark contrast between these views. When Christians face tragic loss, we grieve with hope. Two reasons we have hope are mentioned in this text. One, “we believe that Jesus died and rose again.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). No one else in the history of the world, except Jesus, has predicted his own death, died and days later walked out of his own grave.
Since he publicly demonstrated that he has defeated death, we can believe what he says about the next life. We can have confidence when he says “I go to prepare a place for you. . .” that he will do it (John 14:2). We can believe with certainty that we will see our Christian loved one again. That we will live in a place where “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Our existence in this world can be heavy and often heartbreaking. I am delighted that as a Christian I have hope in a new heaven and a new earth. Peter tells us, “we are to look forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13).
The second reason we have hope is in the first passage I quoted, “we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1Thessalonians 4:14). Followers of Jesus who have died will return in victory with him. In a world where it often feels like evil is winning, we know that Jesus will return and make everything right. No matter where your politics lie, political leaders disappoint. We believe Jesus will rule in the perfect combination of wisdom and compassion. The eternal reign of Christ will be perfect. In addition, we will be perfected and glorified. Imagine your loved one with all flaws removed. Imagine yourself as God dreamed you could be. You are still you, but better. I am still me but with all the rough edges sanded off (Philippians 1:6).
Our lives are often marked by grief and loss but through Christ we can live with hope. Through Christ we have confidence that we will see our deceased loved one again. Through Christ we have a confident expectation that the hereafter will far surpass the here and now. This broken existence will be transformed into a life of wholeness and beauty in the presence of Jesus.
Grief is still hard, but hope helps!
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” When a person with a consistent secular worldview loses someone, they believe that they are gone, never to be seen or enjoyed again. This hopeless worldview offers nothing during times of grief. In contrast, Christianity offers hope in the face of death. Hope simply means confident expectation.
As a minister for over three decades, I have watched the stark contrast between these views. When Christians face tragic loss, we grieve with hope. Two reasons we have hope are mentioned in this text. One, “we believe that Jesus died and rose again.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). No one else in the history of the world, except Jesus, has predicted his own death, died and days later walked out of his own grave.
Since he publicly demonstrated that he has defeated death, we can believe what he says about the next life. We can have confidence when he says “I go to prepare a place for you. . .” that he will do it (John 14:2). We can believe with certainty that we will see our Christian loved one again. That we will live in a place where “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Our existence in this world can be heavy and often heartbreaking. I am delighted that as a Christian I have hope in a new heaven and a new earth. Peter tells us, “we are to look forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13).
The second reason we have hope is in the first passage I quoted, “we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1Thessalonians 4:14). Followers of Jesus who have died will return in victory with him. In a world where it often feels like evil is winning, we know that Jesus will return and make everything right. No matter where your politics lie, political leaders disappoint. We believe Jesus will rule in the perfect combination of wisdom and compassion. The eternal reign of Christ will be perfect. In addition, we will be perfected and glorified. Imagine your loved one with all flaws removed. Imagine yourself as God dreamed you could be. You are still you, but better. I am still me but with all the rough edges sanded off (Philippians 1:6).
Our lives are often marked by grief and loss but through Christ we can live with hope. Through Christ we have confidence that we will see our deceased loved one again. Through Christ we have a confident expectation that the hereafter will far surpass the here and now. This broken existence will be transformed into a life of wholeness and beauty in the presence of Jesus.
Grief is still hard, but hope helps!
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church
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