A Thought For The Week Of July 8

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NRSV) Is there anything that causes us more despair than death? I doubt it. And that means that there's a lot of despair in the world. I live in a relatively small city of under 20,000 people. From what I can see there have been 17 funerals organized by the two funeral homes in our town in the last month - and who knows how many by funeral homes located outside town? People are grieving. Which is appropriate, of course. Death separates us from someone we love. And it isn't just people. We grieve all the things that death takes from us. I spoke to neighbours yesterday. They had just had their 8 year old dog euthanized because of bone marrow cancer that was causing her great pain. They were grieving the loss. Death can easily cause us to lose hope. But isn't this the purpose of the gospel? People try to turn the gospel into a rule book, or into little more than an empty feel-good message, or they deny its power altogether. But the gospel is hope to those who believe. Not empty hope, and not wishful thinking. It is hope - as I say at funerals - "the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." This is why Paul used the words he used in 1 Thessalonians. He didn't tell Christians not to grieve. I know Christians who think it's wrong to grieve, because they think we should rejoice that death has taken our loved ones to a better place. But that's not what Paul said. He said not to grieve "as others do who have no hope." In other words, grieve by all means, but do not let grief overwhelm you; do not give grief the last word. Many people are grieving - because of death or other significant loss or change in their lives. And that's all right and natural. But let the hope of the gospel see you through the time of grief into a time of increased faith as you discover that, indeed, the light of God continues to shine even in the greatest darkness. Have a great week!