Dear family and friends of Dennis, the psalmist writes: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” In the wake of the death of a son, brother, father, grandfather, and friend, it can seem as though there is no hope for a brighter future with your loved one and that all you have left are memories to celebrate. But there is hope and there is One who supplies us with hope: God.
I didn’t know Dennis well, so I won’t even try to tell you the stories which you know better than I ever will. But one thing I do want to mention about Dennis, is that in one of my conversations with him, it became evident to me that he was a skilled hard-working man and loved to have a good time. Based on that I’m sure you’ve been sharing lots of fun memories with each other for the past few weeks especially, and I encourage you to continue doing so in the days and months to come.
But there’s more to this life than working hard and having a good time. In fact, there’s more life to live than what we see around us. We’re promised to have more than memories with our loved ones, but a future with them as well. This is all true because death is not the end. We have a hope for even greater things yet to come.
There is a lie behind death. The idea that once you die it’s all over for you is a trick by satan. The reality is that death is the fruit of sin, and that after death you will either go to heaven or to hell. But after death, there are no second chances, no do-overs, no reset buttons so that you can give it another shot.
In fact, if it were all up to you and your hard work, you wouldn’t have much of a shot. Dennis may have been a hard worker, but he wasn’t a good enough worker to get into heaven. Neither are you nor I good enough for heaven. Rather, because of our sins we only deserve death. But before death, there is hope for us. There is One who redeems our life from the grave and the pit of hell. That One is our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ.
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Upon Jesus was laid all of Dennis’s sins, all of your sins, all the sins of the world, and in Him we are forgiven. Because Christ was crucified, your sins are paid for, your debt of sin is forgiven, and Jesus has earned for you everlasting life. And this Jesus, after He died for you, He didn’t stay dead. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Christ has risen and therefore, those who believe in Christ will rise from the dead and live with Him eternally in heaven!
This promise of everlasting life, a joyful reunion in paradise, a world without sin and death, that is our hope on account of Christ! This is why in the midst of death, with a dearly beloved man in an urn, Christians’ hearts need not be troubled by death. Jesus has gone on to prepare a place for you in heaven, therefore death needn’t trouble your hearts.
Jesus says, “Believe in God, believe in Me.” I urge you to put your hope and trust in Jesus, and believe in Him who gives you life. Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is one hope in this life, and that hope is found in Jesus who loves you to the end.
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