Christ Our Hope

Over the past week I have thought a lot about those who die as Christians and go on to be with the Lord. A friend of my mother's, who I had known all my life, died just over a week ago. She was a very committed Christian and thus I know she has gone on to be with the Lord. Her youngest daughter had died just a few months ago, so she has also gone on to be with her daughter once again. Because of Christ we can have this assurance of eternal life and hopeof being with Him forever.

This may seem a strange thing to be writing about at this time of festive celebration. But had Christ not come to the earth as a man to deliver us from the penalty of sin, which is death, we would have no hope. It is only because of Christ that we can celebrate in life and in death.

It makes me think of these two scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:16-23 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.