It seems like not a day goes by that we don’t hear the news of someone dying. Whether it is a single fatality or multiple, we hear about death every day. Most of the time, we don’t know those who have lost their lives, but other times we hear the sad news about someone we know.

The Bible says that death is an enemy, and one day it will be destroyed. It always saddens me to hear that kind of news, regardless of whether I personally know who has lost life or not. You probably feel the same way.

A few days ago, a life long friend of 40 years passed away. It’s very sad when someone very close to you is gone. You can have no more contact with them, and they have no more options; this life is over for them.

This Life May End, But There Is Another Life To Come

The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, “if in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.” Honestly, if this life was all there was, and nothing else beyond, then what would be the point of anything? If there is no hope of a future life, there’s no real valid reason to live.

It’s not only interesting, but quite remarkable the Bible so often refers to death as “sleep.” Using the word “sleep” not only softens the harshness of the word “death,” but it also communicates the hope that we Christians have of a new life to come.

Immortality!

When we die, we are simply sleeping; we will awake when God’s Son from heaven returns. Until then, as the Bible declares, the dead know nothing. When he does return, then we shall all be made alive again! We shall all be changed, from corruptible to incorruptible, from mortal to immortal!

The great hope Christians have is not a myth, a pipe dream, or some fanatical wish. It is very real. It is a Hope that is very much alive.

Jesus Christ is really going to come back one day, and when he does, all born again ones, those asleep and those alive, will meet him in the air, and so shall we ever be with him for all eternity!

He’s Coming Back

Yes, I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend. Family and friends of Mr. Bishop Cornwell are full of sorrow. But as the Bible says, our sorrow is not like those who sorrow with no hope. We are sad, but we know with absolute certainty what is coming in the future.

You couldn’t be around “Bish” for more than a few minutes without getting a little reminder, in some way or another, of Christ’s Return. And for all those little reminders I heard from him the last 40 years, I’m thankful. After all, it is with the the truth of the return of Christ that God says to comfort one another.

Jesus Christ is really is coming back! And today, we are one day closer to that magnificent day we so anticipate. But, until then, we go on living, gratefully enjoying the life God has given us to live.