A Message Of Hope In The Face Of Death

"Today's Devotion" For August 24, 2005

Read: I Corinthians 15; Job 19:25-27

A MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE FACE OF DEATH

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you..." (I Pet.1:3-4)

Yesterday we turned our thoughts to the violence that is gripping cities around America. It's an incredibly challenging issue for every citizen, but more especially for God's people, who are called to bring the light of Christ's love into a world mired in the darkness of Sin and the despair it brings. Not to be ignored is the continuing news of deaths by violence occurring on a daily basis in war torn areas of the world fueled by terrorists in most cases who are, by all standards of the rules of warfare (yes, warfare has rules - it's an oxymoron; a discussion for another time), criminals themselves. The lives lost to terrorism include our own citizens in uniform, as well as civilians at home in their own communities, hoping to have peace, security, safety, and freedom take place for themselves and their children.

With all the violence and death that confront people everyday, it can be very difficult for hope and peace to be a part of daily living. A mother wails as she holds the body of her dead child, just seven years old, felled by a stray bullet from a drug deal gone sour. A police officer sits behind a desk, second-guessing himself after trying to stop an angry, violent teenager, and ends up killing the lad while he tried to disarm the officer. A family grieves as their newly graduated high school senior is laid to rest, just weeks before becoming the first person in the family to have the opportunity to attend college, the victim of a drive-by shooting as the result of an argument. In other parts of the world, roadside bombs, mortars, suicide bombers, kidnappers, and beheaders take thousands of lives.

By the grace of God, however, there is hope and peace in the face of these obvious examples of the power of Sin, Death, and Satan in the world. There are Christian brothers and sisters who are going home to heaven with hope in their hearts and a song on their lips. Despite the violent nature of their deaths, they die with a confident faith and trust that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior Who has freed them from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan. Their faith and hope stands in sharp contrast to those who die in despair and hopelessness, alone and afraid with no hope for eternity because they don't know Jesus' as their Savior and Lord. Their end is eternity without Christ, forever lost to the presence of God. It's a dreadful end; a more horrible eternity. As God's people in Christ each of us is called to share our own hope and peace in Jesus with others so they don't end up in eternal despair.

By faith in Jesus, we have confidence that death can no longer separate us from God. We know, with an incredible certainty, that Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection make it possible for us to be at peace with the Father, live in His forgiveness, and live a life secure in Him, regardless of the violence and suffering that touches our world each and every day. God's Spirit daily reminds us of the wonders of the resurrection, as we note in today's words of St. Paul and Job's confession. God's Word gives us the courage to forget our fears, face suffering, become "other-centered," and concentrate on sharing God's love and peace in Jesus with others. Christ's resurrection is the assurance that God's promises are true and certain. As the hope of the world, even the most heinous crimes one man can perpetrate upon another cannot separate us from His love. What a powerful hope Jesus is for all who face death and violence! What joy and peace God gives as He reminds the world that, while "the sting of death is sin" (I Cor. 15:56) and "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), Christ has been victorious over both Sin and Death so that in Him there is hope and life. This is the hope we, as God's children in Christ, live in each day. What do you say? Let's share it with others, too!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as the world faces the violence that Sin brings into the lives of people everywhere, help me, and all Your children, to take comfort in the peace and hope You give in Christ Jesus. More than this, Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me and all Your people in abundant measure that we might fearlessly and constantly share the Good News that You have saved the world from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan in Christ Jesus. Let my words and actions daily be a witness to Your love and grace, Your mercy and peace, and the hope You give to the world in Him. In the face of the continuing violence that brother inflicts on brother all over the world, help me to be an instrument of Your peace and a messenger of hope at all times. Bring peace and hope to all who are hurting and in despair. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.