Not Without Hope

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Rob's dad died yesterday afternoon.

There is great sorrow in our house this morning.  He was dearly and deeply loved.   His loss is going to be felt for a very long time.  He had his priorities straight.  He loved the Lord.  Loved his wife. Loved his children.  He faithfully served the church, worked hard all his life to provide for his family and was generous to all who knew him.  Rob counted his dad as one of his best friends. 

We grieve.  Yes.  It is hard to say goodbye.  We were not ready to see him go.  There is great sorrow in our house this morning.  But we are not without hope.  We are not without hope.

"I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."