Is There Hope In Death?

Introduction:

- Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

I. King David’s view of death

- II Samuel 12:18-23

- David’s men saw the distress in him

- They were afraid to approach him with the news of the death of his son

- Once David new his son had passed his focus changed from the moment to the future

II. The Apostle Paul’s View of Death

- That foundation is this

- II timothy 4:6-8

A) We are to be ready (v.6)

- John 3:3 Unless a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God

B) Having Done what God has called us to do (v.7)

- Our ultimate purpose is not just to live, eat, pay taxes and die.

- Having purpose also give us hope for the future

- God’s interest in us quality not quantity

- It is the how, not the how long

- So long as God is sovereign no one’s life is cut short

- Will you die today, tomorrow, or later in life?

- We do not know

- But we have a need to be ready

C) We need to be ready now looking at what awaits us in heaven (v.8)

- Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

- Heb 11:9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

- Heb 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

III. How we are to view our own death

- I Thessalonians 4:13-18

- This will be a quick meeting

- This will be a heavenly meeting

- This will be an eternal meeting

- If we are born again John 3:3

- We will meet our loved ones who are also born again

- We will meet our children, our parents, our friends

- V. 18

- Comfort provides hope, peace, and joy

- God’s word provide that comfort of hope, peace and joy

- Hope is a sure thing not just a guess

- Hope is not a bet or gamble

- Hope in scripture means we can know it will happen

- I John 5:13

- There is no chance of failure

- Our future can be 100% secure

- Just as they brought that boy school work that encouraged him, I bring you this message to give you the hope of the future as well.

Conclusion:

- Ralph before he went to be with the Lord and also now as he is in heaven did and does want his Lord to be glorified in his passing.

- While this is a time of mourning it is also a time to know that Ralph is with our Lord

- Illustration of ship passing over the horizon