Our Hope Of The Resurrection.

Our Hope of the Resurrection

-A Funeral Message of Hope-

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, Revelation 21:1-5

So, today, we are here to honor George and we are to do it in a celebration of life.

George was a very upbeat and positive person, a very God-fearing man who always had his nose right in the Bible. Jan said that a lot of the times when she would go looking for George, she would find him glued to the Bible, always studying, and you know what? It showed.

It showed in his

• attitude and desire to serve the brethren,

• in his life and dedication to God, as well as

• in his dedication to his wife and family.

That truly is a testament to a Godly life of a Godly man.

George understood and had great hope in the resurrection and the Kingdom of God.

A friend of the family posted a quote on face-book that did agree with the life George lived and the example he set.

The quote went like this.

• “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”

Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely. George had nothing to fear in his physical death because he did live wisely. He lived wisely because he did keep his nose in the Bible and he grew in knowledge and understanding. Again, it was evident by the wonderful example he set for us all.

Many of us who have the same faith and belief that George had understand exactly what the Bible says about death and what’s next. We have that understanding and great comfort in knowing that this physical life is not all there is, that God’s plan of salvation promises much more even after our physical death.

Maybe some of us don't fully understand what George knew about this next phase after death.

Let me share just a bit about what George knew concerning the hope he had and the hope we all need to have and keep in mind.

There is a section of scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that Paul used to give us all understanding of the great hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [c]sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

First, we see that there is an order to those who will meet Christ at His return. The dead in Christ, the saints, those who remained faithful until the end of their physical life, will be raised first.

Christ said some special things for the saints who have died. We are told in

Psalm 116:15 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. And then Paul says in Philippians 1:21 that 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Then getting back to the order, the remaining saints of God will meet Christ next.

Paul told us to comfort one another with these words. Death in this physical life is hard. It hurts when we lose a loved one and a friend. We don’t know how long we will have to wait to see them again, but we can rest assured that if we follow God’s way of life, we will see them again.

If you noticed just into verse 17 here, Paul said that “we who are alive and remain” this lends itself to a dual meaning. First it is speaking of the ones who are blessed to be alive at the return of Christ, but also it carries the notion that we must Spiritually endure to the end.

George knew that it was very important to endure and to have this hope in the resurrection and the Plan of God. It is life changing.

You know, it is through the resurrection that God destroys death.

He tells us in 1Corinthians 15:51 that “…all shall be changed”