“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (I Thes. 4.13-14 ESV).
Last night’s service was full of tears and mourning, and yet the prevailing emotion was hope. The room was overflowing with it. All who attended quickly realized that something was different. Through the grief and heartache, the overarching theme was one of confidence in the eternal state of this dear sister, and of an assurance that we will be reunited one day in the near future.
As I said in the previous post, several people surrendered their lives to Christ for the first time in their lives. And it is because, for those three hours, the kingdom of God invaded our earth through the memories and testimony of one 23 year-old follower of Christ. The gospel became alive through the death of one of its own.
Her family and friends do not weep as those who have no hope. They weep from a place of deep loss and pain. But their confidence is that Kate is with Jesus, and they will be joining her soon.
“…and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5.5).