Aldersgate Experience 1
Connecting Knowing Loving Growing
November 2013
Experience “ALL SAINTS DAY”
What gives you comfort and hope? Especially when a loved one dies. What gives you comfort and hope? Is it a belief that things are now better? Is it knowing that God is there? Is it belief in the resurrection? A picture in your mind of what heaven is like? Is it knowing that the pain is gone? It very well might be a combination of all those things. When faced with death, what gives you comfort and hope? As Christian people we do not believe that our earthly death is the end. Instead, we believe that death is a doorway from this life to a life eternal with God in heaven. Eternal means never ending. There is no end. Death creates a loss for those of us left behind; but it is not the end of the story. Rather it is a transforming time where we leave behind our physical bodies and put on our spiritual bodies, as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 15. Since none of us have ever seen that spiritual body it is a little bit unclear as to what life eternal will be like, but we have faith and trust in a Lord that makes all things new.
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Even though we can’t see heaven, even though we can’t see our loved ones who have died with these earthly eyes, we are certain of what we do not see. As the song One of my favorite songs talks about the changes that says, it is something God alone can see. I trust God. He’s got a great plan for all of us who believe in Him. take place when we die with several metaphors we understand from living life on this earth. It is “Hymn There’s more than this life and that gives me comfort and hope. of Promise” written by Natalie Sleeth. Read these words again, and if you know the tune, sing it in your Join us on All Saints Sunday as we remember those head: members who have passed away in the last year. This In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; year that is Sunday, November 3 at all three services. In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! May God grant you comfort and hope, In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
Pastor Doug