Faith

There Is Hope

by Jeff Drinnan
01/14/21
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"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." -Ephesians 2:12.

When my Dad was in hospice, on his death bed, someone I took with me asked me if my Dad was afraid of dying. I said "no", because he is a child of God and is just waiting for God to take him home. My friend had been looking for guidance in life and had been raising questions about Christian faith, as she was exposed more and more to the gospel and Christians. In time, she quietly accepted Jesus as her savior for sins. My Dad was a good Christian influence on her and was like a father to her.

What's it all about, Alfie? The things of this world, both what we enjoy and the bad times, pass. Like Alfie, we wonder what life is all about. Momentary thrills, pleasures, are to be enjoyed, but don't bring fulfillment. Ungodly things turn us from God and bring us down. Bad circumstances should not make the Christian a victim. Joy comes in the morning! A life of sin brings emptiness and sorrow in this life, and spirtual death in the next, which is forever! But living in the light of Jesus brings spiritual life!

Late spring I paid tribute to my Father, whom God took home May 24, 2018. He is buried right next to my Mother, whom God took home years before my Dad. Reflecting on my Mom and Dad's life reminds me why God put us on earth. As the Wesminister Catechism states: "What is the chief end of man? Answer: " Man’s chief end is to glorify God,and to enjoy him forever."

I was among the homeless in Bucks County, PA for a season. I've come to realize that in a sense we are all homeless. "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." - 2 Corinthians 5:1

Quite recently, God took home a friend. He was with me for a short season, and increasingly responded to the gospel and Christian witness. He, in turn, became a witness, not by preaching to others, but by his behavior. At his job, he was a diligent worker. He managed to make peace and even start to be friends with a coworker who gave him a difficult time. As a father, he mentored his daughter - he went to parent teacher meetings and spent time bicyling with her. He was there for her.

God is there for us. We need to spend time with Him to grow in the faith by reading His Word, praying, assembling with the saints, and meditating on who God is, wondering on the works of creation and His people who reflect His character.