I recently had to speak at the funeral of my friend’s sister. She died in tragic circumstances leaving behind a husband and two children. On such a day we would have no words to say that would provide any comfort but, thankfully, as Christians, we were able to turn to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day that He visited the grave of His friend Lazarus and wept, He said:

“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” John 12: 25

The question, ‘if a man die shall he live again’ is one of the oldest in the Bible. It was asked by the man called Job who found himself in tragic circumstances. As he thought of all that had befallen him in this world, his thoughts turned to the possibility of there being another world – a world after death.

Job’s question is one that every man, woman, boy and girl in Bishopton should ask themselves. There is no need for doubt or lack of clarity. The Son of God came into the world to tell us about the hope that lies beyond the grave for all who believe in Him. There are those who have died believing in Him – the promise to them is they shall live! There are those who live and believe in Him – the promise to them is they shall never die!

The apostle Paul later on said: ‘…the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet them in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord’. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16:17

Dear reader, do you have this hope?