HE IS RISEN! That message, folks, is not just for Easter! For those who put their faith in Christ for their eternal lives, this is a message of HOPE for all year long… Jesus himself had much to say about the reality of eternal life. Let’s listen now, as we turn to the Apostle John, and hear these words of HOPE…

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” … 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. … 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. – John 14:1-4, 18-19, 25-27 (NLT)

Memorial Day weekend, folks, is very, very special for Christians… And here are the reasons WHY…

WE REMEMBER WITH HOPE … BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR US TO BELONG! Verses 1-2 again encourage us, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” There will be a PLACE just for you in my Father’s house!

I often try and prick the imagination of those who are in attendance at celebration of life services (funerals) … by getting them to imagine with me what our ‘place’ or our ‘room’ or our ‘mansion’ (whatever version of the Bible you use) will be like… Imagine your place for just a moment, would you? But, let me talk about what mine may be like…

There will be music … because it’s a big part of my life—who God has created me to be. I don’t know if there’ll be guitars there or not, but I do know this: If there are instruments that we love in heaven … they won’t ever go out of tune! Why? Because it’s heaven…

There will be food … because that’s a JOY in my life, too! My mom is already there, so I can just imagine the good cooking that continues in heaven. But, again, one thing I know about food in heaven: There won’t be any calories! Why? Because it’s heaven…

Would Jesus have talked about it if it were not a reality? What a cruel joke that would be. But, in faith, we can believe all of what Jesus said to be true … because there’s not a one of his promises that haven’t come true—exactly as the God (many times through the prophets) said they would…

What I’m trying to get you to understand today is simply this: There will be a place to belong for each and every one who puts their faith in God and in his Son, Jesus, for their lives. And IT WILL BE LIKE NO PLACE WE’VE EVER KNOWN! We remember with HOPE … because Jesus has promised us a place to belong for eternity… AND,

WE REMEMBER WITH HOPE … BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE TO JOURNEY ALONE! Verses 3-4 and verse 18 explain, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going. … 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” We’ll be able to hold Jesus’ HAND!

Can you remember a time when you were a child … and you had to go someplace new—some place that was very strange to you, and maybe a little bit scary because of that? I can remember things like going to church camp for the first time. There was no one else I knew (kid-wise) at that camp and I had never been to this place before. It would have been absolutely frightening, as a child, to get dropped off and have to make my way through registration, introductions, and so forth, all by myself … as a child.

The reality was, however, I didn’t have to go through experiences like this alone. Most of the time, when I had to go to some place that I’d never been before … my mom &/or dad were right there with me. And, folks, let’s not kid ourselves … we can be the bravest children in the world … when we have our parent’s hands to hold in situations like that…

I want you to know that this is what Jesus is promising to each and every one of us who put their faith in God the Father and him, as God’s Son… “I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” When it comes our time to leave this earth and go on to eternity with God, we don’t have to make the journey alone! Jesus is going to come back and get us … and lead us to the place that has been prepared just for us … and go with us. We will never be alone, even in death… Finally,

WE REMEMBER WITH HOPE … BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD IS NOW WITH US! Verse 19 and then verses 25-27 say, “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. … 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Jesus gave us the gift of his SPIRIT to assure us of our future with him! The assurance of God is an amazing thing… We have available to us the very Spirit of Christ—the Spirit that empowered Jesus—to help lead us through this life… Let me try and tie all of this together with this:

God was right there with my Aunt Sis a couple of years ago, when she took her last breath! She was a follower of Christ—a Christian for many years… I believe the Spirit of God was with her during her life, especially during her last days…

The pastor who was with her at the time of her last breath shared this story with our family: “(Aunt Sis) … went into another world … there was a smile on her face, but she wasn’t responding to those around her any longer. I believe that she saw Jesus … and she saw ‘mother!’ She spoke very clearly, at one point, and said those two names: “Jesus … Mother (my grandmother who had died of Alzheimer’s)!”

Right at the time of death, folks, many people have visions of the beyond… And that seems to be God’s way of preparing the rest of us for what’s ahead… Remember, it’s not just Jesus’ resurrection; it’s ours…

This is why we can remember … with HOPE! Because Jesus’ promised us an eternal life with him. And, it wasn’t just an empty promise; Jesus did something about it. He gave his life—the perfect sacrifice, that we might live with him forever … and our loved ones might do the same…

The difference between the rest of the world and those who follow Christ is … we remember with HOPE! We are not just remembering our loved ones; we’re remembering that someday they will be resurrected, along with us … and it will be a great ‘someday reunion’ for those who believe in Christ…

Do you know where I want to be when Jesus comes again? In the cemetery… What an exciting time that will be? People will be resurrected into resurrection bodies! They will be bodies that will last forever, just as Jesus experienced after his resurrection…

Folks, the truth is … you’re not ready to live … until you’re ready to die! According to Jesus, all we have to do is put our faith in God the Father … and his Son, Jesus. We’re to do our part on this side; Jesus will have things covered on the other side… THIS IS WHY WE CAN REMEMBER … WITH HOPE!