Who Have No Hope

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

When you sit at the bedside of someone you love,

his eyes glazed,

his skin hanging loosely on his skeleton,

his breathing slow

and shallow,

and you know death is days,

maybe hours away . . .

Or when someone who loves you

sits at your bedside,

your eyes glazed,

your skin hanging loosely on your skeleton,

and she knows death is days,

maybe hours away . . .

It is good

for those left behind

to have confidence,

that it can be said of the dying:

“If the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”*

Yes, it is good

to do all we can do

to ensure our loved ones know

they need not grieve

as others who have no hope.**

*2 Cor 5:1-4

** 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14