Reason to Hope

Do you grieve with grief upon grief because you believe someone you love died outside of Christ’s salvation? Perhaps this message will give you some hope. 

I just finished reading this story in Genesis: “So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” So Jacob tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” (Genesis 37:31-35) 

 

If you are fuzzy about the context, Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, had been sold into slavery by his brothers. To cover their crime, they made their father believe Joseph had been killed by an animal.  

 

It would not be for another 15 years before Jacob learned that his beloved Joseph was still alive. Think of that for a moment. Fifteen very long years of grief before that grief turned to joy. 

Fast forward now to Calvary. Jesus hangs on the cross. On either side hang two thieves. It is possible that their parents were not there to watch their sons die. They would not want to be associated with their criminal sons, or the Romans might put them to death as well.  

But if the parents were not there, then those of the penitent thief were unaware – perhaps to the day of their deaths – of the interchange between their son and the Lord: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) 

While it is unequivocally true that only through faith in Christ can any soul be saved, we cannot know the thoughts of a person in the last moments of life.  

But we CAN know this: Our most merciful God is not willing for any to perish. And therefore, there is every reason to hope that God gave our beloved dead one final chance to call out to Him.  

For fifteen years, Jacob did not know his son was alive. The penitent thief’s parents might have lived the remainder of their lives unaware that their son was in heaven. 

Christian! Trust in God’s love for your own beloved dead. Scripture promises us that everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. Even if they call in their last moments of life.