Hope

This week was the passing of my father. It was the first time someone really close to me had passed away that really made me reflect.

Previously I have had family member's that had passed away but because my relationship with them was not that strong it did not move me emotionally compared to the passing of my step dad.

He was a truly amazing man that went out of his way to help those around him. He brought some much happiness to my mum that his passing was a real blow to the whole family.

I remember seeing him in the hospital and the spirit had left his body it was no longer Colin I saw but a shell. It was then that I realised that Colin was gone and to a better place. It was the knowledge and comfort knowing that he had moved onto paradise is where I got my comfort. The comfort was in HOPE. The HOPE in God word that we will live for ever but not in this world but a world void of sin and death.

I read a scripture which really brings home the HOPE that I describe

1 Thessalonians 4
¹³Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [^[g]in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].
    ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [^[h]in death].
    ¹⁵For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him ^[i]in death].
    ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
    ¹⁷Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
    ¹⁸Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.

These words have brought me and my mother great comfort that one day we will meant with Colin again. As I thought this I wondered for those that do not believe what HOPE do they have? Money, Fame, Power, Botox or the power of the Secret.
The the above mentioned have all failed people who have used these sources of hope, but the making God your hope I can testify he will never fail you EVER. He in any circumstance allow you to have HOPE for a better day.

"Remember God gift to you is life, what you do with that life is your gift back to God"