First Baptist Church, Boaz
Like other pastors, I have many times had the difficult and humbling task of serving families in the midst of tragic loss. Any consolation I have been able to offer them has come as I reminded them of the hope of eternal life they have because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Last year, my wife and I found out what it is like to be on the other side of this situation. Our daughter Courtney was killed in an automobile accident. But even in the darkest hours, our sorrow is assuaged by that same promise we have shared with others.
Our daughter became a Christian at the age of 8 but in recent years, had not been following Christ. In the last few months of her life, however, she began to listen once again to the Holy Spirit. In her own words, she expressed her rediscovered hope: “I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I know God has good plans for my life and a good end.”
The irony is that she only lived a few weeks after uttering those words. Still we know that the promise of a “good end” means she is at home in heaven and we will see her again soon. I have spoken often of the frail, transient nature of our existence and challenged my listeners to consider carefully their eternal destiny. These truths are now very real to our family.
So many people in our culture today are searching for hope and fulfillment in all the wrong places. God has provided a way out of this fruitless searching. He urges us to come to Him in humble repentance, turning away from the sinful lifestyle that has held us in bondage. There is nothing of value we can offer, no sacrifice we can make — Christ, our Savior, paid that price on the cross. We have the freedom to accept or reject this free gift of grace but we cannot earn it. There is only one Way, one Truth, one Life — Jesus Christ.
What we must do is simply confess Him as Lord, place our faith in His finished work and commit to follow Him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).
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