23rd May 2025

In our world, we have many things that come with warnings attached, such as the chemicals we may use in our homes and garden pesticides. Cigarette packets now are printed with warnings of serious illness that lead to death. Some state the obvious, for example packets of peanuts that have the warning: contains nuts. And I think the roads in my area probably should have notices that say: warning – these roads contain potholes.

However, the first warning was the one God gave Adam: don’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, otherwise you will die (Genesis 2:16-17). Both Adam and Even ignored it and ate. So maybe all our birth certificates should have added to them: warning – this life contains death. It should be obvious, though it seems the way we live our lives often seems to ignore this inevitable fact.

Recently I attended two funerals on consecutive days. The first was a Christian service. The second was for my niece, and was entirely secular. Her death was sudden and unexpected. She was not yet sixty, about to retire and had many years ahead to enjoy with her husband and family. The family got up in turn and spoke about her, then we all left for the wake. 

Both funerals acknowledged that loved ones had been taken by death, but there was a difference. Though my niece’s family spoke with tears, they had no belief and therefore they had no hope. Paul remarked on the gulf that is between us when he wrote that the Thessalonians should not grieve over the death of loved ones, as he says, ‘…like the rest of mankind, who have no hope’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13). 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). As it says in Hebrews 6:18-20: ‘We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.’ (The Message Version). And Jesus said, “…Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19 NIV).

Thank God that because of Jesus we have been given the motivating, assuring, comforting gift of hope.

  ¹ Romans 15:13

About the writer:
Hilary Buck is a minister and pastors the Lewes congregation of 

Grace Communion International.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion in Lewes
The House of Friendship
208 High Street
Lewes
BN7 2NS

Meeting time:
Sunday 11:00 am 

Local congregational contact:
Hilary Buck
Email:  lewes@gracecom.church
Like us on www.facebook.com/Grace Communion Lewes 

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church