This past summer, my wife, Hendrina, and I attended a funeral. The celebration of life included stories of quirky habits, acts of kindness, and a steadfast walk with Jesus. Those who loved the man who passed away were understandably saddened and left with a void that may never fully heal, yet throughout the service the message of hope was woven in.
The service closed with the song “In Christ Alone,” a hymn you may know well. The final stanza is filled with hope:
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.*
I often notice how casually I use the word hope in daily conversations: “I hope we make it on time,” or “I hope this ends early so we can get home.” Yet spiritually, hope carries a much deeper, life-giving meaning.
True hope lies in knowing Jesus has saved us, is with us, and will one day make all things right forever.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
As Thanksgiving approaches, I encourage you to share with your student the hope you carry and the thankfulness that flows from it.
At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup (Matthew 26:27-28), pointing to the new covenant in His blood that would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Only hours later, He was betrayed, beaten, and nailed to the Cross. With His final breath He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In that moment, the weight of humanity’s sin was placed upon Him, and the work of salvation was complete. He endured humanity at its worst, yet in love He wipes us clean from our sin (1 John 1:7-9). Because of Him, we can live in true hope—free from fear of death or circumstances. Satan cannot steal your hope, and no one can take it from you (Romans 8:38-39).
As we wait in anticipation—whether for His return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) or the day we stand before Him (2 Timothy 4:7-8)—the power of Christ goes before us.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
I’ve also been at funerals where true hope was absent, and each time my heart ached. Let us remember: it is in the power of Christ that we stand.
At Crossroads, we see every day how powerful hope can be in the lives of those in prison. Join us in sharing that hope, through prayer, giving, or mentoring, so that others may know the freedom found in Christ alone.
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*Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. In Christ Alone. © 2001 Thankyou Music. Administered by CapitolCMGPublishing.com (excluding UK & Europe, administered by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family).