Devotion for Today

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Hope Beyond Death

August 31, 2013

The righteous hath hope in his death.
–Proverbs 14:32

We don’t like to talk about death; it’s the forbidden subject of our generation. Yet it’s real for all of us. Sometimes on television I see motion pictures featuring actors who are no longer living. They seem very much alive in the picture, but they are dead. Some of them were my personal friends. Death is real, and when we die, that is a battle we have to fight all alone. Nobody can be with us in that hour, but David said he had found an answer that would take the fear of death away. David said that there is an answer to death, there is a hope beyond death. That hope is centered in the risen Christ. Paul wrote that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.” So the fear of death is removed.

Prayer for the day

Lord Jesus, with complete trust I look toward that day when my soul will be with You for eternity.

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36 Comments

steven says 9.4.2012, 04:27 a.m.

Thanks u Jesus !Thanks u !

Patti says 8.31.2012, 7:33 p.m.

Thank you for being faithful in showing the love of Jesus with the world;]

Jael says 8.31.2012, 3:46 p.m.

I've always been inspired by Billy Graham's messages.

Jay says 8.31.2012, 3:33 p.m.

God has the final word for all of us. His word is wrapped up in His son, our Savior, Jesus. To know Jesus is to have life. Real life destroys the dominion and fear of death. Real life brings Resurrection, joy, and, Eternal Life with Him.

Jack says 8.31.2012, 1:41 p.m.

I fear my brother might not have a lot more time, but if so, then my brother will be in Heaven waiting for me, and that puts my soul at rest.

Thomas says 8.31.2012, 12:37 a.m.

I just lost my Brother to cancer today. But I am rejoicing because he told me had the Lord Jesus in his heart! "PRAISE THE LORD". Someday I'll will join him!

Joe says 8.31.2012, 08:45 a.m.

Amen.

George says 8.31.2012, 08:44 a.m.

Death is hard for all of us to cope with. But God comforts and heals those that grieve. My wife and I have seen loved ones and friends go before us, but it is God that gives us what we need most, comfort and unconditional love.

Carolyn G. says 8.31.2012, 08:04 a.m.

Physical death brings about our beginning a new eternal life with Jesus. At the moment we accept Christ as our Savior we look forward to the time when we will see Him face to face.

Gerry says 8.31.2012, 07:59 a.m.

God's plan for our life includes the day we will die. Only he knows exactly when that will be. Don't waste time fretting about it .Enjoy family and friends and continue serving the Lord. This life will seem brief no matter how long you live.

Cindy says 8.31.2012, 07:03 a.m.

I thank God for his never ending love and forgiveness. I have three children...ages 26, 21 and 17. Although I took them to church when they were younger, only my oldest one was baptised. Please pray for salvation for all three of my kids and Dad.

Karen says 8.31.2012, 06:43 a.m.

For ten years I have struggled from the death of my earthly father. I know he is in a better place and I long to be with him...to not have to struggle through a life of unacceptance from the people who taught me the word of the Lord. I am so hurt...

Sue says 8.31.2012, 06:37 a.m.

I look forward to the day I'm with Jesus then I can live in peace and happiness.

San says 8.30.2012, 11:59 p.m.

To be with the Lord is much better,but untill then we still have work to do for the Lord.

l c says 8.30.2012, 11:41 p.m.

i so look forward to being with my precious LORD JESUS one day. i'll be happy then. Amen

Janice says 9.2.2011, 1:22 p.m.

When I read in the gospel of John where Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believed in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?" I often feel this is the question He wants every reader to answer in their heart as Martha did, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." While Martha's knowledge at the time may have been incomplete, yet she knew Jesus and believed on Him with a childlike faith. This is what Jesus desires so we don't have to fear death.

Robert says 8.31.2011, 2:40 p.m.

Maranatha, Maranatha, Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Linda says 8.31.2011, 12:59 a.m.

In 1993 I had a Daughter 6 months, sons 3, 9 the doctors told me I had a brain tumor. They said they have told many and never seen one not distressed, I told them I can not loose to stay here and raise my children or to go with my Lord Jesus Christ That is a win win situation I am here in 2011 to tell you the Lord is gracious, my 2nd MRI said my tumor was gone Thank you Lord !!!

Annette says 8.31.2011, 11:24 a.m.

Praise God for His promise that we pass from this life into His presence immediately. What great joy to have this hope knowing life does not end it just changes and gets better! How grateful I am to know God in a personal way and no longer have to struggle with my soul/spirit about what will happen with me in this life and the next. All praise and glory to the God I love.

Chaunika says 8.31.2011, 09:36 a.m.

I am a born again Christian, I believe in the promises of our Father, I have struggled to get to a place where I know I'm going to be with the Lord someday. I'm a mother of 2 small children 5 and 10yrs. of age and a single parent. I'm don't wanna leave them because I'm still teaching them about and raising them to be God fearing, when it happens I want them to be grown up men living to please God the Father.I pray for more time with my boys.

David says 8.31.2011, 09:24 a.m.

I have been suffering great pain along with tribulations. When released from the hospital and pastors and brothers in Christ came to pray for me to live or not suffer and go quickly ; I was dying. My wife left me I lived, I'm divorced alone and disabled and I hurt all the time. To me death would be a comfort but Jesus Christ is my savior and I will praise him!

Sheri says 8.31.2011, 09:12 a.m.

I look forward to seeing my daughter in heaven and also my grandma, Nanny, and my dad and my father. Glory to God, thank you Jesus!

Nancy says 8.31.2011, 08:46 a.m.

I have prayed for death and God confronted me to submit to His will. I did and after 58 years of struggling to survive, I know life is a gift and have found peace and joy. Appreciating each day has given me the surety of the life to come with Him.

Robert H says 8.31.2011, 08:23 a.m.

Great message!

Karen says 8.31.2011, 08:19 a.m.

I am not afraid. For me to live is Christ, and to die, is gain. BLESSINGS!

Joe says 8.31.2011, 07:33 a.m.

To be able to fully appreciate the extent of the love of The Lord for us when this veil of tears is lifted will be beautiful.

Gianna says 8.31.2011, 07:14 a.m.

I am not afraid of death; I am afraid about the way how will I die. I want to die silently. It hurts to see my loved ones dying, but it hurts more to know that they are lonely if I'm dead. I want them to be happy for me if I die because I want them to know I am happy and free with the Lord.

Manat nayak says 8.31.2011, 07:13 a.m.

Thanks ... for awesome courageous living word to share with us..

Joseph M DiModica says 8.31.2011, 06:48 a.m.

I am SAVED and a born---again, christian and I love the LORD. Why do I still have fear of dying?

S. says 8.31.2011, 06:47 a.m.

I'm printing this for my Dad and for the Chaplain at the Veterans home where he stays. Thank you.

Pat says 8.31.2011, 06:43 a.m.

So many of my family have gone to be with the Lord. It hurt when it was sudden as with my earthly father, as time has passed I know those loved ones are so very happy!!! I would not want them back here for anything. I look to the day I am with them for all eternity. I thank Our Lord and Savior for taking our sins away. PRAISE GOD!!

Judy says 8.31.2011, 06:39 a.m.

I lost a 46-year-old friend suddenly yesterday. While I grieve with his family, I can be at peace knowing where he is at this moment...a place I long to be considering today's world situation. Thank you, Lord, for the peace you give us in death for those who have accepted you in this life time.

Gerry says 8.31.2011, 04:44 a.m.

For the Christian, death is not the end as God's Word so aptly points out. It is the beginning of the an incredible new journey.......... When we think of death even though we fully trust that we are going to be in the presence of the Lord and with Believers who have gone ahead, there is a part of us that will miss our families still here. We think of spouses,sons and daughter, grandchildren, friends etc. We can find deep comfort however, knowing for certain that God loves them and will continue to love and care for them just as he does for us, currently.

Cathy says 8.31.2011, 04:10 a.m.

One of my hopes beyond death is that I will still have friends with the people I have loved on this earth, like Dr. Rev Billy Graham. Thank-you for all of the work you put into my life, since I was born in 1954. I could cry. Love, Cathy

Sharon says 8.31.2011, 03:23 a.m.

Only Jesus can remove the sting of death and I am eternally grateful for that! We have nothing to fear if we walk side by side with the Lord as 'who can be against us if God is for us'. (Romans 8.31).

Joanne says 8.30.2011, 07:52 a.m.

Took time yesterday to visit loved ones whom have passed. I thought of "To be absent from the body" is to be "Present with the Lord". I know all of those who have gone on before me are in a glorious place, and their spirit lives on.