Passing from Death into Life: First Week of Advent – Hope: Alive in Christ

“And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ~John 11:26

Passing from Death into Life

This past week I attended the funeral of a young man in my church who was beloved by many and shared his talents for Christ every Sunday morning. My sister knew John better than I did; nevertheless, it greatly impacted me to see in his 29 years how far and wide he shared the love of Jesus with everyone he met. Three weeks before he passed away, he shared on the platform with Pastor Bob, how he didn’t see his cancer as diminishing his life but magnifying it for God’s glory! Awe-inspired, I thought to myself… ‘That’s how I want to live my life.’

During his funeral, Pastor Bob recalled a truth I first learned from Dad many years ago. He said, “John is more alive than he ever has been. He is fully alive in Christ!” Having lost my grandmother earlier this year, this is a truth I needed reminding of.

After finding out about the loss of one of his best friends, Jesus tells his friend’s sisters, “Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” What a confounding statement and not really of much comfort (in the moment at least). The sisters miss being with their brother; they want him back with them. Jesus isn’t cold towards the sisters, only dispensing some enlightened feel-good statement. No, when he sees them weeping he weeps too! In fact, he is “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (33). As he nears his friend’s tomb, he is deeply moved again! (38). For the glory of God, Jesus’s friend is brought back to life – for the first time he is truly and only alive in Christ.

As we come to the middle of the first week of Advent, we must ask ourselves whether we have the hope of true life in Christ – a death overcome by life. My dad taught me we don’t die when our body stops functioning – we die once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. At that moment, we have entered the process of passing from death into life.

Without Jesus Christ coming into the world, we would have no hope in our life, because, without Him, there is no meaning to our existence and earthly end. Jesus makes everything make sense. Like in the timeless Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night,” Placide Cappeau wrote, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth” [emphasis added].

Living the Hope of Christmas

This Advent, keep in mind, there are those around you, in fact many, where Christ’s coming into the world, their world, will be a first for them. They will only find this hope if they see that you are alive in Christ. John Smith knew this well and because of that, he is alive in Christ, still sharing that hope with others today!

Always improve the present moment.