Knowledge – The Key To Hope
In 1742, the poet Thomas Gray coined the phrase, “ignorance is bliss.” His argument was that the key to happiness is ignorance. If we don’t know about something, particularly something bad, we won’t worry about it. The problem is that sticking our heads in the sand doesn’t make the problem go away and also means we won’t be prepared for it when it does arrive. The bible challenges that thinking, and argues instead that knowledge is the key to hope. The apostle Paul wrote, “we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13).
Many think of death as the end, an eternal sleep from which there is no waking up, a defeat, a failure of human effort. What hope is there in that? None, and the consequence is that death becomes something to be feared and avoided at all costs. According to the bible, if we’re afraid, it’s because we’re uninformed. Christians should know better. “We’re believe that Jesus died and rose again... and that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thess. 4:14).
Jesus’ victory over death was not for himself alone. He defeated death for every single person who follows him. While we still have to face the reality that our earthly bodies will at some point wear out and stop working, we also know this, “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first… And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Because of what we know, we don't live in fear, dreading what lies ahead. Instead, we live in hope, looking forward with anticipation to that day when we will be with the Lord forever. This is perhaps the most important truth we have to share with the world. It’s not that Jesus’ life and death don’t matter, but his rising again is the key. This is the point where the gospel triumphs over this world. This is the point where our morality is overcome by immortality. This is our hope.
Neil Percival
Many think of death as the end, an eternal sleep from which there is no waking up, a defeat, a failure of human effort. What hope is there in that? None, and the consequence is that death becomes something to be feared and avoided at all costs. According to the bible, if we’re afraid, it’s because we’re uninformed. Christians should know better. “We’re believe that Jesus died and rose again... and that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thess. 4:14).
Jesus’ victory over death was not for himself alone. He defeated death for every single person who follows him. While we still have to face the reality that our earthly bodies will at some point wear out and stop working, we also know this, “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first… And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Because of what we know, we don't live in fear, dreading what lies ahead. Instead, we live in hope, looking forward with anticipation to that day when we will be with the Lord forever. This is perhaps the most important truth we have to share with the world. It’s not that Jesus’ life and death don’t matter, but his rising again is the key. This is the point where the gospel triumphs over this world. This is the point where our morality is overcome by immortality. This is our hope.
Neil Percival