April 11, 2022 – Monday
Double Memorial April 9, 2022
No verse to start with today as I wish to share a few remarks given at a Memorial for a Mother and Son (brother)
Comment.
It was Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2022 after snow, sleet, hail, and rain when we had a memorial service for a woman, Sammy-75, who died on March 18 and her son, Chris-56, who died on March 20. She died here in Ohio, and he died in Colorado.
There was a great testimony about Sammy and then about Chris. They were both great individuals with hearts of gold. Nonetheless, there was a great difference between the two of them beyond their ages and genders. One had clearly repented and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and one had not to the best of our knowledge. So what you might ask? Well you could not ask for a greater difference as we will find out.
I adapted the story Jesus told His disciples about the rich man who went to hell and the beggar who ended up in Abraham’s arms. You can find the story here in Luke 16:19-31. Neither Sammy nor Chris was a beggar, but if one had accepted Christ and the other had not, the results would be like those of the rich man and the beggar. Chris had not accepted Christ so we can easily imagine him in hell asking for a drop of water on his tongue to ease his suffering and agony in the fires of hell.
It could not be done as the separation between them was much too great. Next we can imagine Chris asking for Mom or someone from the dead to tell his family and friends so they would not end up in hell suffering as he was. He would be desperate to let them know as the rich man was to let his five brothers know. Abraham’s answer did not soothe him as he said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
Would Chris’s family or friends who do not believe, come to believe if someone did rise from the dead to warn them? We don’t know. We do know neither Chris nor Sammy would want anyone to suffer in hell, not even their worst enemy. Next Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ where He rose from the dead on the third day. Satan has convinced a great many this did not occur and it is a fairy tale and not real. Of course, Satan does not want anyone to believe, even if there is more written about Jesus and His life – and His Resurrection – than there is about Julius Caesar.
Now ask yourself, if hell is real (and it is) and heaven is real (and it is) where would you rather be. Yes, that’s a rhetorical question, but it’s real. You can avoid hell by A) admitting you are a sinner and repenting, B) believing Jesus died for your sins on the cross and rose on the third day, and C) calling upon Him as your Lord and Savior. Eternity is a long, very long, time to be wrong.
If Chris is in hell he is likely hoping and praying his family and friends will not end up there with Him. His only hope while there is still time, that they would end up with his mother in heaven.
Bottom Line: Two people both with hearts of gold, but one too proud to give God the credit for all the good things in his life. He is in agony hoping no one from his family and friends end up there with him.
Prayer: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, Help us to make the reality of heaven and hell real to all our loved ones as well as all those we know and meet. Thank You for the incredible blessing of Grace. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek