Earlier this week Cheryl and I were driving through rural Tennessee on our way home from a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We drove past a very small cemetery sandwiched between the highway and a railroad track about twenty yards away. The road to the cemetery was less than twenty yards long. And the sign next to the road to the cemetery said “Dead End.” A lot full of tombstones and a sign that says “Dead End.” More than a little bit ironic. And, unfortunately, that is the sad truth for those without Jesus.

Last Saturday morning, while we were in the Smoky Mountains, we received word that a good friend had gone to be with Jesus. Just a week earlier it was discovered he had cancer. He went very fast. Today we will be attending his memorial service. But we know that it was not a dead end for Roy.

I had the privilege of being his pastor for over 20 years. He and his wife, who had been my secretary, moved to another part of the state a few years back to be near their youngest daughter. They had been members at Grace for more than 15 years before I arrived there. They were both an integral part of the congregation, involved in just about every aspect of ministry. They loved Jesus and it showed in the way they lived and treated other people. Roy knew he was a sinner who was saved only by the grace of God.

When I spoke to his wife and family earlier this week, I prayed with them. I asked God to help them in the days ahead, that they would not grieve as those who have no hope, but that they would cling to the promises God made and fulfilled in Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For 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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Roy lived with faith in Jesus. He died with faith in Jesus. So we can say confidently, “Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:13  “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

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Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow:  Walk in the Footsteps of Paul.

When I put the links to the registration and brochure, people were not seeing my posts, so I will not do that any longer. If you want more information, email mike@revmattil.org.

I will also share information on my website. You can view previous devotions I have shared there as well:  revmattil.org