Walking among the tombs in Port Royal, Nova Scotia, I was saddened to note that all of the wooden grave markers had disintegrated, and many of the headstones had fallen apart. Death had claimed the old as well as the young, and now, even the grave markers could no longer serve as a reminder of those buried there. Generations have passed, and no one remembers.

I wonder: How will we react when we stand face to face with our Lord and maker? Will we be desperate, like the man I encountered whose cancer of the prostrate was robbing him of his strength? Fighting with all of his being, he takes expensive pills that are supposed to make him live longer. He is terrified of death, and there is nowhere else to turn. My heart goes out to him.

Or will we resign ourselves to the fact with a smile on our lips, for we know full well where we are heading?

Throughout this series we have encountered faith, hope and love:

1) Faith that moves mountains, made possible by the One who paid the price on the cross, Jesus Christ Himself. This kind of faith can only be developed by getting to know intimately the One who makes it possible;

2) Hope that fills us with adrenaline as we anticipate what has been promised to us by God Himself. He is faithful and we have no reason to doubt Him;

and

3) Love that can do all things, especially if we are driven by the One who made it possible. A loveless life will leave us wanting. Love is really the reason of our existence. We were created to love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13 NIV)

With these three elements whose source stems from the Risen One, we can face anything. Even when facing death, these three will remind us:

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Ps 139:8-12 NIV)

God will always be there to guide us. Death is not the end, it is just the beginning. We have reason to have faith, hope and love. It has transformed us from the inside out. This is what happens when we meet the Risen One. Life will never be the same. We will be filled with a hungry yearning for more and more of the Risen One. He is truly the realization of all of our dreams!

We may be forgotten on this planet, but the Risen One will always remember us! “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isa 49:16 NIV)

Thank you, Jesus, for making a difference in my life. Thank you for being my faith, my hope and my love. I love you!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Awake!” devotional series, please click here.)