One Hope

by

I attended two memorial services recently—one in Missouri and one in Michigan.

The service in Missouri was to grieve the sudden loss of a young man tragically killed in a car accident on his way home from work. He had been married for only two months to the daughter of one of our Cadence couples.

The chapel was filled with young people seeking to somehow trust God and celebrate Caleb’s life while also wrestling with the fragility of life here in this broken world under the curse.

It was very difficult.

The service in Michigan was to celebrate the life of a former Cadence missionary who had lived a long and fruitful life for the Lord. He suffered for about 24 years with the slow digression of the central nervous system caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

This chapel was filled by mostly older people celebrating Steve’s well-lived life and the joyful hope of heaven.

Two lives. Two deaths. Two services. One hope.

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-2

As I write these words to you now, I’m processing additional difficult news of a different kind of loss. I’m groaning today, longing for the day when death, sorrow, and tears will be no more.

Friends, each moment on this earth is truly a gift from God. I pray that you will find your strength in the One who not only gave us this life but made our eternal life and destiny possible. As we sang in church this past Sunday:

Man of Sorrows what a name for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Yes, today I again choose to sing Hallelujah!

David Schroeder
President