Have faith in God

Christians know that death is not final. We will see all Christians again in heaven. In our time on earth we can leave a legacy that lives on in the lives of others about the importance of faith in God. Because of God’s love and power we can all make a difference in the lives of others.  God can use us to show His love to others.  

Dr. Phineas Gurley was pastor of the church which Abraham Lincoln attended while President. He preached the funeral sermon for the president in the White House East Room. Gurley described how many people admired Lincoln for his integrity, kindness, patience, forgiving nature, and self-sacrificing leadership. Lincoln had concern for the poor, weak, suffering, and oppressed based on his faith in God that let him know that all humans are important to God. President Lincoln’s faith in God as his Lord and Savior is what Pastor Gurley wanted people to remember about the president and for all others to have this great faith in God. The following is part of the message that Pastor Gurley shared at Lincoln’s funeral.

“But more sublime than any or all of these, more holy and influential, more beautiful, and strong, and sustaining, was his abiding confidence in God and in the final triumph of truth and righteousness through Him and for His sake. This was his noblest virtue, his grandest principle, the secret alike of his strength, his patience, and his success… By this he speaks to his successor in office, and charges him to ‘have faith in God.’..By this he speaks to all who occupy positions of influence and authority in these sad and troublous times, and he charges them all to ‘have faith in God.’ By this he speaks to this great people as they sit in sackcloth to-day, and weep for him with a bitter wailing, and refuse to be comforted, and he charges them to ‘have faith in God.’ And by this he will speak through the ages and to all rulers and peoples in every land, and his message to them will be, ‘Cling to Liberty and right; battle for them; bleed for them; die for them, if need be; and have confidence in God.’"

Have faith in God. President Lincoln and Dr. Gurley both knew this is more important than anything else. If this message would be taken to heart by all in the world, think about what a difference it would make. There would be far more encouragement and support and far less anger and sadness. Faith in God can lead to a heavenly perspective where we know that death is not the end, but the beginning of something so beautiful that we cannot begin to imagine it. Christians know where our true home is.

A prominent citizen in a town was dying. As he lay in his lovely home, the best doctors surrounding him, he whispered, with a note of despair, “I’m leaving home, I’m leaving home.”

Across town there lay a solitary figure in surroundings bare. Her modest home contained only the most threadbare of life’s essentials. In her eye was a gleam of hope and joy. Before she died she was heard to say with content, “I’m going home, I’m going home.”

Let your eternal heavenly home impact your earthly perspective. Keep your thoughts on heaven and God’s love and in this earthly life God can use you so that more people are given the free gift of heaven.

Reference:
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA:KDP.