Pastor's Corner: The power of God through his Word

While attending a funeral of a friend who had passed away, the pastor proclaimed an excellent message of eternal hope, peace and comfort for the deceased. Speaking to the family members and friends of the comfort they can have now if they trust in Jesus Christ along with the assurance of seeing their lost loved one again almost sounds like a pipe dream that is too good to be true. How can this minister speak of what is beyond the grave, of eternal assurances describing a place where there is no more pain, tears, sorrow or grief? And what about all the listeners in the pews, are they being sold a package of goods that can’t possibly come true? Is religion just the opiate of the people who need an escape from the harsh reality of death?

As the pastor continued reading promises from this book, the lady in front of me was wiping away the tears from her eyes with a longing look to find some hope, some comfort for her empty hurting heart. The service ended with a blessing and most proceeded to the gravesite to lay the casket in the ground as closure to a life that was well lived, dutifully served and finally surrendered to the ravaging cancer. The words “From ashes we came and to ashes we return” remind us all that this inevitable fate will be in our future some day as well. 

  In order to check this out we need to go to the Author of these promises to see if He is reliable and trustworthy in what He said. The Book that the pastor read from is the Bible, the inspired Word of God that was written by 40 different authors over a timespan of 4,000 years, divided into 66 sub books all agreeing with each other and all focused on the reconciliation of man back to our Creator. The Bible has proven itself to be true through the fulfillment of prophecies, lasting the test of time, and changing the hearts of people throughout the ages for the good. People like Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Corrie ten Boom and many others who testify to the power that God brings through His Word. Others like; Isaac Newton (author of Amazing Grace) and C.S. Lewis (the renowned British scholar and author) testify to the transformation that changed their lives when facing sure death at sea or striving to prove that the Bible was wrong.

This same Bible proclaims that Jesus the Christ WAS and IS the Son of God, eternally existent with the Father and born as a human by the Virgin Mary as prophesied hundreds of years earlier. He was raised under very poor conditions so as to identify with the poor, under harsh Roman tyranny while proclaiming the truth of God and demonstrating God’s power through miracles recorded in the Gospels. As prophesied, He was convicted of false charges, brought before the authorities for judgment, beat, mocked, ridiculed and taken away to be nailed to a cross until dead. As the controversial movie, “The Passion” displayed in very clear visual terms, the innocent Christ was murdered. But this is not the end, for three days later Christ rose from the dead as witnessed by His disciples, and others eating with them, teaching them and comforting their fears for the next 40 days before He ascended into heaven. (facts from “Evidence that Demands a Verdict;” Josh McDowell)

If this is true, then the pastor at the funeral service speaks the truth by quoting Jesus in the Word of God.

Search it out for yourself and see if the Bible is the true Word of God. Then walk in joy!

John Chapman

Pastor First Baptist Church, Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association