The song?Jesus Christ My Living Hope?has been my anchor these past weeks as so many of my friends kept marching into heaven in a short span of 4 weeks!
This week, 11 July I received news that one of our beloved colleagues from the Business Office at SBC died very suddenly, an after effect of covid. We at SBC are still reeling in shock as Barnabas Yap was on sick leave, expected to return to work shortly. But he never returned. Instead, Jesus decided to come and take him home. That same day Jesus also took home one of our alumni from SOTC, Rev. Joseph Liew. Weeks earlier, two of my SBC classmates, Julia Sigalaki, and Gwee Choo Neo, passed after a protracted illness. One of our adjunct lecturers, Mr. Joseph John, also lost his beloved wife Sok Bee to cancer. She was from my church and a dear friend of mine.
There is much sadness amidst?SBC’s preparation for the 70th?anniversary! We are saddened that our friends and loved ones have passed and we will not see them here on earth again. But while we grieve, it is not without hope! We have hope that one day we will see one another in heaven. This is the living hope we have in Christ Jesus! He is the Resurrection and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but through him!
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope (Chorus)
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope (Stanza 2)
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me (Stanza 3)
Truly death has lost its grip on us and the grave has no claim on any one of us who believes that Jesus Christ is our living hope! Hallelujah! Death is but the gateway to heaven! We will meet our friends and family who have embraced Jesus as their living hope! Let us urgently declare to others who have yet to know that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ our living hope!
