13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
What happens after death? This is a question that has been around since man first exited the Garden. This passage deals with an important aspect of life after death and how we who survive can make it through. The key ingredient is hope. Believers can have hope even in death. We know where we go. We have the Scriptures and the witness of the Spirit assuring us of our place in heaven. But those who don’t know Christ are left with a big void that must be filled. Those without Christ have to rationalize their lack of faith and they must try to fill in that gap. They have no hope, only wishful thinking. We do grieve for those who die, but our grief is not like non-believers. If the one who died was a believer, there is an assurance of a better life after death. All the pains and sorrows are gone. Our hope is secure. Even if the one who died was a non-believer, we are able to rest in God’s grace and mercy. This letter is addressed to believers, so when a believer dies, there certainly is hope. Funerals for believers are not that difficult. Funerals for non-believers are very difficult. How do you bring hope into a situation that lacks hope? And there is no hope for those who die without Christ. They are lost.
The Arnold Journey 