Do you believe?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I’m sure all of you saw my prayer request yesterday about my son’s classmate passing away on Wednesday.  The loss of a young life is always so tragic.  The thing is, this little boy’s life is not over, it has just begun.  Right before Dylan collapsed and died at school, the class was working on their “poem” for the week.  It was John 3:16.  Monday when I picked my son up, he was so excited to share with me his poem. He and Dylan were in the same circle time group that day. 

Yesterday, the pastor came into the classroom and talked to the boys and girls about how Dylan was now with Jesus and how because Dylan knew the promise of John 3:16, that while he may have died here on earth, he will live an eternal life in heaven. 

This is a promise that has been offered to every single one of us.  The wages of sin are death.  Eternal death.  A death that we all deserve.  However, the ultimate payment was made on our behalf with the death of Jesus.  He was without sin and yet died to pay for our sin.  That alone is amazing.  However, that is not the end of the story.  Jesus didn’t just die.  He rose again!  He conquered death so that life would win.  Life in Jesus wins.  Eternal life. 

Do you believe?  My son is a huge fan of the movie Polar Express.  If you know the story, the silver bell is broken according to the parents because it won’t ring.  Yet the children who believe can hear it ring. 

Do you believe?  I do!  I can hear the bell ring.  I know that while death here on earth may come, I will hear the bells of heaven ringing.  Because of that, I do not fear death.