Titus 2:13; Philippians 1:19-23

Thousands upon thousands of Americans have given their lives for our freedom and the freedom of many others.  These brave men and women are buried all over the world, in places such as Normandy, the Argonne, St. Mihiel and Luxemburg.  We have visited many of these cemeteries where we have seen the American flag on foreign soil over fields of white crosses (with an occasional Star of David) and where these lives are memorialized by solemn words.

Take unto Thyself, O Lord, the souls of the valorous, that they may dwell in Thy glory (St. Mihiel WWI cemetery)

This chapel is erected by the United States of America as a sacred rendezvous of a grateful people with its immortal dead (St. Mihiel).

Jesus lives … no longer now can thy terrors, death, appal us (grave stone in a WWI British Cemetery).

Any cemetery should cause us to ask, what hope is there in death?  Is our hope that we will be memorialized when we die?  That people who visit our grave will think and speak well of us?  Will that provide comfort in the closing moments of life as we anticipate the next moment and what it will bring?  The death of a patriot is quite admirable.  Even Jesus said, greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).  But is this a happy hope?  Can we say, for example, To live is America; to die is gain?  Are we  assured that upon death we will dwell in Thy glory?

In this tremendous paragraph (2:11-15) we have been camped for awhile, and will continue to be, as we consider “The Doctrine of God our Savior.”  We have considered the grace of God that brings salvation.  Now our attention is turned to the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior.  Our initial need will be to consider each word and phrase of 2:13.  It is packed with great truth.  

But before we begin we would do well to answer the question for ourselves: what hope is there in dying?  In today’s reading Apostle Paul said he had a desire to depart and be with Christ which he said was far better.  This was not a morbid desire nor was it escapism.  He also had a desire to continue living.  Whether by life or by death is the kind of statement that reflects confidence in what will happen when this life ends.  Paul had what Titus 2:13 calls the blessed hope.  It is a happy hope, being the Greek term used by Jesus in the beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-10).  It is not the blessedness of the Greek “eulogeo” form which we get eulogy when someone says nice things about you.  It is the blessedness of being filled with richness, benefits and good things (Kenneth Wuest).  

Is the return of Christ a thought that brings you happiness?  Are you confident that meeting Him will be a joyful experience?  The doctrine of God our Savior is about the cross and resurrection in the past and the glorious appearing in the future.  Do you have a happy hope?