Hope Beyond the Grave

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

September 4, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

Hope Beyond the Grave

What would it be like if we had no hope beyond the grave?

So many people have just that, no hope!

We are not that.

Death is a mystery, what happens after death? Where are we all going?

To many, maybe most, the reality of death brings uncertainty, therefore fear. People don’t want to die, they’re afraid. What is on the other side? Most people believe there is something, but what?

The passing away of Israel Sarabia puts this reality in the forefront and we, as believers in Jesus Christ, are not afraid because we have confidence, faith, and a living, very real hope.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

1 Thessalonians 4:13 AMP

“Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].”

Most of today’s grief for departed loved ones is because of fear and uncertainty.

It is not that way with us.

We do grieve, but not in the same way. We are sad because of the temporary separation we have to now live with. There are very real tears we shed, but at the same time, our living hope is made real.

The hope that our salvation has produced.

Jesus Christ loved us, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and now offers, to all those who repent of their sins and receive Him as their Savior, eternal and everlasting life.

We triumph over death.

The death of our physical body is the beginning of a glorious transition into a brand-new eternal heavenly body.

When someone close to us passes away from this life, this needs to be reinforced. Those grieving the most also project hope, joy, confidence, and faith.

Faith in a very real, living God who has redeemed us from the slave market of sin and purchased our very lives with the shedding of His own precious blood.

Ephesians 2:4–7

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

We all have so much to look forward to in this life and in the next.

Serve Jesus and love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Put Jesus and His will for your life first in all things.

Live a life of obedience, surrender, faith, repentance, and love.

That’s the challenge we all face in this life, and if we do the above with all of our heart, we can look forward to blessing in this life and glory in the next.

1 John 2:25

“And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”