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We often think back in the past to many of our loved ones – relations, brothers, sisters, teachers in the Lord, who have gone into the eternal home. For us, who are still “living in the flesh”, they lived “yesterday” and the writer of the Hebrew letter reminds us, to remember our teachers, all who in many ways, through word and deed, entrusted us with the Word of God. We were able to be with several up to their last hour and were encouraged by their faith in the promise of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We also feel an urgency to intercede for those who did not live in faith and had to leave this earth without this living hope. For the natural man, the loss of this life is the worst threat. But Jesus did say then and still stresses today: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28.

Jesus Christ from “yesterday” was from the beginning by God and saw the misery into which sinful man had fallen. He could judge how terrible it is, to be severed from the Heavenly Father, and prepared Himself to fulfill the salvation plan of His Father. As man, like us, He experienced the birth, learned to know the bitterness of death and has fulfilled everything to make the return to Paradise in Heaven, for Himself and for us, possible. During His earthly walk and works, He pointed out, that His real mission is to save mankind from eternal death, so that they again can become united with God. In answer to the Sadducees question regarding resurrection (Luke 20:27-38), He verified: “God is not a god of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.” (verse 38).

Jesus Christ of “today” tells us, that we also have no continuing city, but undoubtingly should seek in future the better city, Hebrews 11:13,14, which is the goal of the faithful at all times, who shall be “accounted worthy to obtain that world,” as Jesus Himself promised. Luke 20:35. For yesterday as well as today, the answer is the same: No person will be able to reach into the new world without the mercy and grace of our Redeemer, where death will be no more. Surely, we wish this grace for everyone, because this is our Master’s will, that – and if at all possible – no soul should be lost. When we remember those who have “gone before”, it is a service of love and a confession of our belief on the righteousness of God, who gave all power to our Saviour, in heaven and on earth, “beyond” and as well as on “this side”. Jesus Christ, “the same for ever, into all eternity”, has in His plan of salvation for every soul, who acknowledge Him as their redeemer and take to themselves willingly the merit of His sacrifice, to give them the opportunity to have fellowship with Him and with His church.

In remembering, we prove that the love for our fellow-men is dear to our heart, and rejoice that Christ’s love is “limitless”. All this we can experience with our Lord, who is Master over Life and Death.

Blessed be our “God of peace”, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Hebrews 13:20.