「3願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶稣基督從死裡復活，重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，4可以得著不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘、為你們存留在天上的基業。5你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得著所預備，到末世要顯現的救恩。」（彼得前書1:3-5）

各位弟兄姐妹，各位親友來賓，平安！我們今日聚集，緬懷紀念陳師母胡元玲姊妹；她已回歸天家，安息在上帝的懷抱。世上最慘烈的事情，莫過於死亡；世上最難過的時刻，莫過於訣別。失去伴侶、失去親人、失去朋友，此時心裡的痛難以言表。我們懇求慈愛的天父，賜下安慰，撫平憂傷，特別與陳牧師和家人同在。

我們的聚會不是喪事，而是「生命禮讚紀念會」，在生離死別的時刻，我們仍然能夠向神歌唱，獻上感恩，這是因為我們的心中有盼望。此時和大家一起思想《彼得前書》第一章3到5節，願神所賜給我們的「活潑的盼望」，成為我們勝過痛苦、奔走天路的力量。

繽紛的氣球帶走弟兄姐妹們的懷念

「3願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活，重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，4可以得著不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘、為你們存留在天上的基業。 5你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得著所預備，到末世要顯現的救恩。」 （彼得前書1:3-5）

盼望的根源 – 父神的憐憫。盼望從哪裡來？盼望來自神的憐憫。死亡是絕望的，因為死亡所帶來的是分離、是隔絕。人的罪使人與永生的神分隔，如經上所說：「世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。」（羅3:23) 與神分隔的結果是死亡，「罪的工價乃是死」（羅6:23）經文告訴我們的好消息是，神有「大憐憫」。憐憫(eleos)的原意是同情、體恤、仁愛、慈悲。表達憐憫的動作是，溫柔地把對方拉近身邊，給予照顧，給予救援。神的大憐憫有兩個方面：第一，他延遲對世人的審判。神寬容我們，給世人時間悔改，「他不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。」 （彼後3:9）第二，他為世人預備了出死入生之路。讓我們藉著耶穌的死裡復活重生，成為新造的人。這就使原本出生入死，走向絕望的人生之路，變成出死入生，走向天國的恩典之途。和合本聖經把它翻譯成「活潑的盼望」，新譯本的翻譯是「永活的盼望」，更好，因為這盼望是和永遠的生命聯在一起的。

永活的盼望不是將來的，而是現在的；不是從離世歸主開始，而是從悔改新生發端。這活潑的、永遠的盼望，改變並引導每個神的兒女的一生。陳師母從小信主，她一生都活在「永活的盼望」之中。

盼望的目標 – 天上的基業。永活的盼望不是虛假的、不是心理暗示，這盼望有一個實體，就是天上的基業。經文告訴我們，這基業不能朽壞、​​不能玷污、不能衰殘、永遠存留。這基業是什麼？是冠冕嗎？是王權嗎？是財寶嗎？是名分嗎？是榮耀嗎？是安息嗎？可能包括這些，經文​​中有談到這些的地方。但這些不是最重要的，最重要的是神自己，是耶穌基督！耶穌基督是我們在天上的基業！只有他是那「不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘」，並且存到永遠那一位。當我們的靈離開肉身，回歸天家時，我們要與主耶穌完全聯合。他所應許的「你們在我裡面，我也在你們裡面。」（約14:20）在那時就完全實現了。 「神本性一切的豐盛都有形有體的居住在基督裡面。」（西2:9）進入基督就得著一切。所以，在我們屬基督的人看來，死亡不是壞事，而是人生蒙福新階段的開始。死亡不是失去，而是得著；死亡不是分離，而是聯合。我們每個人都要藉著死，最終戰勝死亡，超越死亡，得到天上的基業。神的救恩何等奇妙，屬神的人何等有福！

盼望的保障 – 信心的能力。第5節中的「保守」(phroureo)是個軍事用語。當我們以信心進入神的恩典之約時，神要以他的大能大力為我們征戰，保護我們待在他恩典的懷抱中，直到見他面的日子。今天經文一開始就說：「願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！」主、耶穌、基督、父神這四個稱謂都與神和人的關係有關；這四個稱謂把我們與永生的神重新契合在一起。我們不再是與神隔絕的人，我們是神的後嗣，神要給我們能力奔走天路。我在陳師母身上看到了這種能力。她不僅是丈夫的好妻子，孩子的好母親，教會的好師母，她還是一個出色的、敬拜讚美的帶領者。我有幸在「橄欖音樂事工」 (Olive Branch Music Ministry) 有一點點參與，因而有機會認識陳師母。陳師母禀賦過人，她不僅會唱，而且能寫；不僅寫英文，還能寫中文；不僅會寫詞，還會作曲；不僅會唱會寫，而且還能彈！這樣的人才很少見到啊！

我在思想今天的信息的時候，一直聽著陳師母作詞作曲，並且親自歌唱的，我非常喜歡的兩首歌。一首是「神哪，求你鑑察我」，濃郁的中國風格。另一首是「願被救贖的百姓都稱頌」，明朗歡樂。在「哈利路，哈利路，哈利路亞」的歌聲裡，她的音容笑貌，浮現在眼前。斯人雖逝，歌聲常存。如今她在天上歌唱，我們在地上應和，從此我們的敬拜直達天庭！

今日基督教報(Christianity Today) 上有一篇文章說，每一個先我們而去的基督徒，都是人生夜空中的北極星。他們為我們指出人生的方向。陳師母已經融入了北極星的光輝，那是榮耀的歸宿。我們雖流淚卻不絕望，我們雖難過卻不喪膽；我們只要心存永活的盼望，向同一方向前行，神必保守我們的腳步，直到與她再會的日子。

Living Hope

Rev. Gary Hua  / Translated by Charles Liao

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

陳胡元玲師母安葬儀式

Dear brothers and sisters, friends and families,  we are gathering today in remembrance of sister Linda Chan because she has gone home with the Lord.  Death is the most tragic thing in the world, and bidding farewell is the most sorrowful moment in the world.  The sadness is beyond what we can express when losing a partner, a family member, and a friend.  We ask for the comfort and peace from our Heavenly Father among us, and especially peace be unto Pastor Chan’s family.

The theme of our gathering today; however,  is not a funeral.  It is the “Celebration of Life” because at this time of momentarily separation, we can still sing to the Lord and give thanks to the Lord.  We sing and give thanks because we have hope in our hearts.  I want to share with you from the book of 1st Peter 1:3-5.  I hope that the Living Hope from God will sustain us during this time of sorrow, and become our strength in our Pilgrim’s progress.

The source of our hope is God’s great mercy.

Death is devastating because it brings separation.  It reminds us how sin separates us from God as it is written in Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Separation from God leads to death: “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Rom 6:23)  The scripture tells us the good news is that God is of GREAT MERCY.  The Greek meaning of MERCY is compassion, thoughtfulness, and kindness.  God shows his mercy in two ways: 1. He is patient with mankind and gives us time to repent.“9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) 2. He prepares a way for us to be delivered out of death and into eternity through Jesus Christ.

The living hope is not something happens only after we leave this world, rather, it is something we can enjoy the moment when we are reborn through Christ.  This living and eternal hope guides and shapes every God’s child.  Linda trusted the Lord at her early age and she lived her whole life in this living hope.

The goal of our hope is the inheritance in heaven.

The living hope is not make-believe.  It is a real thing – the heavenly inheritance.  The scripture tells us the inheritances never perish, spoil, or fade.  So what exactly is this inheritance?  Is it crown? Power? Wealth? Fame? Glory? Peace? These may be part of the inheritance, but the most important is God himself!  The inheritance is Jesus Christ! God himself is the only one that never perishes, spoils, or fades.  So when our spirit leaves our earthly tent and goes home, we reunite with the Lord Jesus.  “20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”(John 14:20) and “9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”(Colossians 2:9)  Therefore death is never a bad thing from the standpoint of God’s children; it is a milestone that marks a new stage of God’s blessing.  Death is not losing; it’s gaining.  Not separation, but union.  Through death, each one of us will conquer death and receive heavenly inheritance.  How wonderful God’s saving grace is! And how blessed are we who belong to him!

Assurance of Hope – the power of faith.

In v.5 “shielded” is a military term.  When we enter God’s covenant of grace by faith, God fights before us with his mighty power.  He protects us and does not lose us from his grip.  The scripture starts with “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Lord, Jesus, Christ, God the Father are four names of God that define how we are together with him in eternity.  We are no longer separated from God, but we are his descendants who have overflowing power from God.  I see that power in Linda’s life.  Besides being a great wife, a great mom, a great mentor for brothers and sisters in the church, she was a great and true worshipers.  I had the privilege participating in the Olive Branch Music Ministry where I met Linda.  She was really talented: she sang, she wrote the lyrics – both English and Chinese, she composed, and played piano.  It is such a rare combination yet she did everything so well.

I’ve been listening to the songs Linda wrote and sang while writing today’s message.  Two of my favorite songs are “God, Please Examine Me”, which has a wonderful Chinese tone, and “Praise Ye Who Are Delivered” is so joyful.  I can almost see her smile while listening to her singing “Allelu Allelu, Halleluiah”.  She left us with her wonderful voice and now she is singing in heaven, while we are echoing here on earth.  May all of our praises be pleasing to God.

An article in Christianity Today says that every Christian gone home before us is like a Polaris which points the right direction for our lives.  Linda is now beaming through the Polaris and we see what a glorious destination that is.  We shed tears, but we are hopeful; we are saddened, but we don’t lose hope.  We have the same living hope as Linda did, as we march toward the same direction, God will surely keep our steps until the day we meet her again.