Jesus makes all the difference

Knowing Jesus makes a huge difference – at least it should! Life can never be the same again – nor can death. Everything is changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, when one becomes a ‘Christ-one’, a Christian. Of course there are those who try to follow Jesus from a distance, keeping their options open. Their lives don’t tend to change much and they worry, fear & preoccupy themselves with all the same things as people with no faith.

How special it is then to cross the path of someone whose faith in Jesus just shines through everything about them – in the good times, the tough times, and even when health deteriorates and eternity beckons. Daniel Hopley was one such special guy. In life and death his life shone brightly, giving testimony to his Lord and Saviour.

Angie and I were privileged to attend Daniel’s funeral and Thanksgiving last Tuesday and yes, there was much sadness and sorrow at a life cut short, and a sense of great loss. But there was also testimony after testimony giving thanks to God for a young man who made such a lasting impression through the way he lived and bore witness to his Saviour in every situation of life. Even, or rather I should say, especially in his last months, when battling with pain in his body, he was an inspiration to be with, more concerned about those around him than he was about himself, and anyone visiting Daniel went away uplifted and encouraged! Trevor spoke of how he wanted to honour his son, recalling his exploits, achievements, and his bright witness

Perhaps most moving of all was to hear Jo relate their first date and how Daniel had told her that Jesus was the most important person in his life and how he looked forward to going to be with him one day. Not the usual stuff of a first date – but this was no ordinary guy! Jo went on to say how she went on to enjoy wonderful times with Daniel, sharing his zest for life as well as his devotion to Jesus, and how she was grateful to God for every day of those 7 years.
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It’s not often you can say of a funeral / Service of Thanksgiving that it was inspiring, but this one really was. The brightness of Daniel’s devotion to Jesus shone through it all, reminding me that knowing Jesus really does change absolutely everything.

Goff

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