Pat's Hope

Written in loving memory of Pat Chappell:

“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in Me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. You know the way to the place I am going.” Because I live, you will live too.” John 14:1-4, 19(b) CEB

This passage was used by Pastor Robby on a recent Wednesday night, following the passing of one of our own, Pat Chappell. He felt we as family and friends needed to hear a word of hope. How right he was! Sometimes we need to be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus Christ and this was one of those times as we have all been saddened by her death.

In this passage, Jesus says to his disciples, “you know the way to the place I’m going”. He was trying to prepare them for His death and then His ascension, His absence for a time. The way is to simply believe on Him and confess our condition as a sinner. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” With this trio we too, will know the way to that place.

There are so many attributes I could list to describe Pat’s life, but just suffice it to say she was a shining example for us all. Pat knew the One, who is the way, truth and life – and her life indicated that fact. She was a huge part of Crestview Baptist Church, and her absence will certainly be felt by her church family in addition to her own family.

Without hesitation, I can say I know where Pat is today because her hope was in Jesus her Savior.

Where is your hope? Do you know the way? Because He lives, you can live too! You can live not only in this present time, but beyond, for all eternity. This promise is found in 1 John 2:25, This is the promise that he himself gave us: eternal life.” (CEB) That’s about as plain and simple as it gets.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Edward Mote