Funerals - A Time to Remember
Introduction. When a person dies, it is customary for those who knew them to gather together in remembrance. These gatherings have different names (e.g., "funeral", "memorial service", "laying to rest") and have different ceremonies depending on the person, their religious background, and the culture. But they all share some things in common.
A Reminder of Death. Simply speaking, funerals are a harsh reminder of the reality of death. We often push this fact out of our minds in our day-to-day living. We try to postpone it with diet and exercise. We cover up signs of its approach with cosmetics, hair dyes, and plastic surgery. But God wants us to be reminded by death that this is the way of life. He revealed to us:
A Reminder of One's Own Life. Someday someone will likely be speaking at our own funeral. What will they say about us? Is our life one that can be honored and remembered? These thoughts are so important that God has told us something that at first strikes us as impossible, but upon reflection gives great wisdom.
A Reminder of Eternity. Funerals and memorial services can encourage us to consider the eternal consequences of death. God wants us to remember:
A Reminder of Priorities. We get so wrapped up in day-to-day living and the struggles of life that we lose sight of what is really important. There is nothing wrong with wanting to growing up, graduate from school, get a job, find a spouse, have children, advance in our career, and acquire possessions. But sitting in a memorial service reminds us of the common saying "He who dies with the most toys still dies." As the Bible points out:
An Ongoing Reminder. It isn’t long after we are born into this world that we are introduced to the experience of death. Sometimes it is a bitter plunge with the loss of a grandparent or other close relative at a very young age. One day they are there with all their warmth and love and the next they are gone. For others it is simply our parents warning us that if we don’t look both ways when we cross the street we could die. So each of us learns soon after birth that life and death exist side by side.
Conclusion. Someday, each of us here will be the center of attention at a funeral or memorial service. We can run away and hide from this truth or we can accept it and prepare for its eventuality. As those who are still living, we must take this to heart:
A Reminder of Death. Simply speaking, funerals are a harsh reminder of the reality of death. We often push this fact out of our minds in our day-to-day living. We try to postpone it with diet and exercise. We cover up signs of its approach with cosmetics, hair dyes, and plastic surgery. But God wants us to be reminded by death that this is the way of life. He revealed to us:
- To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; Eccl 3:1-2
A Reminder of One's Own Life. Someday someone will likely be speaking at our own funeral. What will they say about us? Is our life one that can be honored and remembered? These thoughts are so important that God has told us something that at first strikes us as impossible, but upon reflection gives great wisdom.
- It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Eccl. 7:2-4
A Reminder of Eternity. Funerals and memorial services can encourage us to consider the eternal consequences of death. God wants us to remember:
- it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, Heb 9:27
- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10
- The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:10-12
A Reminder of Priorities. We get so wrapped up in day-to-day living and the struggles of life that we lose sight of what is really important. There is nothing wrong with wanting to growing up, graduate from school, get a job, find a spouse, have children, advance in our career, and acquire possessions. But sitting in a memorial service reminds us of the common saying "He who dies with the most toys still dies." As the Bible points out:
- For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Tim. 6:7
- …both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 2 Pet. 3:10-11
An Ongoing Reminder. It isn’t long after we are born into this world that we are introduced to the experience of death. Sometimes it is a bitter plunge with the loss of a grandparent or other close relative at a very young age. One day they are there with all their warmth and love and the next they are gone. For others it is simply our parents warning us that if we don’t look both ways when we cross the street we could die. So each of us learns soon after birth that life and death exist side by side.
- For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Eccl 3:1-2
- and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
- It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Eccl 7:2-4
Conclusion. Someday, each of us here will be the center of attention at a funeral or memorial service. We can run away and hide from this truth or we can accept it and prepare for its eventuality. As those who are still living, we must take this to heart:
- Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6:2
- And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:31-34
- Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16