A Blessed Departure
Today I had the opportunity to conduct the funeral service for an elderly lady who attended our church as often as her health allowed. Several members of her family are also part of the church family and are actively involved.
My comments sprang from, of all places, the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon begins his writing revealing a heart that is frustrated and defeated after seeking happiness and purpose through every means imaginable in that day. And being King of Israel, there was literally no limit to what he would try. Instead he finds that "all is vanity and grasping for the wind" until, that is, he learns that God alone heals, satisfies and makes life worthwhile! His eventual "enlightenment" is seen in the final words of the book where he declares, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all." This is why we exist!
But back in chapter three, words known to a whole generation more through music than through the Word of God, address the reality of death. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die." Death is certain, sometimes cruel, and brings great grief to those who lose a part of themselves when it strikes. But for the Christian, this agonizing departure can be oddly mixed with an unexplainable joy. The Bible provides assurance to those who have lost precious friends or family of a supernatural "peace that passes all understanding" through Christ. They are promised in Scripture that, "to depart and be with Christ is far better." And in this case the words "far better" are simply inadeqate to convey what that will be like!
Hebrews declares that "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." There is an "appoinment" with death which we will all someday keep unless the Lord's return prevents it. And there is a second "appointment" with even greater consequences where each man's life, work, and very thoughts will be evaluated by an all-knowing God. But how very precious it is to be "in Christ," to have no fear of either event, to be soundly secured in the God's family, and to even look forward to our own "Blessed Departure."
My comments sprang from, of all places, the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon begins his writing revealing a heart that is frustrated and defeated after seeking happiness and purpose through every means imaginable in that day. And being King of Israel, there was literally no limit to what he would try. Instead he finds that "all is vanity and grasping for the wind" until, that is, he learns that God alone heals, satisfies and makes life worthwhile! His eventual "enlightenment" is seen in the final words of the book where he declares, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all." This is why we exist!
But back in chapter three, words known to a whole generation more through music than through the Word of God, address the reality of death. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die." Death is certain, sometimes cruel, and brings great grief to those who lose a part of themselves when it strikes. But for the Christian, this agonizing departure can be oddly mixed with an unexplainable joy. The Bible provides assurance to those who have lost precious friends or family of a supernatural "peace that passes all understanding" through Christ. They are promised in Scripture that, "to depart and be with Christ is far better." And in this case the words "far better" are simply inadeqate to convey what that will be like!
Hebrews declares that "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." There is an "appoinment" with death which we will all someday keep unless the Lord's return prevents it. And there is a second "appointment" with even greater consequences where each man's life, work, and very thoughts will be evaluated by an all-knowing God. But how very precious it is to be "in Christ," to have no fear of either event, to be soundly secured in the God's family, and to even look forward to our own "Blessed Departure."
posted by Pastor Bill | 11:35 AM
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