Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– James H. Aughey
Resurrection Ground
When I was presiding at a funeral not long ago, I told the audience that this man is not really here…his physical body is here, but he is with the Lord because he died in the faith, so it’s not really burial ground, but resurrection ground, and so “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (1st Cor 15:44), and “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (1st Cor 15:43), so even though we will grieve for them, I know they wouldn’t want to come back.
Not Goodbye
Another funeral I spoke at was in reminding the audience of the deceased saint, “It’s not goodbye…but see you later,” because we know that Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-26)? I believe it…do you?
The Mind Cannot Perceive
I don’t think we have any real idea about how awesome heaven will be. That’s why the Apostle Paul said, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1st Cor 2:9), and indeed, the glory that is coming cannot compare to what we experience today (Rom 8:18), and I’m fine with that.
Conclusion
Actually, death is not bad because it opens us up to eternity, and then there’ll be another funeral, but no one will come to this one because it’ll be the death of sorrow, pain, suffering, and even death itself (Rom 21:4). That is the hope that we all have that we will be raised someday, so it’s not goodbye when we depart this world, and although it’s going to be amazing, it’s indescribable.
