Now What?

The House of Mourning

I’m not a fan of funerals.  It is an opportunity to see family, but it would be nicer to gather for a different occasion.  I don’t get all that much comfort in knowing that I may not see some folks much in this life, but they will show up at my funeral. 

I’ve never really liked the open casket thing, although I’ve been told it’s a vital practice in saying good-bye.  It does illustrate, however, that our bodies are just a shell, and who we truly are is something quite different.

Commemorating someone’s life, saying good-bye, and celebrating their transition into eternity is entirely appropriate and important to those left behind.  We do it and we should.

It has been said that nothing is certain in life but death and taxes.  Solomon told us, It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

There’s something about death, the finality and inevitability of it that makes us sober.  Death is the great equalizer – no matter who we are in life, what we’ve accomplished, good and bad – one day we will die.  The day is set, but not by us.

...in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them (Psalm 139:16).

We’re not often ready for death – Moreover, man does not know his time:  like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them (Ecclesiastes 9:12).

Even though death’s coming may be unannounced and unexpected, we don’t have to fear.  As the psalmist says, My times are in Your hands… (Psalm 31:15a).  At least we don’t have to fear, if we call the author of all life Father.

If we can understand that death is not the end but is really a transition into the next life, the great part of life, that frees us up into receiving God’s courage and His help (Max Lucado).

Facing the death of people we love and care about can be good for us.  We often live in the illusion that there will always be a tomorrow.  We can get to important things later.  We can speak words of encouragement and truth another time.  We can make peace with each other when we are ready.  We will surely see that special person again – but it is not so, and death causes us to realize it.

Time is not something we can control.  It flies by quickly and suddenly things change.  We don’t always have tomorrow.  We don’t always get a second chance.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him (Hebrews 9:27-28).

The time to get right with God is now.  The time to share the Good News is now.  The time to live like we believe it is now.

So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

In A.W. Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God, he opens Chapter Three with a quote from Augustine, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until we find rest in Thee.”

Tozer goes on to explain what Augustine meant:

The great saint states here in few words the origin and entire history of the human race. God made us for Himself: that is the only explanation that satisfies the heart of a thinking man, whatever his wild reason may say. Should faulty education and perverse reasoning lead a man to conclude otherwise, there is little that any Christian can do for him. For such a man I have no message. My appeal is addressed to those who have been previously taught in secret by the wisdom of God; I speak to thirsty hearts whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them, and such as they need no reasoned proof. Their restless hearts furnish all the proof they need.

            The rest of the chapter explains what it means to live in the presence of God.

http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/tozer/5f00.0888/5f00.0888.03.htm

There is meaning to life, but it is only found in God.  If death doesn’t make us realize that, than it hasn’t done its job.

We are here for a purpose, and it’s not for our own pleasure, ambition, or reason.

We have Paul’s words to Timothy when he knew death was imminent, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me; but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Paul would depart in peace, despite a violent death, knowing that he fulfilled the purpose God had for him while on earth.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:31-35)?

The house of mourning is indeed better than the house of feasting.  It is a time to assess our life, our relationships, and our purpose.  It is a time to get them back on track before it is too late.