Walking in the Truth at a Funeral, Part 1

Funerals? Not my favorite . . . 

Some devotional thoughts

Several weeks ago I found myself at the funeral of a friend & a benefactor--a man whom God had richly blessed to be a blessing in many ways. Clayton was a blessing to Lutheran High Northeast; also to Orphan Grain Train, & I count it a privilege that I got know him personally; also that I was "recruited" by Rev. Ray Wilke to write for OGT.

Today's Truth from Scripture

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."  Isaiah 61:1-3

Devotional thoughts continued

As a general rule, I do not like visitations, nor do I like funerals. I know, I know . . . "Oh, ye of little faith." Blame it on my human nature or whatever else. The presence of death disturbs me . . . Turns on my emotions--& I NEVER like to get emotional--NEVER like to start weeping in public. 
      But I start weeping at virtually every visitation I attend--virtually every funeral I attend. [It's okay if the same thing happens to you. In fact, if you admit it, especially if you're a guy, you'll make me--& probably a whole lotta other guys feel a little better. Maybe.]
      I don't care how old the deceased is. It doesn't matter that we say things like, "He lived to a ripe old age." Or how about, "He lived a good life." Then there's, "He was ready to go. It was a blessing for him. Or her." Death stings. [You can use a concordance & look it up. It's in the Bible. More on that later.]
      And it's not natural, which is why death disturbs--at least why it disturbs me; why it turns on the weeping spigot. You & I weren't created to die, but our ancestors tasted the forbidden fruit, & let's not kid ourselves. If we would have been in the Garden, we would have done the same same. The allure of the forbidden--the temptation to be not just friends with God but to BE LIKE God . . . well, we would have succumbed, just like Adam & Eve. 
      By the way, that's not a fable. Not a myth. I believe the inerrant, Holy Spirit-inspired account in Genesis 3. Maybe now would be a good time to review it.
      Humankind fell into sin. The whole creation suffered for it. You & I inherited it. One of the disastrous effects was the disaster of death. To some it comes late, maybe in their 90s, like my own maternal grandmother; maybe like Clayton. Maybe before they are born, like two of our own unborn babies. Unbelievers die. So do believers.
      But enough doom & gloom! If I have to go to a funeral, I'll choose Lutheran funerals! I can say without equivocation that I have never heard a bad sermon at a Lutheran funeral, because the focus is always on Jesus Christ & what He accomplished on our behalf. [WARNING:  Time for what I hope will be a proper application of Gospel, to what thus far has been, I fear, a pretty heavy dose of the Law.]

• We believe that Jesus came to earth;
• Lived the perfect life that we could never live;
• Died a horrible on a cross as the punishment we should have suffered for our sins; 
• Then rose from the grave, triumphant over death on the 3rd day, proving that our heavenly Father--HIS heavenly Father--accepted His sacrifice.

Hundreds of years before His birth, the OT prophet Isaiah wrote the Words of Promise & Hope you read [I hope] above.

• The Gospel ["Good News"] is preached to the poor . . . That's you & me, because we are poor, sinful humans, unhinged at the thought & despair of death.
• "Good News", because Jesus was sent to proclaim freedom for those captive to sin, release for those in darkness as prisoners of sin & death.
• "Good News" of comfort for those who mourn--even while striving to be comforted that their loved ones--on a day so sad for so many left behind--is a day of unequaled joy for the one who now knows eternal comfort in Jesus.
• "Good News" is provided for those who grieve, because a crown of beauty has been bestowed on our loved ones who have died in the Lord, & we don't have to cover ourselves in ashes. We don't have to be filled with a spirit of despair.
• Our faith-filled loved ones are NOT covered in ashes now. They are oaks of righteousness;
• . . . and even as we believe in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, & the Life, we can picture ourselves as oaks of righteousness, planted by the Living Water of Jesus Christ.

Amen? Amen!

A Prayer Thought

"O, death, where is thy sting? O, hell, where is thy victory?
O, Church, come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead. He's alive! He's alive!"
--"Christ is Risen," Christian recording & performing artist Matt Maher (based on 1 Corinthians 55-56)

Missionary News

Lois & I have "adopted" two missionaries:  Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese, who are preparing to serve in Ghana & West Africa, probably beginning soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes traveling to spread the word about their mission work in Africa & raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. 
[http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.

• Email: debra.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Email:  stuart.freese@lcmsintl.org
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/FreesesinAfrica/ (NOTE:  You don't need a Facebook account to view this page.)

• Website:  http://debrafreese.wix.com/freesesinafrica

• Giving Page:  http://www.lcms.org/freese

In their most recent e-newsletter, their prayer list included:

> The people of Ghana & West Africa

> The pastors & workers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana

> All missionaries world wide

> God's grace & mercy to spread throughout all nations

> Stu & Deb as they travel, sharing the news about God's work in Ghana & the rest of West Africa