Friends, Family, and Forever
December 1, 2009
You have probably attended the funeral of a friend or close relative. Funerals are sad occasions. There is a sense of profound loss, helplessness, and hopelessness. Hearts are broken and spirits are crushed as we contemplate the finality of our loved one’s departure. But that is only one type of funeral. We see another type in Scripture. Specifically, Luke records a funeral Jesus attended. There was sadness during this funeral. There was pain. But there was also Jesus. And because of the Lord’s presence and work, a moment of intense, unendurable agony became a moment of indescribable joy (Lk. 8:49-55). You might ask, “Nesmith, what is this funeral business?” It is simple. During this Holiday Season, we will celebrate friends and family in a special way. We will eat, laugh, play, and create memories to be cherished for years to come. But a sinister reality lurks behind our joy. The friends and family we love so much are the very ones who will one day leave us behind — or who we will leave behind. When that time comes, we will shed tears of sorrow; but we will also shout exclamations of joy! We will do so because God tells us explicitly in his word that for those who are in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26-27), the graveyard is just the beginning (Jn. 11:25). Hallelujah! Think of it, West Broad and friends. We just celebrated Thanksgiving, and Christmas is coming. Oh, the fun, warmth, and happiness of these special times — if only they could last forever. Well, the good news on today is that God wants those times to continue forever! His divine desire realized through the presence and work of his son is to break the dreadful grip death has on us (Heb. 2:14-15). According to the Bible, we can be with our friends and family forever in God’s paradise. But first we have to be in God’s son (Acts 4:12). So let us all obey Jesus, and keep the party going! —JLNJR
