Romans 6:23 For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Yesterday, I participated in a
wonderful funeral service. That may sound weird, but it turned out to be a joyous
celebration of a life lived well. The person concerned was a very gentle,
humble, and kind man, who touched the hearts and lives of practically everyone
that he knew. His family shared some beautiful memories and there was a lot of
laughter, mixed together with our tears. It was a blessing to be there and a
cheerful event filled with faith, hope, and love.
In the afternoon at the graveside, I
improvised on some of the words from the Church of Scotland’s Book of Order. I
told the mourners “We are not meant for the darkness of despair or death, but are created
to enjoy God’s light and love.” It was a touching moment and I could
feel the presence of the Holy Spirit with us. I think we all realized that the
wages of sin may indeed bring about our deaths, but the everlasting life which
Christ has won for each one of us, is the greatest gift we shall ever know.
From time to time, we all contemplate
our mortality and the impact that death makes in our lives. However, the beautiful
gift of faith grants us an assurance that death is not the end; it’s just the inevitable
transition to a new and eternal beginning. We may lose loved ones to death and
feel an emptiness in our lives, but Christ promises us that we can be with Him
and all our loved ones in God’s Kingdom through the faith that we embrace and
share.
Questions for personal reflection
How has death
affected my life? How can Christ’s love restore my faith and hope?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You experienced dying
and conquered death so that we may be given the opportunity of everlasting
life. Help us to live our lives in that hope, so that we may enjoy the light
and love of God, both in this life and the one that is yet to come. In Your
Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Planet Maker.” If you would like
to view a larger version, please click on this link: Maker.
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