John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Our hearts and prayers are burdened recently for
our friends and loved ones who have recently lost their loved ones to the
grave. Our minds immediately turn to their
sorrow and grief and how we can help them. Then we turn to the inevitable; when is the funeral? Who will preach the
service? Is there a viewing? All the while our hearts and minds are on the spouses,
children, brothers, sisters, all those who have been left behind and their gut wrenching
grief. And their hope of Heaven and the day they will be rejoined again. How can
we get through this? I have a few thoughts below that might help.
We printed a book written by Pastor Mike Ray on “How
to Conduct A Funeral” and he shared something in his book about the Lord
and Funerals. Did you know that if you search the Bible to see how Jesus would
conduct a funeral, all you will find is that He never did a funeral. He always
raised the dead! He is Life, it is Who He is and what He does! He raised Lazarus who had been dead four days. He raised a boy on the way to
be buried. He brought a girl who was laying on a bed at home back to life.
No wonder He was forever inundated with the multitudes!
He conquered our worst enemy, death. He even rose from the dead after three
days Himself; He took the sting out of death! 1 Corinthians 15:55 says, “O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
In the moments that challenge us the most, we sometimes feel that we must be strong. But victory is not found in our strength; it is only found in the power of God. To our friends who are mourning, we have the perfect
hope of Heaven. Your grief is felt by our Saviour. If your loved ones were children of God, we do not have to worry about them. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.” On their last breath, they beheld the King of
Kings. Praise the Lord!
Maybe these few words will help someone; they are not to
be taken as words that speak lightly of the “separation” from our loved ones. I
know this personal grief in the loss of some of our dear friends and family
members. Our hearts are broken, we want them back, why did you take them Lord…
all of those questions rise to our minds, and they will continue as we desperately
seek the peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit. As the LORD tarries, may He bless you all and
may His Precious Holy Spirit bring you comfort and peace in the days, months,
and even years to come.
May the Lord Bless you,
LKMilam, Missionary to America
September 24, 2021
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