Grieving

There have been seven deaths in the church family in the past ten days.  A number of church members, relatives, immediate family and loved ones of people in the church have passed away (just now, as I was typing this up, a member stopped in my office to tell me of his uncle that just died).

Paul wrote and said, "Brothers, we do not want you to...grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope" (1 Thess. 5:13).  Paul is saying that faith helps us to grieve differently -- hopefully -- confidently.

The saddest funeral I was ever part of was that of a woman who died in Florida.  She was flown back to Illinois and I was asked to have her funeral.  She had one son.  At the funeral service, in the funeral home chapel, there were a total of 7 people -- me, the son, and five others.  When the service ended, the son just stayed in his seat for over 40 minutes.  Neither mother nor son had faith and both of them lived lives closed off from others.  The only thing I could talk about was that God was available to comfort him and that people need Jesus.

Contrast that with the funerals of late in our congregation where there have been singing and laughter and joy.  Don't misunderstand, we grieve; Paul admits that we grieve -- we just grieve differently.  The worship center and fellowship hall have been full with loving support.  And what we are talking about is God's goodness and grace and promises and love and faithfulness.  We are talking about heaven and seeing our loved ones again.  And we are talking about what a blessing they were to us in their life.

Oh, yes!  God is still available to comfort us.  And more than ever we are convinced that people need Jesus.  But praise be to God, we don't have to grieve like those who have no hope!