"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." (Psalm 116:15)
I am conducting a funeral service this evening for a relative of a friend of ours. I don't any more do much of the pastoral duties I used to do. I found it most interesting this morning, however, that our text is one that I never recall using in a funeral service. What a privilege and joy to be literally at the "Feet of Jesus" daily in His Words. There He always has "something" for you and me, every day, in His Words, comfort, direction, encouragement.
So many people do not think of death as, "precious." But according to our text, "Precious...is the death of His saints." Jesus takes, "His saints," from this time/space life, ridden with pain, suffering, heartache, evil, strife, into Eternal life, a "realm," an "experience" which we cannot imagine now. The moment Jesus enters our life, the moment we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we received the Eternal Life which only Jesus is. What is cliche to many, "they are in a better place," is to you and me, "the Blessed hope," Paul speaks of to Titus. The "After Life," Heaven is so little spoken of today. Christendom has become a religion of, "get-it-now-and-I-can-show-you-how."
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Perhaps one reason is that there is "more" and "better" awaiting us than time/space minded people could ever imagine. Perhaps it is also that we will enter into a relationship in Jesus which our limited bodies and minds could ever know in this "limited" life. Or maybe it is some of, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away....I...saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He...Himself...will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying'....Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
I am conducting a funeral service this evening for a relative of a friend of ours. I don't any more do much of the pastoral duties I used to do. I found it most interesting this morning, however, that our text is one that I never recall using in a funeral service. What a privilege and joy to be literally at the "Feet of Jesus" daily in His Words. There He always has "something" for you and me, every day, in His Words, comfort, direction, encouragement.
So many people do not think of death as, "precious." But according to our text, "Precious...is the death of His saints." Jesus takes, "His saints," from this time/space life, ridden with pain, suffering, heartache, evil, strife, into Eternal life, a "realm," an "experience" which we cannot imagine now. The moment Jesus enters our life, the moment we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we received the Eternal Life which only Jesus is. What is cliche to many, "they are in a better place," is to you and me, "the Blessed hope," Paul speaks of to Titus. The "After Life," Heaven is so little spoken of today. Christendom has become a religion of, "get-it-now-and-I-can-show-you-how."
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Perhaps one reason is that there is "more" and "better" awaiting us than time/space minded people could ever imagine. Perhaps it is also that we will enter into a relationship in Jesus which our limited bodies and minds could ever know in this "limited" life. Or maybe it is some of, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away....I...saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He...Himself...will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying'....Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
