TWO MORE FUNERALS

Perhaps one of the largest funerals I ever attended was of

a former coworker.  I worked with the man for about 23

years, so was pretty well acquainted with him.

This man was a sports fan through and through.  Apparently

most of his life all of his free time was spent either in sports

such as being a coach, umpire or fan.  Also he was well liked

both at work and in the community.

When I arrived for the funeral there simply was no parking

room.  So many people had come that I had to park at a 

distance from the funeral home.  And of course the building

was packed.  It was hard to find a place to sit.

During the funeral service all they could talk about was

sports.  This man's devotions to sports.  His family talked

about his love of sports.  Even the preacher that was 

officiating the service, all he could talk about was this 

man's love of sports.

But, what kept eating at me was the man ready for death?

In 23 years I never got any indication from the man that he

had any relationship to God.  Or that he had even pretended 

to serve or live for God in any way at all.  But I did know

 that he was an alcoholic.

I know, I did not know his heart.  I do not know if in his

last years he turned to God in anyway.  But for the best I knew,

while all these people were telling what a good man this 

guy had been - HE WAS NOW BURNING IN THE DEVIL'S

HELL.

Then, there was Jeanie's funeral.

We knew Jeanie and her husband for years.

They published a small Christian newspaper

in this area for years.  Both Jeanie and her 

husband lived to serve God.  If you could be 

around them the talk was going to be about living

 for God.  They loved God with all their hearts.

They had no children or family in this area.

But all of God's children were their family.

I went to Jeanie's funeral.  Circumstances as 

they were, her husband had to officiate her

funeral.  If I remember correctly, counting all

the guests, Jeanie's husband and the funeral home

employees, There was a total of nine of us at

Jeanie's funeral.

Sad.  Yes, that is, that Jeanie had passed away.

But all of us were able to rejoice because she 

was now with Jesus Christ, the God she served

in heaven.

You guess which of the two deceased I would 

choose to be if I were in their place.

THE FUNERAL

Today I actually did a task I hate to do.  I went into town
to pick up some needed things,  On the way home I was
arriving at the entrance to one of the local cemeteries when
a funeral procession came and I had to pull over and stop.

In this area it is common to see one motorcycle cop leading
a funeral procession with his lights flashing.  But not this
funeral procession.  I think it was about four motorcycle
cops with their lights flashing followed by at least two
police cars with their lights flashing.  Then of course a long
procession of cars with their lights flashing followed up by
no less that six more police cars with their lights flashing.
WOW!

I could not help but look down into the cemetery when I
was allowed to proceed.  In the cemetery just inside of the
entrance was an honor guard of men on both sides of the
road in black suits and white military type hats, standing
at attention, saluting with one hand and holding a rifle
with the other hand.
DOUBLE WOW!

That sure was not anybody I know.  But I had to stop and
think.  That person's body is going into the grave just like
all of us will.  However, their soul, the real person, is either
in God's heaven, or the Devil's hell now..  Perhaps when
finally I am put in a hole and covered with dirt - I might
even be way better off than who ever that WAS because,
 I am in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ himself.

God tells us about a certain rich man who died;
"... the rich man also died, and was buried:
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments,"
(Luke 16:22,23 KJV)

That particular man Jesus Christ was telling us
about did not gain a thing by being rich or well
liked or famous.  He still ended up in hell.  What
was his gain then?

God also said,
"And just as each person is destined to die
once and after that comes judgment,"
(Hebrews 9:27 NLT)

ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DAY?

TODAY'S QUOTE

Images courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com

" A thousand times over the centuries the death knell

of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession

formed, the flowers ordered, the inscription placed

on the tomb stone and the eulogy written but somehow

the corpse never stays put."

-Bernard Ramm