Funerals are for the benefit of the living, not for the deceased. Families may find comfort in the condolences, but the greatest comfort is found in the assurances of God in Scripture. I was reminded just this week of the incredible gift of knowing a dear one is eternally secure in the afterlife. This knowledge is a far better legacy to leave our children than any tangible inheritance.
Until five years ago, I had never flown. If anyone asked why I chose long car trips over flying, I would reply with a laugh, one day I’ll fly, just not yet. In my forty-eighth year, after driving the thirty-four hour roundtrip with my son for medical testing several states away, my husband put his foot down. Looking back, I was secretly grateful and even a little bit excited, but I’d been so determined before, it felt a little like self betrayal.
For two and a half years after that first flight, I returned to Texas with my son for follow-ups every three then every six months like a seasoned commuter. Since the start of pandemic, I haven’t flown again. I’m smart enough not to make any absolute declarations because when it comes to one of my children, I would do just about anything, but there’s only one flight that I look forward to with joy.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.4.17.NLT
Having met in church, worship attendance was never a question for my husband and me as newlyweds. Moving away from family and the church where we were married, for us, did not equate to what it does for so many now. Our relationship with Jesus is a part of who we are and moves with us no matter where we go because God’s Spirit is alive in us and He has promised never to leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) We quickly found a community of believers worshipping near our first apartment. The church was older than either of us and we were loved well there. In fact, we had the opportunity to return several years later with our firstborn for a visit and found some of those dear older saints still serving in the nursery. Above the door to the baby room hung a scripture I’ll never forget.
“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” (I Corinthians 15:51)
In context, the apostle Paul, who often used his belief in the resurrection of the dead as a talking point when sharing the good news about Jesus in academic circles, points out that Christ’s return will happen after the death of some but before others. He spends the entirety of this lengthy chapter explaining that Jesus and His resurrection is the hope of both the living and the dead.
“But there is an order to this resurrection:
Christ was raised as the first of the harvest;
then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?”
What a foolish question!
When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first.
And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.
Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have.
A different plant grows from each kind of seed.
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead.
Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret.
We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.
For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever.
And we who are living will also be transformed.
For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
But thank God!
He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:23, 26, 35-38, 42, 50-55, 57 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.23-57.NLT
I vividly remember my grandmother standing at the kitchen sink washing lunch dishes in the block house my grandfather built for her after they married. Five of us, cousins, were undoubtedly there because in my memory, the fourth parroted Granny’s song from the dining table with one minor difference. His little ears were hearing her sing O, Lord and O Glory at different times and his preschool version came out as O Glordy. She was teaching us about eternity even while she sang.
“Some glad morning when this life is over
I’ll fly away
To a home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh, Glory
I’ll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I’ll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh, Glory
I’ll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away
Yeah, when I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away
I’ll Fly Away lyrics © Albert E Brumley & Sons, Chandos Music Company
Albert E Brumley passed away when I was seven, yet his legacy lives on in his song, recorded many times in several musical genres and printed in hymnals across denominations. My grandmother is in her ninety-second year and she still sings about her heavenly home. She would not have us wonder when it comes to eternity. Her eyes are fixed on her Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ, Son of the Living God and whether He returns in her lifetime or after, she will put on immortality and she will fly!
God would not have you wonder either. He came to earth as a man and lived a perfect life, the only perfect life, to make the sacrifice that only He could make to reconcile you to Himself.
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.2.1-6.NLT
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise (to return) as some people think.
No, he is being patient for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.9.NLT
You don’t need to wonder about eternity and neither do the ones you love. Don’t make your faith a mystery and don’t keep it a secret from your children. Eternity with Jesus is your greatest hope and theirs! Your estate could be worth millions or barely enough to bury you, but you will one day leave it all behind to those who did not work for it and who may not value it as you do. You cannot control that no matter how well constructed your last will and testament, but don’t make your heirs wonder where your true wealth is being stored.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.19-21.NLT
Legacy Nichole Nordeman
Only Jesus Casting Crowns
A Fitting Reply 