Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15 NIV)
I don’t really like looking at dead bodies in caskets. No matter how skilled the funeral home staff may be, the body never quite looks like the person. In a way, it can’t be, because a person is much more than just the body. Once the spirit, emotions, personality, communication, and facial expressions are gone, the body is just that empty shell.
Our friend from church died last Thursday night, surrounded by close family singing praises and worship to God. Her passing feels sudden because we only had a few months to absorb the news of her diagnosis, months that we used to pray and believe for total healing. She has received that healing, albeit not in the miraculous ways we had hoped. Perhaps selfishly, we wanted her to live longer here on earth. Her total healing came as she saw Jesus escort her from this life to the next, where there are no more tears, sorrow, death, crying, or pain. I know with absolute certainty her life there is “better by far” than life here. For that, I rejoice.
There’s another family who lost a husband and father on Saturday when he was shot in the attempt to assassinate President Trump. For this family there was no warning, no time to prepare, only shock. This “hero firefighter” and “girl dad” was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He used his body to shield his wife and children, and now they grieve.
Finally, somewhere there are family members and maybe even friends of the shooter from the assassination attempt. No matter how messed up this twenty-year-old may have been, somewhere there’s probably a parent or grandparent or teacher or…someone…who is in shock, stunned by this turn of events and saddened by the outcome.
I have no information about the shooter’s background, but an article I read said that the “hero firefighter” went to church weekly, so I’m going to assume that he was a Believer and his family will have the support they need. The Apostle Paul told us, “We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope.” Paul repeatedly points to Jesus Christ as the hope for each person, and if you’re reading my blog you probably already know that. But, you cannot live life on earth without having something to grieve. Death happens. We grieve. But, as Believers, while we may mourn, we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Instead we mourn what we have lost, even as we celebrate what the deceased has gained.
Today as we gather together for the Celebration of Life for one person, other families – maybe 9000 of them in the US alone! – will be in various stages of grief, regret, shock, sadness, anger, and a lot more. Today, may we be the people who can say:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
And may we bring HOPE to those who mourn.
Jehovah Shalom,
It is with heavy and disappointed hearts that we will come together today to celebrate the life of this amazing woman. Thank you for her deep and abiding faith, her powerful prayers, and her godly witness to those around her. Thank you that even though we did not see a miracle, we believe your promises that she is no longer in any pain or suffering and she is, instead, in a place that is better by far. We also claim that promise for the gentleman who was killed in the assassination attempt on Saturday. We pray that the Holy Spirit and the men and women of your Church would be very, very present to his family that grieves. Jehovah Jireh, provide all they need. God, we know very little about the gunman, but we pray for any family and friends that he would have known. May your Peace that passes understanding be very present to them. And may that Peace be poured out upon all those who grieve. Bind up the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn, and give them a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. May they seek first and receive your Comfort, Love and Hope, we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 NIV)
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (Philippians 1:22-24 NIV)
Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13 GW)