...life that lasts

Today I attended a funeral. 


I didn't know what to wear, I knew less about what to say, but it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. 


My friend's father passed away earlier this week after a courageous eight-month battle against gastric cancer. The diagnosis came last October and was most unexpected for everyone. He and his family knew it would be difficult to beat, but they had hope. Despite the thousands of prayers that went up for his healing, God took him home. 


Doug was a beloved father, husband and pastor, faithful to his family and friends and to his calling to share Christ's love with everyone he met. It doesn't seem fair that a man of God would be taken away from his family when he was hardly older than 60, but my last post would explain why it is fair - that, according to our sinful nature, death is what we all deserve. But for those who trust in God, death is only the beginning of the next Great Adventure. 


During the funeral today, his wife wanted to encourage all of the believers that had been praying for his healing to not be despaired, but to realize that God did in fact heal Doug: he's with Jesus now, at rest in his true home. Although their hearts are heavy for his passing, they celebrate that he is in heaven, the place where we who believe are all called to be. 


This passage was read during the funeral: 


2 Corinthians 5:6-9


 ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 


The funeral was a wonderful reminder of how temporary this life is and where our true home lies. I get so attached to this world and the things that I hope for in this life, and when things don't go as I hope I get disappointed. It's reasonable to be sad when we are disappointed and heartbroken, but we must remember that this is not our ultimate home; there is so much more waiting for us in heaven.

I am sad for my friend that her father is gone; it got me thinking about my own dad and how devastated I would be if he were no longer present in my life. He's the person I go to when I need advice or a hug or just need to be reminded of how great and awesome our God is. My friend broke down today when she said "You always think your parents are going to be there," and I realized that yes, I do tend to think that. I think they will be there when I graduate from college, when I get engaged; I think that my dad will walk me down the aisle, that my mom will cradle her grandson. But nothing in life is guaranteed.

The greatest tragedy in life, I've realized, is not the death of a loved one; it's the death of a loved one who doesn't know Christ. I praise God that Doug was one of His faithful followers who lived with purpose and passion. His life was an example of how much God can affect others through a person changed by Christ.

I'll close with this verse, also read during the service today:

Isaiah 61:1-3


 ¹ 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,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ 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.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.