I thought I'd post the message I preached at the funeral I conducted this morning. Difficult Funeral Services by James L. Christensen was a very helpful resource as I prepared for this funeral. Maybe this message will be helpful to other pastors who find themselves in the same position I was in. Or maybe you'll think I was way off base. Either way, here it is:
Nehemiah at the end of the book that bears his name offers a simple but heartfelt prayer, "I pray that God will bless me for the good I have done." At the end of his life, Nehemiah's deep desire was that God would remember him for the good he had done.
We're here in memory of G. How will she be remembered by her family? By her friends? By those she taught? Above all, how will God, the One who gave her life remember her? That's the crucial question.
All of you have known her better than I. The few details I know are what the family shared with me the other day. From what they told me, I came to see that G was a good person. She enjoyed helping people, whether it was knitting mittens for her nieces, helping the young children she taught learn, or laughing with friends as she danced or played cards.
Sadly, she never had the blessings of being part of a faith community. None can claim to know another's eternal destiny. That is God's knowledge alone. God alone remembers the whole of G's life, the triumphs and the tragedies, the joys and the sorrows. Only God knows the full story of G's life, what motivated and influenced her to do the things she did. Therefore, none may judge other than He who knows all things and will one day also judge you and me.
So, in facing this loss, be glad for the happy memories that you have of G. Be appreciative of the many good qualities of her character and the good deeds she has done. Remember her and be thankful.
Also remember the character of God as the Psalmist (Psalm 89) knew him. The Psalmist had a difficult time understanding what God was doing, yet he knew God's faithfulness and goodness. In Genesis 18:25 we read, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" God is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes. God is always trustworthy.
Anytime we're perplexed or in doubt, we can trust God totally to do what is right. Though God doesn't always do what we think is right, but then God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and God's ways are beyond all human understanding. It is faith in God's goodness and mercy that allow us to put aside our fear and our doubts. God will do what is right. We can trust him.
G's life on earth is over. The good she has done lives on in each one who has been touched by her.
How will you remember G? And more than that, how will God remember her?
But there's even a more important question for each one here this morning, how will God remember you? We can do nothing for the dead. However, we who remain have the opportunity to assure ourselves a place within God's eternal kingdom.
Our good deeds aren't enough to get us to heaven. It is only by the grace of God. This is what St. Paul says in Ephesians, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Paul explains what this faith means in Romans, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Today you have the opportunity to have the blessed assurance that your eternal destiny is established. Put your faith in Christ, say to him, "I want to know that I will spend eternity in heaven, so I repent of my sins and put my trust in you." Saying that simple prayer changes everything. So that when you die, as we surely all will, God will remember you not only for the good your have done, but for the faith you put in His Son. And you will be saved. Amen.
John,
Thank you for sharing the message you delivered. Even though I have not yet had the responsibility of conducting a funeral service, I know that it will be a difficult thing to do.
Shalom,
Brent
Posted by: Brent Hamilton | September 09, 2006 at 08:45 AM