Is Your House Right with God?
By David Faust
As King David prepared to die, he made sure his house was right with God. He was confident his salvation would come to fruition because he shared with the Lord “an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part” (2 Samuel 23:5).
Even royals are mortals. David’s son Solomon, who succeeded him on the throne, suggested we can learn more by visiting a funeral than by attending a dinner party. He mused, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2).
When you think about your own death, what makes you afraid? What gives you hope? Is your house right with God?
THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Morticians aren’t the only ones who have a front-row seat in the theater of death. So do others, like doctors, nurses, hospice workers, EMTs, police officers, firefighters, and ministers.
I have led funerals for 100-year-olds and for 1-day-old babies. I have led memorial services in large churches attended by hundreds, and graveside services where a couple of observers stood alone in a cemetery. I’ve heard mourners say with admiration, “He lived a long, full life,” and I’ve seen lives tragically cut short while loved ones shake their heads and wonder, “Why did God allow this to happen?” I have seen individuals take their final breaths with terror in their eyes, and I have seen others approach death like relaxed travelers getting ready for a long-awaited journey home.
Death is a persistent intruder. It casts a dark shadow. It disrupts our plans and demands our attention. Whether it arrives gradually or suddenly, we can’t just shrug it off. At times, it looks like death has the final word. But if you read the Gospels, you’ll see that God has other ideas.
THE SUNLIGHT OF HOPE
Christ has the final word. Faith in him alters the way we view death. In Christ we “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Yes, Jesus’ followers cry at funerals, but you can see peace in their eyes along with the tears.
Satan uses the fear of death to captivate and intimidate, but Christ liberates us to walk in the sunlight of hope. After enduring a painful and humiliating death, Christ emerged victorious three days later. He insisted, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and he promised those who believe in him that they will go on living after they die (John 11:25). For believers, the deathbed is our launching pad to glory!
Looking to the past, in baptism we already died and rose again (Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12). In the present, we know that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In the future, we will pack up the tents of our mortal bodies and trade them for mansions prepared by the Lord (John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10). Meanwhile, we can give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, knowing that because he lives, our “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
The question, How will we die? leads to another question: How should we live? King David knew the answer: “Make sure your house is right with God.”
Personal Challenge: Have you planned your own funeral? Write down ideas to guide those who will conduct your memorial service someday. List your favorite songs and Scripture passages, and include any key lessons you have learned in life that you want to pass along to others. You may want to suggest the name of a minister you would like to preside or others you want to participate in the service. When people attend your funeral, what will you want them to hear about the Lord? After writing down your thoughts, discuss your funeral plans with a few trusted family members or friends.
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