by Tom Wacaster
When I lived in Ada,
Oklahoma, it was not uncommon for me to get a call from the director of one of
the more prominent funeral homes in that city, asking me to preach someone's
funeral. In the ten years that I was there I preached more than 200 funerals.
The request to do so many funerals was due, in part, to the fact that the
director and owner of the funeral home was the husband of one of our members.
So, as it turned out, when there was no one to "preach" the funeral,
I was called upon to "preach his funeral."
Though the circumstances
have changed somewhat through the years, I am still called upon from time to
time to preach the funeral of someone with whom I am not the least bit
acquainted. Most of the time it is the family member of someone I know. Their
loved one did not attend church anywhere, nor were they acquainted with any
"man of the cloth" (as they are wont to say). My agreement to
"preach the funeral" of such a one derives solely from my
acquaintance with a family member or close associate. Some time ago a dear,
close sister in Christ called and asked if I would preach at a memorial service
for her departed brother. I agreed, and would soon meet with the family to do
what I could to sooth aching souls in their loss. As the time for meeting with
the family drew near, I pondered the situation. What shall I say? Shall I tell
them that their loved one has gone to be with the Lord? This I cannot do, for
not only had he never obeyed the gospel, he was not a member of any religious
organization. Shall I tell the family that God will comfort them, and watch
over them? This I cannot do, for most of them are not Christians, as evidenced
from the fact that they had to ask our sister in Christ if she knew of a
preacher to conduct the memorial service. Can I tell the family that this
departed loved one has left a noble example for them to follow? This I cannot
do, since the life he evidently led is not the kind of life that will get a man
to heaven. Since I could not speak words of encouragement as to this departed
man's spiritual state, I did my best to remind this family that life is short,
eternity is sure, and that life's tragedy's should be used as stepping stones
to bring us closer to God. I spoke of the frailty of this physical body, the
brevity of life, and the reality of an impending judgment. I pointed these
things out as kindly as I knew how. But I felt that these things must be said.
With the exception of one or two members of that family, I knew that day would
be the last time that I would ever see the majority of those who would gather
on that solemn occasion to reflect upon the life of their now deceased loved
one. So, I preached TO the family, and not ABOUT the deceased. When it comes
your time to depart, will there be some preacher with whom you are acquainted
who will joyfully, and in full expectation of seeing you again on the other side
of the valley of death, speak words of comfort to your family, holding forth
the hope that only the child of God can have? That depends upon how you live
now. It is recorded in Numbers 23:10 that Balaam cried, "Who can count the
dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the
death of the righteous, and let by last end be like his." But a man cannot
live the life of the wicked, and expect to die the death of the righteous
(Galatians 6:7-8). My friend, you cannot live a life in rebellion to God and
then expect someone to speak words of hope at your funeral. Why not live a life
of submission to Jesus Christ your Lord so that when it comes your time to
depart the walks of life and cross that river into eternity, that it can be
said of you, "He lived the life of the righteous." Or will you, like
untold thousands, simply have someone to "preach your funeral"?