A Good Funeral

As I write this article, it is Monday morning and I am getting ready to go to a funeral. As I think about the day ahead, I am not anticipating a sad day. There will be sadness in it, some tears will be shed for sure, but this will be a day of celebration.

For as long as I have known them, and for many years before that, George and his wife Doris have been faithful followers of Christ. Their faith was not just something that they talked about or something that they had in name only. Rather, it was something that influenced how they lived, what they valued and how they saw their entire lives.

George was not a very vocal man, but he was influential. His home was always open to anyone who needed a meal or a place to stay. In fact, that is how I first met them. When I was an intern, preaching in the town of Wawota, I stayed with George and Doris. When our Bible camp needed a place to go for a hayride, George and Doris were the first to volunteer their farm. Generous, kind and faithful are words that come to my mind today as I remember him.

George’s children were with him during his final few days, but even that time was marked with joy and hope. They believe that there is more to this life than what we see. This life only lasts a short time. It is “like a mist” (James 4:14), but we are not living for this life. We believe that there is more to come and another home beyond this one.

I am reminded today that I want to live my life with God’s priorities guiding me, so that when my time comes, people can celebrate my life with joy and hope as well.

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

It is God’s Business

During his time in the desert, Moses had seen many things, but he had never seen anything like this. Off in the distance he could see a fire burning in a bush, but the bush was not being burned up. Moses decided to go and have a closer look and that is when he heard it: the voice of God.

“The Lord said, ‘I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…’” (Exodus 3:7-8a). That message changed the life of Moses and, if we really listen, it can change our lives too.

You see, God is in the rescue business. He saved his people when they were slaves in Egypt and he can save us too.

Now, you may be thinking, “Well, that is nice, but I do not need to be saved from anything”, but the Bible would disagree. From God’s point of view, we are as much slaves as God’s people back then were. The only difference is that our slavery is to things like sin, self and stuff.

The good news is that God saved his people because he was “concerned about their suffering” (verse 7). Their salvation was based solely on the fact that God loved them and chose to save them. The Israelites did nothing to earn their freedom. It was given to them simply as a gift from God.

To Christians, that message sounds like this: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

That offer of freedom, love, joy and hope still stands for anyone who would like to receive it, because it is based on God’s love, not our worthiness.

I am glad that God is still in the rescue business.

The Whole Will of God

While on the internet last night, I came across a review of the new CD by the Christian band “Casting Crowns”, so I decided to have a look.

The review was brutal! I have rarely, if ever, seen anyone who has disliked a CD as much as this reviewer did. He did not like the songs, the music, the lead singer’s voice or anything else about it.

Interestingly, his main complaint was that the CD was “too preachy”. He thought that the lyrics were too serious, too pointed and too demanding. The album made him think too much.

“Casting Crowns” is one of my favorite bands because their lyrics are deep and their songs are challenging. Don’t get me wrong, I like fun, joyful, fluffy songs, but I listen to “Casting Crowns” because their songs say something that is based on the word of God.

I guess I should not be surprised by the fact that someone does not want to hear what the Bible has to say. Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to a young preacher named Timothy to warn him of a similar problem. “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

What is the remedy to this problem? Paul states it very clearly: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (verse 2).

I do not always like what the word says. Sometimes it demands things from me that are difficult or even against my nature, but that is ok.

We are still better off when we know, teach and follow “the whole will of God” (Acts 20:27) and not just the parts that we like.