Last Saturday, August 1st, was my birthday. It was number 58, in a series that began in
1957 and will run until…well, I don’t have the foggiest idea when it will come
to an end.
Birthdays in our family are traditionally celebrated in some
fashion, although the fashion in which mine was marked this year was a bit
unusual. We were on the road and out of
town for a week, so the celebration was in multiple segments.
There was cake, a card and a gift with my in-laws last
Thursday. The on Saturday there was
another card and some singing from a few of my family members. And after returning home late last night the
festivities will conclude this evening, with cake, ice cream and a few gifts from my wife and our youngest
daughter.
And, thanks to Facebook, my birthday this year had what must
be the highest number of well-wishes that I have ever received. All day long there were short notes of
greeting and wishes for the best for me on that day.
And in many ways it was a very good day, a day that of all
my birthdays provided memories that will be particularly treasured. For on my birthday I went to a funeral.
An uncle, the husband of my father's sister, died in
mid-July, and the best date for our family to get together to worship God and
remember him, was on my birthday. And
while a number of my relatives gathered on Saturday in Wisconsin for his
funeral there was another group of relatives gathered the same day in Florida
for the funeral of my mother's youngest sister, who died last week.
I was unable to attend my aunt's funeral but saw that part
of the scripture used on that day was from Romans 4. Verses 23-24 say,
"But the
words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for
ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised
from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and
raised for our justification."
At my uncle's funeral we heard from Philippians, Romans, and
John, which said,
"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your
prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for
my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will
not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always
Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by
death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am
to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall
choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire
is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to
remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of
this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for
your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may
have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you
again." Philippians 1:18b-26
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for
us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who
shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who
is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was
raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is
written,
“For
your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-29
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;1 believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take
you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way
to where I am going.” Thomas said to
him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the
way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6
These are powerful passages from scripture that point to
true hope. They point to a hope found
only in God, a God who never fails to deliver on His promises. We may have gathered in Wisconsin and Florida
with heavy hearts, remembering family members we loved dearly and will never
see on this earth again. But at the funeral I attended we were reminded that
God has greater things in store for His children than anything that this world
may hold.
We were reminded that my uncle, my aunt, and all who pass
from this life with faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, are at this very moment
in His very presence, and giving Him the praise and glory that only He
deserves. While it may run against the
logic of the world, I found it to be a very precious gift to be able to gather
with God's people, at a funeral on my birthday, in such a powerful time of
worship of my Savior. To Him be glory,
now and forever. Amen.
Scripture quotations
are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by
Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
