Funeral serve: The Reality of whats to come
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The Reality of Death-
It is times like this where we reflect on the reality of death. Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—
Death is a natural event that takes place in everyones one live. There is the old Joking statement that only two things are certain in this life Death and taxes.
With the reality of Death comes the question s of eternity:
People have always believed in life after death
Earliest man buried weapons with the deceased
Native Americans were said to bury a brave on his horse
Pharaoh’s treasure and slaves were buried with him
People have always longed for eternal life
Explorers sought the “Fountain of Youth”
Science explores the secrets of life
The Preparation for death:
How does one gain eternal life?
it is more then just being a good person
it is more then just going to a church
it is more then observing religious rituals
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
The one who believes
The Greatest Promise
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.
This was the greatest promise ever made because …
It’s Made by the Greatest Person Who Ever Lived
Jesus’ life determined the course of history
Jesus’ death determined the course of Eternity
His life was totally unselfish—Phil. 2:5–8
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
It’s About the Greatest Place Ever Imagined
“In my Father’s house are many mansions”
A. Man’s greatest efforts are nothing in comparison
B. Description—Rev. 21:10–23
He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. The city had a massive high wall, with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. The city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.
The one who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold clear as glass. The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of jewel: the first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Its Purpose Is Our Eternal Comfort
Provides comfort now—“Let not your heart be troubled”
Provides comfort after death—“I go to prepare”
No more sorrow, pain, or death
IV. Rests on Greatest Proposition
“Believe in God … believe in me”
This proposition is called the “grace of God”
It is a promise to all who believe
It Required Greatest of Preparation
Galatians 4:4: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son …”
“Fulness” refers to preparation on earth
Jesus had to live, die, rise from the dead, and ascend
Holds Forth Greatest Hope
“I will come again, and receive you”
A. Hope for the living and the dead
Paul’s confirmation—1 Thess. 4:15–18
For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
C. We have no reason to doubt—“If it were not so, I would have told you”
It is His promise
Where, death, is your victory?
Where, death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
At the end of this life, when we reflect on this life well live, we remember a person for was always excelling in the Lord’s work , and now is receiving of Jesus a great reward. “Well done good and faithful.”