Momento Mori

Title: “Momento Mori” Since this is a hard and somber subject matter, I think it’s important we start with this disclaimer. It’s gonna be alright. Yes, death is a difficult subject to dwell on, but we have hope because Jesus is alive. Jesus took death and used it as a bridge to eternity by dying himself and saving us from sin. Even though death comes to us all, we’ve found hope in Jesus Christ. While this is absolute truth, we also must remember that our death has the opportunity to teach others. What kind of lessons will they learn? Because the coffin is a better teacher than the cradle, and the coffin is a podium we’ll all stand behind.

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1-13

D.T. The coffin is a better teacher than the cradle 

Introduction: Today we continue our series “Extreme makeover faith edition,” the subject of our message today is going to be the subject of death. If we are seeking to give our faith, our role within our home lives, and our outlook on life a makeover, we MUST think well about the subject of death. 

We don’t like discussing our own deaths, we don’t like thinking about our own death. We instead try to escape the truth of our own death. We’d rather attempt to mask and distract ourselves from our death, rather than think about it. 

According to Grandview research, people spent just north of 40 billion dollars in Anti-aging products. Estimations dictate it could exceed 93 billion dollars by the 2030’s. Why are we spending so much money? We want to mask our aging, because we don’t want to wrestle with our mortality. 

The Broadway production of “Fame”  boasts Fame! I’m going to live forever! This production has either been a movie or production countless times. Yet every time they cast new characters, new dancers and new singers. Why? If fame makes you live forever there is no need to recast anyone. Well those singers age, and they can’t sing as well anymore. The dancers age, and can’t move like they once were able. Fame, it turns out, doesn’t make you live forever. The statement was made in an attempt to mask and distract us from the truth. We are mortal. We don’t like to think about our mortality.

Do you know who wasn’t afraid to reflect on their own mortality? The Romans.

ILLUSTRATION: Memento Mori (Remember, you must die”)

Roman general wanted to remind themselves of their own mortality. They could be defeated, they weren’t immortal, and their victory wasn’t given. Roman generals would tell you reflecting on your mortality is a better teacher than savoring your victories. Your own limitations will teach you to be better at whatever you do. 

The book of Ecclesiastes is like the servant following us around whispering memento mori in our ears. What are we going to do to allow this reminder to teach us?

READ Ecclesiastes 7:1-12

Ecclesiastes 7:1–12 ESV

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

It’s not uncommon for Solomon to make jarring statements. He makes a series of them within the span of a few verses. It’s important to remember that when Solomon says these things, he’s not trying to make a statement of truth, rather a statement of reflection. Solomon wants the reader to think and ponder. 

So why does Solomon make statements like 

The day of our death is better than the day of our birth 

It is better to enter the house of mourning rather than laughter

Sorrow is better than laughter 

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning 

Why would Solomon make such controversial statements? Does he really believe this to be true? I think Solomon wants us to understand this truth; “The coffin is a better teacher than the cradle” 

When babies are born, the maternity ward is filled with people ooing and awwing over the new baby. Part of the charm and allure of babies is their innocence. They haven’t committed wrong, mainly because they don’t have the capability to do wrong. They’ve not yet had a chance to leave a reputation, a legacy, or maybe even notoriety. 

However the funeral home is filled with people who are showing respect for the life of a person who was no longer innocent. They had to contend with their own sinful nature. The conversations and the way people reflect upon the way the deceased lived their life largely reflects how they handled morality and their own sinful nature. 

I’ve done plenty of funerals in my life, and the ones who were faithful and dedicated to their family and faith, and led worthwhile lives. Officiating their funeral comes easy (I knew what I was going to say about David Cunningham in about 20 minutes) 

Others haven’t come so easily. I was sweating bullets and stressing over “what am I even going to say?” How hard will you make your funeral officiant work? 

The coffin is a podium, and it’s one each of us will have the chance to stand behind. What’s going to be said behind that podium? What kind of testimony will our lives leave? 

Our faith? Our families? Our conduct? When we die, we are left with a unique opportunity to teach those we’ve left behind. 

gives us a list of things people should be saying about us when they reflect on our lives. 

We don’t often reminisce and think of these things about people who are living. It’s only after we die those we leave behind who will gather together and reflect on our lives. What will be taught in the hour people gather together to reflect the lives we live?