Anna Graveside

Family and friends, we gather here at the graveside of Anna Bay to commit her body to the earth, but not without hope. For the Christian, this is not the end. It is a moment of mourning, yes, but also a moment of confidence in the promises of our God.

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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.

This is the joy that Anna is experiencing right now. She is in the place that Christ has prepared for her. She faithfully walked with the Lord for many many years. And now she has been taken and is with God in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

We don’t grieve like the lost. For those apart from Christ, this world is as good as it will ever get. But for the Christian, this world is as bad as it’ll ever get. And yet, Christ will one day return to earth and will reconcile all things to himself. One day, this body will be resurrected and made new and Anna will, by God’s grace and promise, will be made whole.

In the meantime, we cling to this promise.

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Anna’s body will rest here, but her soul is already with the Lord. Death does not have the last word — Christ does. The One who went to prepare a place for His people has welcomed Anna into His presence. The One who died and rose again promises to raise her up on the last day. And the One who reigns on the throne has promised that every tear will one day be wiped away.

We look forward to that day, but until then let us all commit ourselves to walking with the Lord God.

So we commit Anna’s body to the ground in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection — that one day, when Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are alive will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

“Father in heaven, we thank You for the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank You that Anna is now with You, free from pain and full of joy. Comfort this family with Your promises. Strengthen them in their grief with the hope of the gospel. And help us all to live in light of eternity, trusting in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. In His name we pray, Amen.”