Maurice Hougum Funeral

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NIV): 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

What is the purpose of a funeral service? One purpose is to look to the past. We reflect on the life of the person who has passed way — hopefully with many fond memories. Common activities include photo displays of them during key events in their lives or doing their favorite activities. At some funerals items are on display that relate to that person’s favorite pursuits. Acts 9:36–39 (NIV): 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Certainly the funeral is a time when we recount shared stories about the person.

But it is not all celebrating and remembering good times. It is also a time of sadness and tears. You may recall that when Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died and Jesus went to consolve Mary and Martha in their distress, we are told that “Jesus wept.”

In some cases the grief is much more painful and severe. In the case of someone who is aged and who had lived life to the full and whose health was compromised we may not be as deeply saddened, but the grief is still there and no amount of celebrating their past life will be able to cover that up just as beautiful flowers do not really cover up the grimness of death.

And so we mourn. But not as those who have no hope. Because another purpose of a funeral is to find reassurance from God’s Word what he has in store for those who were faithful to him in their lives.

This is the reassurance that St. Paul gives to us in 1 Thessalonians. In that early Christian congregation the Christians were so confident that Jesus would return in their lifetime that they were somewhat dismayed that some people they knew had not survived until that time. They were uninformed about what happens to those who died because they may have thought that Jesus’s promise that whoever lives and believes in him would never die, meaning physical death. And so they were perhaps reverting to some Greek beliefs about the after life that didn’t offer much hope.

What happens to us after we die is impossible to know unless the Lord of the living — our God, tells us. We need not dwell on what happens to our bodies when we die. That is obvious. But there is more to us than our bodies. We are comprised of body and soul (or spirit). The bible tells us that when our bodies die they return to dust but the soul lives on and immediately faces the judgment whether to enjoy the blessings of heaven or the anquish and punishment of hell. We trust that for those who believed in Jesus — the Way, the Truth, and the Life that those Christians who die in the faith — their souls are with the Lord. Revelation 7:13–17 (NIV): 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Although some people think that most of Revelation only talks about future events, I think we can be confident that part of John’s vision is what is happening now.

And so, we believe that Maurice’s soul right now is enjoying the presence of God and is enjoying praising the one who saved him from his sins — Jesus Christ who died on the cross and through whom we have eternal life through faith in him.

The Bible is silent about how the souls interact with other Christian souls and how aware they are of what is happening in our lives. We may find some easing of our pain to think about such fanciful things but there is more speculation that fact about that. What the bible does teach is that they are aware of God and that our God is very much aware of what we are doing and that he gives us hope in the promise of eternal life.

Paul then teaches us that when Jesus does return, those who had fallen asleep in Jesus will return with him. On that Last Day the dead will be raised and if we are still alive at that time, we will be united with Jeus and reunited with them. Our bodies will be glorified, and never again will be subject to the effects of sin.

Philippians 3:20–21 (NIV): 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

It is this confidence that Maurice had during his lifetime. And as his departure drew near, I’m sure that he found great comfort and hope in Jesus Christ. He may very well have thought about St. Paul’s own hope of heaven when he expressed in

2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NIV): 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Conclusion

Another purpose of a funeral serves as a reminder of what our own future holds. Regardless of our current age or state of health or wealth, we reflect on that some day our family and friends may very well gather to give their last respects to us. Our soul and body will separate. You may have already planned what will be done with your body after you die. Do you trust in God’s plan for your soul?

Jeremiah 29:11–13 (NIV): 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

His plan that through faith in Jesus your soul also will enjoy the blessings of heaven and on the Last Day you will be raised, you body and sould reunited, glorified, and ready to enjoy the wonderful blessings of heaven forever. Amen.