Funeral for Brian Hair

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace, and a time †to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.”

Today is not just an ordinary day for any of us. Today marks one of those special times and seasons of life. Most of us do not come to funerals very often. We don’t wrestle with the reality of death frequently. There are several aspects about us being gathered here today. Today is a significant time for several reasons:

Today marks a time of grieving. (Ecc. 3:4)

The preacher of Ecclesiastes says that there is a “time to mourn”. Losing someone we love produces genuine pain and grief. While we have tears of joy, we also have tears of sadness. Those who have walked this road know that grieving is a common process that takes several forms and progresses through several stages. The key to successfully moving through is choosing to take each one to God.

A sense of shock, numbness, and often denial.

Just a few days ago, Brian was right here with us. Now he is gone. It may feel like a shock. Death should shock us. God’s original plan was for lives without death, but when sin entered into the world, death came with it. So death should shock us, and it does. I hope you can take your shock to God today.

Feelings of anger and resentment.

Death also often provokes feelings of anger. We feel anger at death, anger at sin, anger at people, anger at ourselves, anger at timing, anger at sickness, and sometimes anger at God. The important thing to remember is to not stay angry. Choose to use this event as a prod to draw yourself closer to God and not away from Him.

Guilt

Death may cause us to feel guilty. There are two kinds of guilt: real guilt and false guilt. Real guilt is the loving touch of God calling you to confess specific sin and change in an area of your life. If you have such guilt, realize that, “if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9). False guilt is a vague accusation that you don’t measure up. It is also based on untruths. Take your guilt, real or false to God today. He loves you, will forgive you, and will cleanse you.

Loss, loneliness, sorrow, emptiness, and pain.

The departure of Brian Hair will leave a great hole. If you have not yet felt the deep sense of loss and pain, you will. You will miss him. This hole is a clear call to run to God. Ultimately, He alone can fill the holes in our hearts. Take your loss and pain to God today.

Today marks a time of remembering.

These lovely flowers, the beautiful music, our presence here today in honor of the life of Brian Hair. Today is a day for remembering him. We are fortunate in that there are so many good memories of Brian.

Today marks a time of rejoicing. (2 Cor. 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

For us, it is a day of sorrow and grief, but do not forget that for Brian, today marks a time of rejoicing. He is truly in a much better place, experiencing a much higher quality of life. There is no more sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more tears. Today is his graduation into glory.

Today is a day for examination. (Heb. 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Funerals are reminders of the reality of death, the certainty of death, and the fact that a day will come when we will be examined by God Himself. There is only one way we can prepare ourselves for death, because “after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27) Let me ask you, are you in the faith? Have you trusted Christ to be your Saviour? Are we living with eternity in view? No one has a guarantee of tomorrow. We could be here next week doing your funeral. Would we have the hope of knowing you would be in Heaven? Will you see Brian in Heaven? How can you know for sure you are saved and will experience Heaven?

A- Admit you are a sinner and need God.

B- Believe in Jesus Christ. That He lived a sinless life, died for you, and rose again.

C- Call upon Him to save you; commit your life to Him.

D- Depend on Him in everything through faith.