Graveside Service For A Christian Woman

Let’s bring some closure on saying farewell today with one of the most well-known passages of Scripture in history, the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil

For Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me for the rest of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This is such a peaceful passage of Scripture for a time like this.

We know that the Lord was Ruby’s shepherd. And because He was her Shepherd, she has no want for anything, especially now. He supplies her with anything and everything she needs. He promised her a mansion. That is now hers. He promised that He would return to her and receive her unto Himself that where He is there she is also. Jesus has delivered on that promise.

He MAKES her lie down in green pastures. The Lord now compels her to take a rest. He MAKES her lie down in green pastures. Green is such a peaceful color. It signifies sunshine as well as rain.

The Lord leads her beside the still waters. Once again, such a peaceful scene. And it’s in this peace that the Bible says He restores her soul. He has led her down the right path all her life and she has followed Him all the way to her eternal reward.

Sometimes, though, we all experience the trials of life. I am sure Ruby as well as each of us have experienced trials every now and then. Today in itself, is a trial.

But the Bible assures us all that even though we travel through these valleys, God is right there with us, leading and guiding all the way.

I’m reminded of the true story of Donald Barnhouse, a well-known preacher back in the 40s and 50s. His wife died of cancer at an early age leaving him with three young daughters. He decided he would preach his wife’s funeral. On the way to the funeral, he had his three daughters in the car with him.

He couldn’t imagine what was going through their minds at that time. He knew they had to be thinking of their mother’s death. About that time a semitruck passed them and cast its shadow over their car as it passed. It was then that God gave him these comforting words.

He told them, “Do you see that huge truck that just passed us? They answered, “Yes.” He asked, “Which would you rather be run over by, that truck or it’s shadow?” The oldest daughter answered, “By its shadow I guess, because it wouldn’t hurt us.”

He said, “That’s precisely what has happened to you mom. She hasn’t been run over by death, but by the shadow of death. She has nothing to fear because it can’t hurt her. We shouldn’t be afraid for her as well.”

Ruby has only experienced the shadow of death. She has nothing to fear. She knows that for certain now. We don’t need to be afraid for her either. Why? Because as the psalmist wrote I fear no evil because God is with me. God is with Ruby at this very moment. His rod and staff comfort her. She knows that nothing can harm her now.

She is in the land of no more. No more pain, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more tears of sadness, even no more death. She has nothing to fear. She knows now for certain that God’s goodness and mercy will follow her for the rest of her eternal life. Her cup overflows with whatever she needs. And she now will dwell in God’s house forevermore. And that, in itself is just one of God’s miracles.

A doctor once commented about the miracles of God. He said, “Sometimes a miracle occurs when death comes quickly so that the suffering is not prolonged.” We are not sure but for Ruby to remain here could have meant prolonged suffering. And even though we didn’t want her to leave us, that wouldn’t have been living for her. We can’t know the future. All we can do is trust Christ.

Does anybody really doubt that Ruby is with God? I don’t. Without life beyond the grave, life here and now makes no sense at all.

And I know that the time will come when we, too, will cross over that divide, and we will see the white light, and hear the angels sing, and we will also join in that grand reunion with our loved ones and with God almighty.