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Memorial Message For A Godly Woman
Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 24, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: A memorial message delivered at the celebration of life of a godly woman.
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Goin’ home, goin’ home,
I'm a-goin’ home;
Quiet-like, some still day,
I'm just goin’ home.
It's not far, just close by,
Through an open door;
Work all done, care laid by,
Goin’ to fear no more.
Mother's there expecting me,
Father's waiting, too;
Lots of folk gathered there,
All the friends I knew.
All the friends I knew.
Nothing lost or gained,
No more fret nor pain,
No more stumbling on the way,
No more longing for the day,
Goin’ to roam no more.
Morning star lights the way,
Restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day,
Real life just begun.
There's no break, there's no end,
Just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile
going on and on.
Goin’ home, goin’ home,
I'm just goin’ home,
It's not far, just close by
Through an open door.
I’m just goin’ home. [1]
“We are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” [2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-10]. [2]
We joyful followers of Christ have a hope. It is not just a matter that we are hopeful—we have a hope! When I speak of “hope,” this is not a matter of wishful thinking, it is rather confidence, certainty based on the One Who died for us and rose from the dead. Jesus, our Master, sacrificed His life because of our brokenness. He was buried, rose to life, and ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. His death and resurrection have secured our standing with God the Father; and we who receive Him as Master over our lives are assured that we have a place with Him in Heaven.
Jesus our Lord comforts His followers, encouraging us when He promises, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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? 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. And you know the way to where I am going” [JOHN 14:1-4].
Our Saviour has promised us who believe Him that we have an eternal home. We are now alive in Him, and we who believe are promised, “We know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight” [2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-7].
Of this, we are certain, for has not our Saviour has assured us,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” [1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10].
We who are redeemed, we who follow Christ are taught, “The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” [2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-15].
With the Apostle to the Gentiles, we joyful, victorious redeemed followers of the Living Son of God can exult, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” [PHILIPPIANS 1:21-23].