Precious In The Sight Of The Lord Is The Death Of His Saints

Funeral Service for

______________

Psalm 116:15

We are gathered here today to honor the life of ____________. It was my joy and privilege to serve as her pastor for the years that the family lived in ___________.

We are also here this afternoon to offer comfort to the family by our words and our presence. And finally, we are present to hear what God has to say to us through His word about the realities of life, death and the life eternal possible through his son, Jesus Christ.

The word of God says in Psalms 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD, Is the death of His saints”. (NKJV)

To us death never seems under any circumstances, a precious thing. We think of death as an enemy. We think of death as a loss, but the Apostle Paul says that it is gain. Why do we think death is a loss? You have lost a wife, a mother, a sister, someone that you love. We think of death in terms of our loss. But because _____________ had a relationship with Christ established by faith, her death was precious in the sight of the Lord.

In order for us to understand how God can say that death is precious we must attempt to see things through His eyes. We see things as they appear to be, but God sees everything as it stands in his eternal order and purpose. For just a few moments this afternoon I would like for you to consider some ways in which the death of a Christian is precious.

First, The death of a Christian is precious because it causes us to reflect on the impact that person had on our lives. Each of you has your own unique set of memories of how ___________ made your life different. It is a shame that sometimes a loss is only thing that will cause us to stop and appreciate the people God has put into our lives. It is at such times that we realize that it is the people who are quietly going about the duties with their families that will be missed the most.

So I would like to take the opportunity to tell what I remember most about Barbara.

When I think of ___________ I think of her tremendous courage. For sometime now ____________ has courageously fought the disease that finally took her life. And as far as I know without a single word of complaint. I know that her only regret would be having to leave her family, I believe she could identify with the words of the Apostle Paul when he said, “I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, (24) but it is better for you that I live.” (Phil. 1:23-24 NLT)

And when I think of _________ I think of her Serene assurance. I believe that if any one passage of scripture speaks for ___________ today it would be the words of Paul were he writes in (2 Tim. 2:6-9), of his own imminent death. He said, “For I am now ready …, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous-ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing…. ”

Another thing I think of when I think of ____________ is her Sweet Spirit. ___________ seemed to be one of those people who had a smile for everyone. Even after surgery on her jaw made it difficult she kept on smiling. Her smile always seemed to demonstrate the peaceful sweet spirit with which she faced all of life’s difficulties. I don’t mean to imply that ____________ was perfect, I am sure she was not, after all she was human. But _____________ exhibited a peaceful, and easygoing approach to life.

Another thing that I think of when I think Barbara is her Sincere faith. The apostle Paul once said to his son in the faith, Timothy, “when I think of you I think of your sincere faith.” (2 Tim 1:5) I believe that the same can be said of _________ today, when you think of her you have to consider her faith. Barbara Philips loved her Lord, she loved her church and she loved her church family. When ___________ was a member of ___________________, where I am the pastor, she was not only faithful in her attendance but she sang in the choir and worked in our AWANA Children’s program. In __________ life faith was not something that was tacked on, but rather the focal point around which her life revolved.