Prepare to Meet Your God, a Funeral Homily
--Amos 4:12
In times such as these when we loose a loved one to death we are reminded of our own mortality. Hebrews 9:27 calls upon us to remember the certain fact “. . . it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment. . . .”
My Mom and Dad, my maternal Aunt, and most of my family on my Dad’s side have lived committed Christian lives. However, my Mom and my Aunt’s two brothers were not known to be Church going people. Their wives were committed Christians, but my uncles did not did not themselves attend Church, and I am uncertain if they made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ before their death or not.
Recently I talked to one of my cousins, the daughter of one of these uncles. I would have to say that I had always felt she was more like my uncle her father than she was he mother, my aunt. I was thrilled to hear her share a testimony that went something like this: “This life is so short. If we are not preparing for our eternal destiny in the life that follows our death, we have totally missed our purpose in life.”
In Amos 4:12, the LORD is speaking and says, “Therefore, this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL.” We are all mortal, and if Jesus tarries much longer, we all can be certain that death will come to each one of us. Therefore, the most important thing we can do in this life is “to prepare to meet our God.”
Our funeral services are for the living, not the deceased, and the most urgent message a funeral can share with us is the truth about how we each must “prepare to meet our God.” How do we do that? The Bible explains God’s plan of salvation, the way to eternal life throughout Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. The Romans were excellent engineers in constructing highways throughout the Ancient World. In many places around the Mediterranean Sea portions of their roads are still in use today.
The Apostle Paul, who penned the Letter to the Romans, clearly outlined for the Church at Rome and for us God’s plan of salvation. Many churches and pastors have used over the ages portions of the Book of Romans to explain to people how to “prepare to meet their God.” Oftentimes the use of such verses of Scripture to lead individuals to eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and peace with God has been named “The Roman Road.” Let us walk that Road this morning as we discover the Only Way anyone can “prepare to meet their God.”
Although most of the Scriptures we will soon share come from the Book of Romans, I want to begin with the words of Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:3: “In reply Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Then Jesus explains further: “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ’You must be born again’” [JOHN 3:7-8].
Jesus spoke these words not to one who was a reprobate, morally depraved, wicked, evil scoundrel but to one of the leading religious leaders of His day. No matter how morally good and upright a citizen and Church member anyone may be, to prepare to meet one’s God every one must experience a second birth, a spiritual birth through the power of the Holy Spirit working in their life.
Romans 3:23 clearly shows us the reason we all must “be born again”: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Bible furthermore says in Ezekiel 18:4, “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” Such death is more than physical death; it is eternal separation from God. Because we all have sinned, and fallen short of God’s glory, this is the sentence we all deserve.
Paul continues to lead us down the Roman Road in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Wages are the reward we earn for a job we do. We deserve our wages, and because we are all sinners, we all deserve eternal death, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We can not earn our way to heaven. It is a free gift, but we must willingly receive that gift from Jesus. He won’t force it upon us. Paul continues in Romans 5:8 by saying, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The wages of sin, the penalty for our sin, is death. God proved His love for us by having Christ pay the penalty of death for us. He took our sentence of death for us so that we would not have to be eternally separated from God because of our sin. He paid sins penalty for us.
In Romans 10 Paul lays the final brinks in place on our Roman Road to eternal life. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raise Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” To prepare to meet our God, each one of us must confess that we have sinned, ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, and invite Him to come in our live as our Saviour from sin and Lord of our lives. All who make that confession verbally are saved.
The Scripture leaves no doubt that everyone who follows the Roman Road has made their preparation to meet their God. All you have to do is call on the Name of Jesus in prayer, for Romans 10:13 affirms without any doubt, “For, everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” Calling on the Name of the Lord to prepare to meet Him for eternity is as simple as saying, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I deserve eternal death because of my sins, but I know you died on the cross to forgive my sins and give me eternal life. I am sorrow for all my sins. Forgive my sins, Oh, Lord. Come into my heart; give me your gift of eternal life, and be my Saviour and Lord. Amen.”
You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour be His child for all eternity. John 1:11-113 is so clear at this point, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” When you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you become God’s child; you are born spiritually, you are “prepared to meet your God.”
John Wesley did not have the assurance the Jesus had saved him from his sins until he was nearly 35 years old. He was a good moral person but not a Christian even though he was an Anglican priest and missionary to Georgia. Wesley shares his encounter with a Moravian Christian August Gottlieb Spangenburg in Georgia on February 7, 1736. Spangenburg knew Jesus as his personal Saviour, but John Wesley did not. Wesley recounts their conversation:
“My brother, I must first ask you one or two questions. Have
you the witness within yourself? Does the Spirit of God bear witness
with your spirit, that you are a child of God?” I was surprised, and
knew not what to answer. He observed it and asked, “Do you know
Jesus Christ?” I paused, and said, “I know He is Saviour of the
World.” True,” replied he; “but do you know He has saved you?”
I answered, “I hope He has died to save me.” He only added,
“Do you know yourself?” I said, “I do.” But I fear they were
vain words.” [SOURCE: Thomas Jackson, The Works of John
Wesley (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979) 1:23.]
The ultimate question every single person must honestly answer is, “Do you know Jesu has saved you?”
On May 24, 1738, in London John Wesley came to know Jesus as his personal Saviour too. His personal testimony is powerful:
“In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in
Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the
Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, I felt my heart
strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for
salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away
my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
[SOURCE: The Works of John Wesley (Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1979) 1:103.]
Beginning on May 24, 1738, “prepared to meet his God.” On March 2, 1791, in his bed room at his home on City Road in London, “a small group gathered around the bed of the old man. It was evident that John Wesley was nearing the end of his pilgrimage in this life. He beckoned them to kneel around him and pray. As they concluded their prayers, John moved his lips unable to utter the words on his heart. The small group moved closer, and with one last burst of strength John cried out, ‘The best of all is, God is with us’; and then. . . he lifted his dying arm in token of victory and raising his feeble voice again repeated the heart-reviving words, ‘The best of all is, God is with us!’” [SOURCE: The Journals of John Wesley, "Wesley’s Last Hours by One Who was Present." As posted at URL: http://www.mercydrops.com/faithfocus/johnwesley.htm]
Make that same commitment to Jesus Christ this moment, and that assurance will be yours too. You will be prepared to meet your God. Remember and live by the immortal words of P. H. Harding in his awesome poem “Only One Life”:
Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ’that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
