The reason we ask ourselves this question is because someone very important in our life has been removed.
Today we mourn the death of ________________Not because he/she has gone to a better place, but because we no longer will be able to enjoy his/her presence.
If we had a choice in the matter he/she would still be with us.
But today______________if they had a choice he/she had a choice he/she would choose to remain in his/her heavenly home.
This is a day of mourning for us who have gathered here.
Illus: As a pastor I have preached many funeral services. Some of them was where:
• Not one tear was shed.
• Sad to say I have preached a few funeral services where someone actually would say, “I am glad they are dead, everyone will be a lot better off since they are gone.
• I preached one funeral service and before the service a grown son of the decease came up to me and said, “Preacher, make it as short as you can, there is not much good you can say about dad.”
But this is not the case today, we come here today mourning because a dear saint of God has left us.
Someone said, “Death is not hard on those who have died, it is hard on those who are left behind.” I think we can all agree with that statement.
And I know this is a very difficult time for this family and the friends who have gathered hear today to mourn the lost of__________________________.
I have heard people say when they die they want people to be laughing and rejoicing. I personally think laughing and rejoicing would not be appropriate here today.
I would not wish when I past from this life that people would be laughing and rejoicing. I would hope that I lived in such a way that I will be greatly missed and my absence has brought mourning among those that I knew and serve God with.
This is how we feel today about the death of _________________. He/she is going to be greatly missed, so we come to this service rejoicing that he/she is with the Lord, but mourn that he/she is no longer with us.
As we come to this memorial service for___________________.
I. WE COME TO MOURN.
Mourning is as much part of life as rejoicing.
Through the history of mankind men and women have mourned over the death of a loved one. For example-
(1) ABRAHAM MOURNED WHEN SARAH DIED.
Look at Genesis 23:2, we read, And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Notice the Bible says Abraham who was a great saint of God when his beloved wife (Sarah) died the Bible records, “…And Abraham came to MOURN for Sarah, and to WEEP FOR HER.”
(2) ANOTHER MARY MOURNED FOR BROTHER LAZARUS.
Look at John 11:31, we read, The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
Mary loved her brother Lazarus and when she rushed out of the house they knew she was going to his grave side to weep for him.
Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who mourn. In Matthew 5:4, we read, Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Of course, our comfort as we mourn the death of _________________________we find comfort in knowing we shall only be separted from them for a short time.
The followers of Jesus are asked to share in the feelings of those who mourn.
Look at Rom 12:15-16, we read, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
We mourn when a loved one is taken away from us.
Matthew 9:15, we read, And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
It’s OK to cry, to be sad when a loved one is taken away.
Naturally, we are sad. We can no longer visit that person; or to hear their voice or to receive their wise counsel.
But as believers, we believe in the Word of God, the Bible tells us that as a believer who has given his/her life to Jesus has passed on from this life to be in the presence of Jesus.
He/she has not gone to purgatory or some other place where there is uncertainty.
II Cor. 5:8-9, we read, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
At this very moment,_________________ is in the presence of Jesus.
_______________________ is very happy where he/she is now, with the Lord Jesus and with all the saints who have finished their race here on earth.
So the mourning of the followers of Jesus is mourning for one who has left temporarily. It is not a mourning of sadness as if we will never see her again.
The Bible teaches that when we put our trust in Jesus, we shall meet again on that beautiful shore. Those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus will be together with Him.
Of course we are sad. Saying goodbye is always a sad thing. But remember, this need not be goodbye as if we will never meet again.
How do we know that___________________is with the Lord Jesus?
The Bible is an extraordinary work of literature, and it makes some astonishing claims. It records the details of the creation of the universe, the origin of life, the moral law of God, the history of man’s rebellion against God, and the historical details of God’s work of redemption for all who trust in His Son.
When Jesus died on the cross, he said these words, “It is finished.” This means that the debt for our sins has been settled.
The benefits of the death and resurrection of Jesus is available to all who will repent of their sins, and turn to Christ for forgiveness and accept Him as their Saviour and Lord of their lives.
Since___________________:
• Has repented of his/her sins,
• Has asked Jesus Christ for forgiveness of his/her sins and has received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour,
On the basis of the Bible and its reliability, I know that he/she is in heaven right now with Jesus.
That’s the Word of Jesus in John 5:24, we read, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
But today we mourn the death of____________________________,but after mourning-
II. WE MUST RISE UP FROM BESIDE THE DEAD.
Notice, the Bible tells us that Abraham completed his mourning and rose up.
Look at Genesis 23:3-4, we read, And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
Why we need to stop mourning?
Because life must go on! Life on this earth has ended for_____________________but not for us. We need to look to the future.
________________________has lived a full life. He/she has raised _____ children. They have grown up and have married and produced grandchildren. He/she has lived to enjoy his/her grandchildren. He/she has done many things and blessed many others.
__________________ has finished his/her race. We have not. He/she has gone the way of all living beings.
One day we will travel that road ourselves. But until then, we have work to do. After mourning for him/her, we must rise up and move on.
Abraham mourn and wept but he arose up and got back into the routine of life.
Illus: Remember, this is what happened to King David in the death of his son. He wept and mourned but after a period of morning he snapped back into the routine of life. He did this so fast that he was asked how could he snap back into the routine of life so fast. And he told them that his son could not come back to him, but he could one day go to where he was.
How long should we mourn? I don’t know!!! It all depends on the individual.
• Some will take one day or a few days.
• Some one week.
• Others one month.
• Some even several months.
That’s OK. We must mourn properly but remember that after that we must get up and move on with our life.
Many have problems rising up and moving on. They constantly dwell in the past.
Sometimes we can be angry at others who have hurt us and when we cannot forgive them or let go, we dwell in a past action. Even after several years, the action that hurt us, seems like it was committed yesterday.
Sometimes we get angry at God and we blame Him for certain events. However, dwelling on the past can destroy our future.
By all means, get involved with people. Do things. Have fun out of life. If people hurt us, as surely they will sometimes will, forgive them and move on. It does not mean you have to be bosom buddies, but forgive them and move on in your life.
Mourn we must but after a period of mourning we need to rise up and get back into the routine of life.
Also we need to discover and fulfill-
III. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.
Lastly, we will see God fulfill His purpose for Abraham through the death of Sarah.
Look again at Genesis 23:3-4, we read, And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
Are these two verses significant. Yes, they are very significant.
Look at Genesis 12:1-3, we read, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Although he has settled in Canaan for about 50 years, he did not own any land of his own in Canaan. He had his sheep and cattle grazed on rented land. He was a still a foreigner in the land inhabited by the Canaanites. However, now with the death of Sarah, he takes the opportunity to buy his first piece of property – a field with a burial cave for his departed wife.
Through Sarah’s death, Abraham would now own his first piece of property in the land that would later be called Israel. He and his descendants would eventually own the Promised Land that today includes Israel, Palestine and the surrounding nations.
Sarah’s work on earth had been completed. Abraham’s work was not.
But through the death of Sarah, God would fulfill his own purpose for Abraham and his descendants.
Sarah is dead but the saga of human history and of the revelation of God to humankind continues. The hand of God on human history does not end with the death of Sarah or even the death of a great man such as Abraham. They would have their own destiny.
The death of a loved one has caused many to rise up and make something out of their life otherwise would have never happened.
Illus: How many times have we heard someone say, I was just drifting through life not really accomplishing anything but when_____________I started doing something with my life.
Sarah had died, but God was not through with Abraham.
This is because God works through generations.
For example, God is called the God of “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The baton has been passed. ________________has finished his/her race. He/she has run it well. His/her children have grown up and have their own children. He/she has lived to see and enjoy her grandchildren. Now it up to them to continue to run with the baton.
Mourn we must. We will remember the unselfish contribution of________________________, of his/her raising his/her children and grandchildren and his/her great and long life.
But after mourning, let us rise up and move on. So that we may also leave a legacy to our children and our grandchildren.
May the good Lord keep and bless all of us. Let us pray.
Conclusion:
Among the questions I ask God -- and I encourage you to ask God -- are these:
• "What do You want to do in my life?"
• "What do You want to do through my life?"
• “What possibilities lie within me?"
• "What potential lies before me?"
• "What could I become?"
• "What did You have in mind when you created me?"
• "What do You desire for me?"
Only God can answer these questions. And for the vast majority of people in the vast majority of situations and circumstances, He will answer them only when asked.
Remember He is your Creator and He created you for a purpose.
And I want to tell the family of______________this is what you need to do.
Today we Mourn, but tomorrow we must rise to find God’s purpose for our life.
