Today, I want to talk to you about funerals. Maybe a little grim. But let's level with each other—we've all been to one. We will all go to one. And, sorry to break it to you, we will all be the subject of one. This is something we all have in common, and something probably a lot of us worry about or fear.
So why write about it? Well, funerals are powerful to me because it was at my mom's funeral when I was 19 when I felt God calling me to be a pastor. I was standing in the lobby of a church during my mom's funeral when I turned to the pastor standing next to me and said, "Pastor Jay, I think I feel called to be a pastor." It's a long story, maybe I can tell it to you another time.
Here's my point: since then, I've realized that funerals always recalibrate my life. There is something deeply spiritual about funerals that connect with our soul, that inner part of us that is in constant search for meaning, life, love, and, well, for God. But why is that?
Funerals remind me that every life matters. No matter what state, city, race, tribe, political party or religion, every life matters. That's why the souls of humans across the globe break when they lose a loved one. The Bible says that every person is created in the image of God and matters to God. And when life is lost, it matters. It's painful. It's deep. It reaches something within the core of who we are that very few things can reach. Every life matters and funerals have a way of reminding me of that. Do I live my one life as if every life matters? Or just some lives? That's a challenging question for me. What about you?
Funerals remind me that relationships matter. The foundation of almost every funeral is relationship-based. People recall memories about how their soul connected to the soul of the one who passed. And when that relational soul connection is lost, we grieve. It's an incredibly spiritual experience. That's why people always share specific memories of how that person made them feel, what life lessons they taught them, and how they will "live on" through them via how they live and love others. I've learned that at the end of almost everybody's life, it all boils down to relationships. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that our relational God created us as relational beings with the purpose to love God and love others? I can't help but leave funerals and ask myself, "How are my relationships?" So, how are yours?
Funerals remind me that stuff doesn't matter. I enjoy stuff. I love my Red Wing Iron Ranger boots that my wife bought me for Christmas a few years ago. I wear them just about every day. I love new socks and the feeling of putting them on my feet for the first time and putting on tight, clean jeans straight from the dryer. On a typical day-to-day basis, I can be consumed by stuff. But funerals have a tendency to strip away all the stuff we think we care so much about and remind us that it doesn't really matter. If it did, why don't we talk about it at funerals? Because when we're reminded of our mortality, we realize all "stuff" does is distract our souls from realizing our true purpose and potential. Stuff isn't inherently evil, but it seems to temporarily satisfy our selfish desires when, ultimately, our souls yearn for authentic connection with other souls. Are you too attached to your stuff? Do you sometimes value stuff more than people? Sometimes I do.
Funerals remind me to make my life count. One day, my funeral will come. The Bible says I'm a mist that is here for a little bit and will be gone. So what am I going to do about it? The truth is, God gave me ONE LIFE. I have ONE SHOT to live it well. How am I going to live it?He also gave you one life and one shot. Are you living it well?
In Scripture, one of the wealthiest kings of all time, Solomon, wrote a book called Ecclesiastes in which he sought to explore all life had to offer but at the end, he wrote: "Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Fear God and obey his commands. This isn't for some people. It's everyone's duty.So, if you want to make your life count, here are some question that you can ask yourself:
- Does every life matter to me—especially the people I know who don't love Jesus?
- Am I willing to invest my time, money, energy, and resources into reaching people for Christ?
- How are my relationships? Do I just say they matter or do I show they matter by my actions?
- Am I in love with my stuff too much? Do I ever put my stuff above my relationships?
- If I took inventory of my life would it reflect a life that's meaningful and selfless? Or would it be full of meaningless superficial conversation and relationships?
Friends, God gave us one life. We only have one shot. Let's remember what matters most and choose to live it well.
