I was attending a family funeral recently and as I sat through the ceremony I was thinking about how sad death is. No matter what the circumstances are at a funeral, no matter how young or old the person may have been, the loss of a loved one is a tragic and difficult event to handle in our lives and process within our hearts.
I began thinking about how the only comfort and hope we have in these situations is the fact that Jesus is risen. If we don't set our focus on this then sorrow and despair can definitely threaten to overwhelm us. The more I felt the pull of sadness on my heart the more I felt it was imperative to counter this inner pain with focusing on the truth of the resurrection. It's here that we have the promise of life after death as well as the promise of being reunited with those who have gone before us in the faith. What a wonderful peace this can bring to a heart that is grieving.
I then began to consider how it's through no works of our own that we can attain eternal life but purely by the work of the Cross. It's solely by accepting that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world (including our own sin!) and by putting our faith in Him as our personal Saviour that we are granted access to Heaven. This then led me to think about how funerals can often cause people to consider their own spiritual standing and be more open to discussing things to do with God, death and the afterlife.
I started to feel inspired to write a poem that could be used by many to commemorate the loss of a loved one. I really wanted this poem to offer the truth of the Gospel as well as bringing comfort to those who mourn. I pray that my poem "Until We Meet Again" can be even just a sliver of light on what may otherwise be a very dark day.
We're gathered here together in honour of your life,
To celebrate our memories of you
For every person present is a soul that you have touched,
In ways that only you knew how to do.
We all could tell a story or share an anecdote,
Remembering the details of your days.
Each tale a small addition to the picture of your life
That moved so many hearts in different ways.
Our memories may comfort as we fondly reminisce,
For now we face the sorrow of our loss.
But though we miss you dearly there's a peace within our hearts,
For Jesus won your freedom on the Cross.
We know that you accepted Him as Saviour and as Lord,
We know that you received His gift of grace.
The soul that trusts in Jesus will not be cast away
But warmly welcomed home by His embrace.
The God of all creation now holds you in His arms!
His good and faithful servant has come home!
Redemption through your faith in His achievement on the Cross
And so we boast in Christ and Christ alone.
All glory, praise and honour we rightly give to Him,
His death and resurrection we proclaim!
We know you have salvation through the work that He has done
So now we glorify His holy name.
Your feet will now be walking through those shining streets of gold,
Your days within eternity begin.
Your eyes have seen the Saviour! Your ears have heard His voice!
What joy there is to picture you with Him.
And so as we commemorate your life with gratitude
Our hope is in the promise of His reign.
One day we'll reunite and we will never say goodbye;
We'll hold you dear until we meet again.
Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Psalm 116:15
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
Matthew 25:23
"His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.""
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