To Celebrate Life in Death

It is difficult when you go through the death of a loved one. There are many emotions that result after someone near and dear to you is seemingly taken away too early. The thing we must always turn to in times like this is the cross of Jesus Christ. It is truly in the shadow of the cross, the work of Christ in defeating death for those who believe, that comfort is found.

A month ago, my grandma passed away. Last week, my wife's grandfather, who was in every way like a grandpa to me, passed away unexpectedly. It has been an emotional roller coaster for me in the last weeks. But one thing is certain, I strive to cling more and more to the cross of Christ. I'm angry that it is because of Sin that there is death to begin with. I'm filled with a righteous anger against sin and disease as a result of a fallen existence that is taking our loved ones away. But not for a second should I consider the Lord's ill will on us nor do I question his control. My grandma and my wife's grandpa were believers in Jesus Christ and are now with their Savior.

I was asked to give the Eulogy at my grandma's memorial service. I wanted to convey more than anything that believers have nothing to worry about in death. And when it comes to losing a loved one who is a believer, we should celebrate their current situation being one who is experiencing their Salvation in Jesus Christ in a finalized and perfected way. Below is what I challenged those at my grandma's memorial service:


"In Memory of My Grandma"
It is with great honor that I would have been asked to speak today at this celebration of the life of my grandma Mary Joan Rietdorf. I have always had it on my heart to have a part in this celebration by means of music, but to bring God’s Word to you today is not only a privilege, it is a blessing. To bring to you, this day, the thing that my grandma cherished most, even more than Boogie (my grandpa), that is, God’s Word, is the reason why today is a celebration and not a funeral.
Funerals have such a negative connotation in today’s world. Going to a funeral means more of a burden than anything else. You got to dress up, but not only dress up, dress up in colors, or should I say, the lack of color, that you don’t typically dress in, that is unless you’re Johnny Cash. Funerals start with crying and end with crying and even have a side of crying. Crying, because of the loss of a loved one. Crying and sadness because of “never seeing that loved one again.” Sadness and mourning because of the last thing that someone said before this person died, Sadness because of death. See the world has such a skewed view of death. The world views death as the end, the last line, the closing curtain with no curtain call. The worldly funeral is meant to be sad, it’s meant to be somber, and it’s meant to be “closure” to the situation. It is a time where people can say their “last remarks” and then leave it at the grave site.
I am so blessed not to be of the world today. See; today is NOT a funeral. Today is not an extended time of sadness. Sure, there are tears, there will be lumps in throats, and there is a cloud of somber in the room right now; but if you knew my grandma, she would come in here and say, “What’s the matter with you, don’t you know that I’m fine! Get up off your fan-dan and cheer up… have some fudge.”
Today is not a funeral; today is truly a celebration. It is a celebration because of the life of my grandma, that, by the way, she is STILL living. I want to talk to you and encourage you, and maybe even challenge you with that today. If you could please turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15 starting at verse 50.
(READ 1 Cor 15:50-56)
The phrase “passed away” is today’s politically correct way of saying “died.” But there is so much more to that phrase. “passed away” doesn’t really sound like dying to me, it sounds like the continuation of life elsewhere. This passage, among many many others in God’s Word, is a passage that provides the true believer in Jesus Christ the Assurance and comfort in the last days on this earth. It was actually this passage that came to mind when I was standing next to my grandma the day before she passed away and telling her I loved her and would be seeing her soon. It is this passage that makes my heart well up with Joy, but it is also this passage that makes me well up in a holy anger against sin.
I remember that same day when crying in my Aunt Kari’s shoulder I told her, “I’m not crying because I’m sad, I’m crying because I’m so mad at the devil and mad at sin for doing this.” See; death is a result of the fall of man, sin, of Adam and Eve. And that death would have prevailed if our gracious creator God wouldn’t have provided all the way from the beginning a means of redemption and salvation. This is the “mystery” is referred to in this passage. This passage particular speaks on the mystery as it pertains to the second coming of Christ, but is the same mystery that Ephesians 3 speaks on. Ephesians 3 refers to the “mystery” of Christ, that is, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why is the gospel a mystery? Well the gospel is not a mystery in that it happened, it indeed happened, the mystery is in the reason. WHY did God allow a means of redemption from our sin? Why would he do that? We know very well that we don’t deserve it. Everyday in our thoughts, actions, and words we sin. Isaiah 64:6 says that even our most righteous of deeds are as filthy rags before the Father. Why would God allow a means of salvation?
Grace is the answer to that question. God’s grace, by definition of the term, allows the answer of this question of “why” to be as simple as “because.” I am a simple man, and I love when things are made simple enough for me to understand. Why does God, though not having obligation, choose to allow a means of salvation and redemption from sin? He just does. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life trying to figure out the mystery, except as it says in Ephesians 3, that the basic of it is revealed to me in the Holy Spirit: Christ has saved me, and I don’t deserve it, but I BELIEVE it.
My grandma is a prime example of this truth. Not a person in this room who knew my grandma could say that they didn’t know that she was a believer in Jesus Christ. This truth seemed to bubble out of her! Her faith in Jesus Christ was so evident that even in her last days, when she didn’t remember anything else, if you were to ask her to pray she always started, “dear Jesus.” God’s grace in allowing us to believe in Jesus Christ and have it counted as our righteousness and eternal life is THE REASON why this is NOT a funeral today, but a celebration, and a challenge.
Back to the passage real quick:
Starting at vs 54,
(Read 1Cor 15:54-57)
The reason why my grandma did not “die” is because of the truth of God’s Word. She had an amazing faith through amazing grace of God IN Jesus Christ and that allowed her to “put on” the imperishable and “put on” immortality; Immortality, not in a worldly sense but in the Heavenly sense. Grandma is with her Savior Jesus Christ right now, not dead, but alive. “Death is swallowed up in victory!” That victory is the saving work of Jesus Christ, being crucified for our sins, being buried in the tomb, and defeating death once and for all by rising from the grave. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
My grandma no longer lives in the sting of death, which is sin, as the passage describes. My grandma no longer lives with a cloud over her memory because of the effects of sin. My grandma now lives purified and perfected but only by the grace of God through her savior Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus Christ that she has experienced now this victory over death, and victory once and for all over sin, and she can and IS standing before the Living Creator God and has heard the words, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Do you see why I don’t want to call this a funeral but a celebration? Do you see why our tears are not endless but temporary.
Many in this room know exactly what I’m talking about. But some of you in this room would be hearing these words from me and remembering a time when my grandma would have asked you the same question, “Do you know Jesus?” Do you know and believe that Jesus is the ONLY way, the only truth, and the ONLY life.
Common today is this notion that “all roads lead to Rome.” In other words, all religions are true and can save you. I’m here to tell you in the name of Jesus Christ that that is so false. The Bible says in Matthew 7:13-14, “wide is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow is way that leads to life.” John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life, NO ONE comes to the father, BUT by me.” In other words, religion cannot save you. Your good deeds cannot save you. Only Christ can save you. Romans 6:23 says “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus” This has nothing to do with religion. Salvation and redemption is in a relationship with Jesus. A relationship starts with faith.
Only Jesus can save you from the penalty of your sin. Will you receive him today, letting my grandma’s example be the start of your motivation? She would want nothing more at her memorial service than to see someone come into saving faith in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that you are sinful and need a savior? Do you believe that Jesus is the only redemption from that sin? Have you ever made that step of faith?
If you’re sitting there thinking, “I’m not sure” make it now. The Bible says that “today is the day of salvation.” And salvation is a gift. The only way a “gift” works is if you “receive it.” Do not leave here today thinking, “that’s great for them, but I don’t need that.” The bible says, “The word of the cross is folly for those who are perishing.”
I would want nothing more than for you to know today, maybe for the first time, or maybe as a reminder that God loves you. It does not matter what you’ve done. You can receive forgiveness by the grace of God today if you believe that Jesus saved you from your sin.
Grandma knew this so well. Grandma now KNOWS this so well. In her life on this earth, it was her faith that gave her so much peace. My grandma was such a peaceful woman, and patient! Fishing for me is a tremendous pain in my side. It’s because my patience pails in comparison to hers, and I’m learning. You can ask anyone in here who knew my grandma if she ever seemed afraid of anything. She had experienced the peace of God because she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would be with him someday in heaven. In fact, she would always sing that song,
“heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glorious grace, I’m going to see my savior’s face, oh heaven is a wonderful place.”
Wow, is she singing that song louder than ever right now.
Do not be grieved over my grandma, rejoice that she has finished the race. Let us celebrate the life that she lived here on this earth but more importantly the life she is NOW living that will never go frail, never deteriorate, and never die. Celebrate today that if you believe in Jesus Christ, you will not only get to see grandma again, but you will get to see Jesus Christ face to face.
If today was the first day that you truly believed in Jesus Christ, please don’t keep that to yourself. Will you tell someone after this service? Will you honor my grandma and tell one of her family that it was because of her testimony that you now believe and that we can come along side of you and help equip you on your new life in Jesus Christ?
Let us celebrate the life of Mary Joan Rietdorf today because there is truly victory over death in Jesus Christ.