REVELATION 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

TO PONDER

This is a very popular funeral text. Now, funerals are to comfort the living, and this is certainly a comforting verse, and so it should be, because it’s true. It’s a promise from God, and he doesn’t break promises. 

I wonder if the term ‘passed away’ comes from this verse. Many people use it instead of the word ‘death’, or ‘died’. For some, a softening of the word is their version of pastoral care. In a way they are saying, ‘Í don’t want to remind you of the grief you are going through.  I don’t want to remind you of your loss’.

For you and me, people of faith, a funeral is also a time of celebration. A time where we can and do celebrate and remember the life of the person being farewelled. God doesn’t mind that, because he is a God of stories, and everyone has a story. And all good things come from God, so to be reminded of a person’s joy in their life, pleases God.   

The verse is a confirmation of where that faithful person is now, and that’s with Jesus. Children sometimes ask me, ‘What will heaven be like’? I answer, ‘It will be great, because you’ll be with God’. That’s his promise.      

PRAYER: We thank you Father, firstly all the promises you made, and then for keeping every single one. We are sorry Lord, for the times when we have not kept promises, or kept our vows, especially the one’s we or our Godparents made at our baptism. Bless our lives, as only you can. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.