Funeral - the glory of eternity

Funeral

The passing into glory

Dear friends,

When a close relative or friend passes away, questions about death and life hereafter naturally arises. To those who die in the Lord are promised the glory of the heavens become true. 

Revelation 7:15 says “they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in his temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.” 

The way to heavenly glory

It is important to ask questions about the life hereafter.  Indeed, there is a question in the paragraph we read from the bible this morning.  It goes like this: 

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” (Revelation 7:13)

Those around God’s throne - who are they and where are they from?  The beginning of the chapter gives us the answer.  It refers to the saved as people with the seal of the living God upon them.  They were the ones God chose and elected to have eternal life. The seal means that they belong to Him, He marked them to be his people.  He provided for them eternal life in Jesus Christ and He gave the Holy Spirit to them to develop a saving faith which would embrace the free gift of salvation.

We read about this salvation:  the white robes of righteousness those around God’s throne wear – which is a symbol that their sins are forgiven – is washed in the blood of the Lamb.  Jesus Christ gave Himself freely to die on the Cross of Calvary, and He rose again to become the only sacrifice acceptable to God through whom all sinners must be saved.  No one can ever enter the glory of eternity with God without the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ.

By faith those who enter into the glory of God, accepted the free offer of the Gospel and they embraced Him as Saviour.

What is the glory like?

 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:15-17)

Eternity before God’s throne is not a dreary and monotonous existence of doing nothing.  No there is joy.  There is continuous dedication and devotion to the Lord God.  It is the glory where all the promises of God are fulfilled.  It is the 23rd Psalm every day – if we can put it in terms of time – which does not exist in eternity.

No pain, sorrow, hunger, worry, anxiety; no getting tired or exhausted, because the reason for all these earthly distress is taken away:  sin is dead!

Those who embraced this free offer of the Gospel are on their way to heavenly glory.  Those who have died in the Lord are experiencing this glory.

We only thank God for salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.  Let us devote our lives to Him.

Amen.