At the time of this writing, I have just returned from a funeral service. As I walked along, a number of thoughts, but one in particular, ran through my mind. The man who officiated was a preacher for a church of Christ, and the person who died was a member of the congregation in which he preaches. When it became evident that the service was concluding, I asked one of our members if he was going to the cemetery. The answer was "no." I then explained my reason for asking: the preacher had failed to preach the Gospel, i.e., what one must do to prepare to face the Judgment Day; and maybe he was going to do it at the grave site. This member replied, "The family requested that the preacher not give a sermon."
There was a time when there were some who wanted to follow Jesus, but they allowed something they felt was more important to hinder them. Jesus told one individual to, "follow Me." "But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:59; read vs. 57-62) Paul charged Timothy to "...preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)
Why would a family request that a sermon not be given? Is it because it may offend some of the listeners? Perhaps some of the family is "out of duty," or perhaps there are those who have never obeyed the gospel. What better time is there to preach the Good News? This family denied those present the opportunity to hear the Glad Tidings. But worse yet, the preacher agreed!
"Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood." (Jeremiah 48:10 ASV) A Christian has a grave responsibility to "be ready always to give an answer." (1 Peter 3:15) We must also be ready to defend God's word. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." {Ephesians 6:17} "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17)
Ironically, this preacher read Luke 16:19-31, (please read these verses!). Would the person who died have wanted the Gospel proclaimed? Maybe in life he requested that a sermon not be given (I don't know). But, what about NOW? (Read again concerning the rich man.) Jesus didn't die on the cross so preachers could be swayed by men. He died on the cross so that faithful men would faithfully and fearlessly proclaim His Word, and souls would be saved.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15) "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)
How sad it is that, when death is staring into the very depths of those souls who have gathered for a funeral service, they cannot hear God's Word declared in its fullness, because a family doesn't want a sermon, and a preacher is too weak to stand for the Truth. A funeral service is not for the dead, but for the living. It is a time for serious reflection about one's own mortality.
"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2) A funeral is a time to consider where one stands in relation to God.
Have you considered your own approaching death, and what you want said at your funeral service? What will they say about your life? The shortest line on a tombstone is the line between birth and death; and that short line is the life you live. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)
I want to live and die in the Gospel: in Jesus Christ. And when it is time for my funeral service, I want the Gospel preached. "Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." {2 Peter 1:15,16}
What is the gospel? What is the Good News? "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." {John 3:16,17} What must we do to be in Heaven with the Father?
1. Hear the gospel "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." {Romans 10:17} Also read John 20:30,31.
2. Believe in Jesus "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." {John 8:24} Again, read Hebrews 11:6.
3. Repent of your sins "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." {Acts 17:30,31}
4. Confess Jesus Christ "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." {Romans 10:9,10} A good example is recorded in Acts 8:35-37.
5. Be Baptized into Christ "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." {Romans 6:3,4} Some other passages one would do well to consider--Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38.
6. Remain faithful "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." {Revelation 2:10}
There is much to be learned from a funeral service. There is much on which to reflect. But many fail to learn any lesson. Then it's too late...life is gone.
"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." (Ecclesiastes 7:4)
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)