The REAL FUN Begins

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When you read the title of this blog post, please understand that I am not intending any disrespect to anyone who has ever lost a loved-one before, nor am I making light of the pain that comes from losing someone close to us. These are very personal as well as very painful events that take place in all of our lives.

What has inspired this post though, was a thought that came to me in prayer a few months back. It was while I was officiating a funeral for a believer who had went home to be with the Lord. The thought came to me while in a prayer group before the service. One of the men who was praying said the word "funeral" as he was in prayer. Not that anything is wrong with the word "funeral" per se, because that is technically where we were at, and what we were praying over.

However for me, the word funeral has such a solemn, permanent, and emotionally negative feel to it. Now, when it is the funeral of a person who did not trust in Jesus Christ, this is exactly what it is, and much worse. It is a funeral with a capital F-U-N-E-R-A-L. There is no hope, and there is no consolation that can be had for anyone who finds themselves in this position. They are not in the magical and mystical land known as, "A Better Place." No matter how much better it makes us feel to believe this, there is not "A Better Place" for anyone to go to if they don't know Jesus. The bible clearly states; "Jesus is the only One who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given (by God) to save people. We must be saved through Him." (Acts 4:12, NCV). Jesus tells us, "I am the only way, I am the only truth, and I am the only life. NO ONE COMES to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

Now that we are clear about this, I want to get back to the word "Funeral" when associating it with a believer. I much prefer any of the following phrases that we have all heard before, when we are referring to a believer who has gone to heaven. There is a persons' "Going Away Party", or "Going Home Party", or "Memorial Celebration". There is "The Heavenly Reception Party", "The Pre-Rapture Party", and on and on the names can go. All of these are true, the believer is in a much better place. The Bible says that they are in the fulness of joy (Ps. 16:11), and will never again experience crying, pain, sorrow, sickness, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:4).

Yes, for the believer, we can all agree with the apostle Paul, "to die is gain" (Philippians 1:23). Only a person who understands how great and incredible heaven truly is, could ever say that "death" is a "good thing" or a "gain" for them. The reason they can confidently say this, is because this is when true life begins for us! This is true living the way God had intended life to be for us before the fall! And we get to experience this perfect, purpose-filled, joyful life for all eternity! Oh yes, for the person who trusts in Jesus... it doesn't matter how good their life on earth is, when they die it gets even better!

But I want to get back to the thought that came to my mind while in prayer that day before my friends memorial service. While we were praying before the service, one of the men who was praying said the word "funeral" as he was in prayer. The moment he said "funeral", it was as if the Lord did a supernatural word scramble in my heart and mind.

It was more of a picture that He gave me, but I will try to articulate it this way.

FUNERAL

1. If we scramble the "eral" of the word FUNERAL into "real" we get "FUN-REAL."
2. If we then place the "REAL" in front of the "FUN", we get "REAL-FUN".
3. For the Christian who dies, and goes to be with Jesus, their funerals are when:
THE REAL FUN BEGINS

So for now on when you find yourself at the funeral of a friend or loved-one who knows the Lord, remember that for them, the REAL FUN has begun. They are in the presence of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8), experiencing the absolute unwavering fulness of joy (Psalm 16:11). 

For us, the Bible says that it is okay to grieve their loss, but don't grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Because, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14), at His Second Coming.

Meaning, our friends and loved ones are not lost and gone forever. We know exactly where they are. It is not in the magical mystical land called "A Better Place", it is in the VERY BEST PLACE. In Heaven, with Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords, and King of kings. They are in the presence of God, and experiencing His unending joy. And if we trust in Jesus and follow Him, we will join them again and spend the rest of eternity with them as well. Amen? Amen!

Oh yeah, just one more thing... that is when the REAL FUN begins for us as well!

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If by chance you are reading this right now, and have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I would like to invite you to visit the following link to find out how you can do this.

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