When I was talking to my son last week, he asked me if I knew what a live funeral was. I told him no and he began to explain it to me. It's when a person knows that he's going to die, and he calls his family, friends, etc. to come and see him. What they do and where they meet is in the dying person's hands. Wow! How many times have people wished that they had gone to visit someone before they had died and felt bad because they hadn't done so. I immediately thought of Jacob. Many years ago, I said that I wanted to die like Jacob. Jacob knew that he was going to die, because the Lord had told him. Jacob called his sons together and told them what would befall them in the last days. He also told them where to bury him. After he told them, the Bible says he gathered his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost! That's a live funeral. Solomon said that there's nothing new under the sun!
I believe that a true child of God knows when they are going to die. Why do I believe this? Because the Lord prepares his children to leave this world. He told Hezekiah to put his house in order because he was going to die. But after seeking the Lord, the Lord gave Hezekiah fifteen more years. There are many people in the Bible that knew when they were going to die. Moses, Jacob, Elijah-although he didn't die physically but he knew he would be taken, Jesus, Paul, and Peter just to name a few.
Of course, we are sad when someone we love dies. And when we we cry, who are we crying for? The one that is gone or ourselves? If our loved ones belong to the Lord, we will see them again! I always say that my son is on vacation, and I will see him again when I leave this old world and go to join him. Do I miss him? Of course! Is he forgotten? Never. And what did God say to Adam in the garden? Dust you are and to dust you will return. But our spirits don't die. Our spirit goes to be with the Lord. How do I know that? Because it was Moses and Elijah that talked to Jesus when he was transfigured on the mount. Even Jesus died physically as did Lazarus.
So maybe this live funeral is something that we need to look into. Maybe we can be partakers of the food and beverages that are always shared by friends and family after regular funerals before we actually depart from this world. Wouldn't that be something to behold!!!! All things are possible in the Lord.
Peace and grace!
