In a Better Place

At a memorial service I attended recently the minister assured us our deceased friend was "in a better place." However, she provided no basis for this knowledge or further explanation.

That got me thinking about my own eventual demise, subsequent funeral, and what I hope might be said. My friend Jeff Wenzel, who died of a brain tumor about 10 years ago, made a video when he was sick in preparation for the occasion. It was just like Jeff, who was extremely well-liked and social, to be the keynote speaker at his own funeral. My favorite part was when he leaned into the camera and looked down, as if he were scanning the crowd to see who all showed up.

I could make a video too, but writing something is more my style. Something like this:

Thanks for coming to my funeral today. Because you are here, I know our lives crossed in a meaningful way, or your life has crossed some of the ones closest to me and you desire to support and comfort them. Both are great reasons to be here.

I want to assure you that I am now in Heaven with Jesus, in the place He has prepared for me. I've known since I was six years old that I would be joining Him here. My parents read me Bible stories and took me to Sunday School and church, so I always knew that I needed to ask Jesus into my heart.

On a Wednesday night in April, 1975, our First Mennonite Brethren youth choir sang a song with the words, "Don't wait until you're older, but trust Him. . " I knew I would be seven in a few months, so I decided tonight was the night. When my class went upstairs, I hung back, sat on the landing and prayed. I told Jesus I was sorry for the wrong things I had done (I had stolen a curler from a playmate, and lied about it to my mother, for starters), and I asked Him to come into my life and to take me to Heaven when I died. I was glad to make this important decision

When I re-joined my class, I wondered if they would notice that I was a Christian now. I don't remember if I told my teachers, but I know my Mom and Dad were happy for me when I told them that night.

Later I learned the Romans Road, which are several key verses the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans that spell out the path I took to find salvation. Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I knew I was a sinner (remember the curler incident). The bad news was I deserved death, as Romans 6:23 says, "for the wages of sin is death." However, the good news quickly follows because the verse continues:  "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So I am confident that I am in Heaven now, because I believe God when he says in Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." That's what I did, and I know He keeps His promises.

He's been with me all my life, guiding me, protecting me, loving me. I have not followed Him perfectly, but He is perfect, and He is faithful to do what He says He will. And now I have begun the best part that is scary to even imagine on earth--eternal life.

You may not have had the benefit of hearing about salvation repeatedly since you were a child like I did, but the same is absolutely true for you. God doesn't want anyone to be lost, He desires that everyone would come to Him. If you haven't done that, I would love for you to do that today. I would love for my memorial service to mark the day that angels rejoice in Heaven over your salvation.

And I would love to see you again. Let's plan to meet at my place--it's got lots of rooms.