How we bury our dead...

     Today I attended the funeral of a close friend's sister.  She was a 25 year old mother of two, killed in a car accident, survived by both children (who are toddlers or younger), her husband, her parents, and her brother along with his family.  There is no way to accurately describe the nature of that tragedy, the depth of the pain associated.  To the lost world, it makes no sense.  Without explanation, there really isn't much that can be done other than offer some hollow words of comfort, share some good memories, and try to move on after the body is buried.  
     To those in Christ, it still may not make sense, but I was struck today how differently we bury our dead.  The Christian father of this daughter got up at the beginning of this funeral and proclaimed the greatness of His God, reading from His word.  He presented a call to worship, and worship we all did.  These were not funeral dirges, mourning a life lost; these were hymns of praise, songs to declare the holiness of God, the sole hope and promise of life that is in His Son Jesus.  I wept at this funeral, less from grief, and more at my own unworthiness in the presence of sovereign God.  I wept as I gratefully realized that but for His grace, I may as well be in that coffin.  I wept as I realized how much time I waste on things which are urgent, but not important.  I wept as I realized yet again (thank you Lord for your patience!!) that He is what is important in this life, His work, His Kingdom.  The sermon delivered at the funeral was not soft spoken comfort food offered to appease the hurt, it was a powerful call to respond to the Gospel.  It was the Word of God wielded as the double edged sword that it is, piercing though it would be to the lost, hope-filled to those professing faith in His Son.  The words spoken were true, and offered genuine hope, not like the false hope this world professes to have.  
     Though this was a profoundly difficult event for the family, a tragedy that makes no sense, it was clear to see that the power of Christ is greater.  Today Christians could be seen by how we bury our dead.