Today, I went to the memorial service for Peggy (my co-worker)'s Mom. The service was largely in Chinese, and although there was translation for much of it, I don't think I needed it. The look of peace and joy on Mr. Yuan and his family's faces was remarkable. Because Mrs. Yuan had a relationship with God, her family can mourn in quiet sorrow and deep peace that their mother/sister/wife is resting in heaven.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Before placing a rose on her casket, I reflected that this fragrant, red rose would, in a days time be withered and dying. Our lives, the scriptures say, are like grass, or a mist. Walking through a cemetery this reality is easy to believe. Whether we die or not is not an option, we all will die. Our choice is how we will live.
As Mrs. Yuan's life as a mother and wife was celebrated, her impact on the world became clear. By raising Godly daughters, she has left a legacy of faith that has and will continue to touch students on universities, friends of her daughters and her grandchildren as they are reared in fear of the Lord. By supporting her husband in his Church ministry, she has blessed congregations in Ottawa and Vancouver. Surely, this was a woman who knew this life is short.
In his sermon, the pastor challenged us to live our lives for God, in light of the fact that life is incredibly short, and eternity is at stake. Will we, like Mrs. Yuan, "fall asleep in [Jesus]"? We will lead lives that bless our generation and generations to come?
Later today, I listened to a talk about Atheism. The speaker pointed out that POW's he had met in South Vietnam always told him the same thing: they yearned to send love to husbands, wives, brothers and sisters at home, they wanted to get out to continue loving. They didn't mention cars or houses or jobs...
How easy it is to lose our focus! In a world that ignores death and sanitizes disease, poverty and suffering, how can we remember that we are but grass? Our culture runs from death and drowns it out in a quest for immortality--drinking, sex, blogs we hope someone will read (yes, I see the irony), MTV, unpaid credit cards, high fat diets...we live as if we are immortal, as if our lives exist for nothing other than ourselves.
However young or attractive or rich or secure we are, our names will end up with a death certificate. Now is the time to surrender to relationship with God, and now is the time to serve Him knowing that we're just in the waiting room: we can leave a legacy, but we can't bring a dime with us into eternity.
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
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