Daily devotion – that final witness!
Planning your funeral – I have conducted many funerals over the years and one of the most important things I have learned in that period is the blessing of planning one’s funeral before the day arrives.
In Genesis chapter 47 we find Jacob doing just this – 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”
And he said, “I will do as you have said.”
31 Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
Jacob’s desire was that his funeral would be a clear witness that he was not an idol-worshipping Egyptian but a believer in the true and living God.
Your funeral, the service it will involve, will be the last opportunity for you to give a public witness of your love and faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour – especially to those you hold dearest to you, your family! So you want to plan it carefully!
Making your last will and testament is important but don’t neglect your last witness and testimony.
I have overseen some very ill planned funerals in my time with songs and readings that had no relationship to the Word of God or the Christian life. Many songs especially had words that were outright pagan in their lyrics.
Let each of us learn from Jacob today and carefully plan our funeral to the glory of God. The best funerals I have overseen of Christians are those pre-organised by the deceased and I am able to commence the service with these words, “Everything, every word and each detail of today’s service for ________ has been planned and decided by _____ before today! These are their wishes!
That settles families the burden of trying to work out what to do and silences all arguments that would seek to derail the service away from God by others not wanting God or His Word included in the service! You cannot argue with the dead!
Joseph not only promised to fulfil his father Jacob’s wishes, but later he also asked his brothers to make the same promise to him that he made to his father.
Genesis 50: 24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Today begin to put pen to paper, seek the Lord, gather Scriptures that you desire to be read out. Choose the songs that tell of God’s great love and your devotion to Christ. Let it be a service that all those who attend will have heard the Gospel, have known of your love for Christ and include the promises of God’s Word that describe where you are now.
Let your final testimony ring with joy and grace so that all those attending will be clear of Christ being your Lord and Saviour and your life is not over – you have moved to glory!