Epicedium

I was just cleaning out the desk, and found a slip of paper with the notes from what I said at my Mother’s funeral, to several hundred people.

Everything said about my mom is true. She was a wonderful mother. The best. I can’t imagine anything being different that would have made things better. There isn’t a person I can think of that could have raised me better. And my brother, and my sister. Or taken care of my father, and the family. No one could have ever been as wonderful and loving as my mom.

But when we look at the Holy Scriptures, we see a different picture of my mom. The picture painted of her in Scripture (as well as everyone else) is one of complete and total helplessness. Scripture tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. That our righteousness, all of our righteous deeds add up to nothin more than filthy rags before God. And so, with all the goodness in my mom’s life — You can look at the brief biography in the bulletin to get a small glimpse — but for all the help she has given she has only earned one thing. And that is everlasting judgment from a Holy God.

But provision was made for her. She wasn’t left to get what she deserved. Jesus Christ came to earth… God Himself came to earth. And He lived a perfectly sinless life, and suffered the shame of the cross, bearing the sins of those who believe.

And so I will quote that familiar verse, that speaks so much truth, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

My mom was not good enough to get into heaven. But through faith the absolute perfection of Jesus Christ was imputed to her, and I trust that she is in the presence of the Lord now, praising His name.