Handouts from the Living Well series last Sunday on Death and Dying: 

• Planning a Funeral and Writing a Eulogy
• How to Write a Eulogy by Rich Krygiel
• Death and Dying Conclusion and Resources

Scripture:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” 

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14: 1-7)

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14: 15-20)

Devotional:

My earliest memory of an impactful conversation about the afterlife happened when I was about nine years old. That’s not to say that I didn’t learn about Heaven and death before then, because I did. But it was this particular conversation that imprinted so deeply that I have never forgotten it. 

One evening, I was lounging in the living room watching TV, while I overheard my parents conversing in the kitchen. Unaware that I was eavesdropping, they discussed a loved one who belonged to a very conservative, legalistic church, and how that particular church’s theology construed that any person not belonging to that church was doomed to hell. I very vividly recall the sick feeling that instantly sank into the pit of my stomach. Afterall, my family was not a part of that church, and I was terrified of the idea of hell. 

I sat there silent and continued to listen. Eventually I began to sob so loudly that my parents heard and rushed into the living room, very concerned and inquiring as to what prompted the upset. I told them I overheard their conversation, and I didn’t want to go to hell. 

They both looked relieved when I responded with that answer, as if they were thinking “oh okay, phew, we thought something was REALLY wrong.” Because they both understood the insanity of such a belief, and that a God who loves us would never condone us to suffer in the torturous fear and worry of the unknown. They comforted me and explained that what I heard was not true. They explained that God loves us all, and we are all different. We come from different families and neighborhoods, different cities and states, and from different countries, cultures and religious backgrounds. The one specific line from the conversation that has reverberated in my mind time and again is, “What about people in Africa who don’t even know what church is?  God loves them, too. They’re not going to hell, and neither are you.” (Romans 8:38-39) 

With that in mind, how can we reconcile this grandiose, all-encompassing, all-forgiving, all-inclusive love of God with Jesus’ declaration that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)?  How will those African people my parents described (or any person who doesn’t know Jesus, for that matter) reach the room He has prepared for them if they don’t have a relationship with Him?  

The answer lies in that same declaration. Jesus is the way; we are to act like Him and in HIS ways in all that we do and in each and every interaction with others. He is the truth; the truth that God is love, and we are all made in His image. And, He is the life; Jesus rose from the grave, conquered the darkness of death and sin, and delivered everlasting life to all of humanity.  But, there’s more. Jesus also tells us, “Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). So, I ask again - how will those who don’t know Jesus come to know Him? Through your actions.  Through mine. Through the actions and love of all of our brothers and sisters who are one body in Christ Jesus. (1 John 4:7-8, Romans 8:28) 

Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven… ” (Matthew 6:9-10) Think about the phrase “on earth as it is in Heaven.” Can we bring glimpses of Heaven to people here on earth? I believe we can. Through small acts of kindness, a smile, a hug, an encouraging word, an unsolicited offer of help where we expect nothing in return, through forgiveness, acceptance and open-mindedness — ultimately, through agape love, the kind of love that Jesus readily and respectfully bestowed on all those He encountered and still showers on us today, even onto those who may not have met Him yet (Romans 8:38-39, John 15:9).  

Fear of eternal doom is a burden no child should have to bear. I thank God that my parents heard my weeping that evening. We are all children of God, and He hears our weeping, too. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” and rejoice that He has already carried the burden of death for us (John 14:1). Rather than be motivated by fear of punishment and pain, let us remember that He lives in us, and our lives and actions are the only Bible that some people read.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for your unwavering, unconditional, overwhelming love. Thank You for the person of Jesus Christ to show us the way. Please continue to remind us that a piece of You resides within each of us, and give us the patience, strength and grace needed to reflect the gift of your Spirit to all those we encounter. May we all rejoice together in your holy and healing presence one day.  Amen.

Written by Rachel Kearse. Rachel is the nursery childcare provider on Sundays, the leader of the Moms with Littles group and she also teaches YogaFaith here at Arcola. She is married to Matthew and they have two daughters, Stella and Olivia.