I attended the funeral of an 18 year old yesterday. He was a freshman at college and had been home for Thanksgiving. He was killed in a tragic automobile accident when another forced him off the road and then kept on driving. That driver still hasn’t been found. He left behind parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family. Their grief is beyond comprehension. And yet, I’ve never experienced such a beautiful combination of grief and sorrow with authentic praise and worship of God. I felt as though I was standing on holy ground.
You see, Ryan was Christian. A Believer in Jesus Christ. His parents were too, and they understand that even in the midst of terrible shock and grief God is with them. God has a plan, even though they can’t possibly imagine what that will be. They have hope because of Jesus.
I didn’t know Ryan, but during the service I learned what an amazing individual he was and the incredible impact he had in his few years on earth. I saw pictures of him as a young child, and as a youth on mission trips. I heard his church, sports, and college friends talk about how he lived life fully and with fun, how he encouraged them, was there for them. They said he wasn’t perfect, that he would tell you all the good things about him were because of Jesus, not himself.
As I sang through tears I asked myself if I could honestly praise God if that were my son or my granddaughter in the casket. The conclusion I came to is this: how I would do that I have no idea, but I would do it. Because there is no other Answer. God sees the full picture, the finished side of the tapestry of life, while we only get to see the knots and tangles and an occasional glimmer of gold thread. My job is to hold firm in faith, trust in God and keep on trying to live like Jesus.
Death can come at any age. We are powerless to stop it. Ryan died at the age of 18.
Are you like Ryan? Are you prepared for life after death? It's REAL, you know. You are going to have a different body and you will exist somewhere else FOREVER.
Or are you like the people I know who aren’t even certain there is a God, or that Heaven and Hell are real places. They think that whatever god you choose, or the lack of one, doesn’t matter as long as you believe it. That karma, good juju, positive energy, or just being a good person is the same as believing in one true life-saving God.
Which breaks my heart because it’s not true.
What we believe on earth determines our reality after. Death is inevitable. Let it motivate you to face what really matters while you can change your future.
Christianity is the only belief system where God reaches out to us. He came to earth, had the human experience; He relates to us. No other belief system has a PERSONAL God. He wants to be in relationship with YOU. He has a plan for YOUR life.
God showed us what He is like and why we are here. He has a mind, soul and feelings; He created us in His image. The Bible is His signature, written supernaturally by Him through men. It answers questions He knew we would ask. It was written over a period of 1,500 years by multiple people in 3 languages. Only God could have controlled the content and kept it consistent.
There is a mountain of prophetic, archaeological and scientific evidence to prove the Bible is God’s word, without error. The Bible predicted when and where Jesus would be born. Jesus proved He was God in the flesh by His perfect life, miracles and His resurrection, all of that corroborated by secular (nonreligious) history. It matters whether you believe what is in the Bible. There IS life after death and THAT changes everything. (John 11:25-26)
The Bible teaches there is a time appointed for each to die, and then the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) There IS accountability after you die, and how that plays out depends on what you believe before you die. Our Creator God has a right to be our boss. You can decide not to believe that and go on living like it doesn’t matter, but it won’t change the fact that a decision is required of you.
I beg you - believe in Jesus Christ, give Him your life. Read the Bible. Not just to secure your eternal place in Heaven instead of Hell, but to change your life here and now. It’s the most important thing you will EVER do.
Ryan believed; death did not find him unprepared. How will it find you?
