As a pastor's kid, I went to a lot of funerals growing up.
Today, there are two different words I want to talk to you about. The first word is eulogy.
Some people have gone to tremendous lengths to build impressive mausoleums or tombs. What makes a tomb great and impressive?
If you've ever read or studied the book Ecclesiastes from the Old Testament, you know that it can be a little bit gloomy.
Human beings and the world were designed together. This world provides for us everything that we need in order to get by.
The bill of our guilt, the debt of our sin, it has been paid for. It has been accomplished 100% by our Savior Jesus. There's nothing more that we need to do. After all, can Jesus go back now and commit some sort of sin and not earn righteousness? No! It's an accomplished fact. He already earned that righteousness. It's free and it's coming to all who believe in him.
"Grass withers, flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever." Come spend a few moments with us and reflect on the Word that lasts forever.
Right now we live in a world that is full of fear. We have this pandemic that is surrounding us. A family friend of ours, an acquaintance, recently came down with Covid 19.
Seeing someone's grave is a reminder of the reality of death. And even our own. But we can have this comfort: Jesus is risen we can look forward to being reunited in heaven.
It's a new year. We all are getting older. We exercise to take care of our bodies, but it's also important to take care of our souls.
We want life to continue. Today Pastor Hartwig reminds us of Jesus' power over death and reassures us of our eternal home in heaven.
R.I.P. - Rest In Peace. What does it mean to "rest in peace?"