Are You Ready?

Mozelle Duncan passed away December 15th, just twelve days shy of her ninety-ninth birthday. Two days later, my wife and I were asked to speak at her funeral.

If you received this call, what would you say? I don't mean how would you answer the initial question. Of course you agree to speak. My question is, what would you say at the funeral service?

As you think about that question, let's talk for a minute about training.

In small and large communities across the country young people participate in competitive sports. When you talk to these young men and women, you eventually learn two interesting facts:

1. Training is hard work, and they would frequently prefer to skip it.
2. In competition you may face only a few critical moments, but without all the training, you will fall short.

In the same way, many Christians prefer to skip the hard work of daily Bible study, prayer, and learning all they can about their faith. But there is nothing like a sudden confrontation with life to make you realize that obedience to scripture is one way God prepares us for trials and challenges.

First Peter 3:15, for example, commands Christians to always be ready to explain their faith to others. It reads:

"...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence"

To sanctify is to set apart, or to place in a unique (in this case, Holy) position. Christ should be the most important part of every Christian's life. Set time aside, set energy aside, so that you are always prepared to defend your faith and explain the gospel. Do this in concert with the Holy Spirit so that you can do so with love, gentleness, respect.

Is that what you do, Christian? Do you set Christ above your busy schedule? Do you prioritize reading His Word above other activities in your life? Do you study the common objections to your faith?

Or, like most people, do you base your theology on what you remember from Sunday School lessons, or the occasional sermon that you agree with? Do you spend more time watching TV or YouTube than studying God's Word? Do you talk to people at the office more than you talk to the Lord? If so, how can you be obedient to scripture such as 1 Peter 3:15?

Too often I am disobedient, and allow the activities of the day to consume my time and energy. Then, I was confronted with the phone call asking me to speak at a funeral. It was yet another reminder of why God's Word is vastly more wise than my best day-planner habits.

As my wife and I prayed about and discussed what do say, we soon decided that she would speak about memories of her grandmother, focusing on how her love of the Lord enabled so much of her love toward her children and others. Then, I would give a gospel message.

What would you do in this situation? Would you know what to say? Would you spend all your time talking about God's love, ignoring the persistent persecution documented in the New Testament? Would you talk about how God can make your life better, knowing that everyone struggles? What scripture would you choose if you have only one opportunity to share with a room full of people, many of whom you will never see again?

Next time, I will tell you some of the answers I have discovered to these questions. In the meantime, spend some time considering how you would share the hope that is within you if you were to stand behind the podium of a dear relative's funeral.