Have you planned your funeral?

My mom is 89. She is in very good health. Several of her siblings have lived well into their nineties. Her father was about two weeks shy of 100 when he died. So she will most likely be with us a while yet here on earth. But I also know that she is much closer to the day of her death than she is to the day of her birth. For that matter, I can say the same thing about me!

Last year I sat with her and talked about her wishes for her funeral. I took some notes about hymns and readings and who she wanted to conduct the service and where it should be. I shared what she told me with my siblings.

When I was serving in ministry, I encouraged the members of my congregation to fill out a form entitled “What To Do in the Event of My Death.”  It wasn’t “What to do IF I die,” but “What to do WHEN I die.” Even if you don’t like to think about it, death is coming for all of us. The only way to avoid it would be for Christ to return before you die. So it is good to be prepared.

The most important preparation is to put your faith in Jesus.

John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Having the certainty of eternal life, you should not be afraid to plan your funeral. And the reason I encourage people to do it early is simple. It is much easier on your family if you make the decisions about your service. I have dealt with many families after a loved one dies, and they are asked to make lots of choices while dealing with the raw emotions present at such a time. It is a gift to them if you have already made those decisions.

While only a few people actually filled out those forms, I did. It is in my desk at home. Two of the songs I want to be a part of the service are “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “The Only Name (Yours Will Be)” by Big Daddy Weave. They put the focus where it belongs – on Jesus! I know people gather for memorial services to remember the person who died and comfort each other. That is certainly important.

But, to quote Yogi Berra, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  At my funeral, the main thing is to be Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. People need to know about him and what he did. I am thankful for the friends and family and acquaintances I have, and I pray God has used me to share His message with them.

Fifty years from now, few if any will remember me. And they don’t need to do so. If they do, I hope they will remember someone who tried to share Jesus and His love with them. He is the one they need to remember. And He is the one I will be with.