Live For God Today

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, 

for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." 

Ecclesiastes 7:2

     I went to a funeral today. I have to admit that as I was sitting there, I thought to myself "I don't really want to be here." As I sat there listening to the eulogy, secretly wished I could be a wedding or birth instead. Not because I didn't love the person! The deceased was a loved one that I and our family will miss dearly. I felt this way because I hate to see people sad. I hate to be sad, and I just really want everyone around me to be happy. Funerals and such are generally sad. So, I tend to want to avoid them for generally happier occasians. Of course I felt guilty for not wanting to be there, but I was also wishing that it wasn't even happening in the first place. I didn't want to say goodbye just yet. None of us did.

     One sweet little boy nearby who didn't really understand what was going  on sensed the sadness in the air. It obviously made him uncomfortable and confused him. Seeing that everyone was upset, and wanting everything to be o.k.,  he blurted out, "CALM DOWN! It's not like it's going to happen to any of US! It's not going to happen to any of us IS IT?"

      Some one nearby him quieted him, but I couldn't help but start to think. I started thinking about how the Bible tells us that death is the destiny of every man, and that it's better to go to a funeral than a happy celebration because everyone who is living needs to take to heart that they won't always be living. The living, like me need to see death.The truth is, It IS going to happen to ALL of us, and none of us can determine when. We need to remember that just like our loved one who, taken from us so suddenly, didn't get to determine when to die, neither will we.

As I sat there listening to the eulogy of our loved one, the words of a song came to mind. And while a tear or two escaped silently from the corners of my eye, a familiar tune escaped  in a quiet hum. It was an ominous reminder.

"I'm Gonna live for God today no matter what the world may say

They don't understand my plan I''m going up to glory land.

God has made it clear to me that life can be a mystery. 

no one can determine when to die."