Funeral preparation

Recently, the topics of death keeps coming up.
Even today in my paper (21 April 2009), there is a topic on making preparation for funeral. A thought came into my mind; the preparation for funeral is like the preparation for wedding.

After attending so many wedding, I find people put in much effort in preparing for the big day. But the big day is only a day while they have a lifetime to live together… hopefully in today context.

In order to prepare the couples to live together in harmony, there is marriage preparation class. So for the funeral, it is only few days. After that, it is the journey into the afterlife. Is there any afterlife preparation class?

Recently, I shared with a friend about how God saved my mother from death. He recommended a Japanese movie title “Departures”. It is a meaningful movie. In the show, one of the character professions is to burn the corpse into ashes. He said he felt that death is only starting into another journey. How true it is!

Before Jesus went to the Cross to die for our sin, He said in John 14:1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Bible also said in Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

It is not necessary for neither Jesus nor the Bible, which is authorize by God, to lie. If that is the case, are we prepare for our afterlife?

When Christians share about eternal life, some people thought that is afterlife. So being not ready for death, they are not ready. But as my good friend who grows in Christ, in our experience, we shared a common thought that eternal life starts on the moment that we believe in Jesus.

I still remember that will little faith and self-righteousness that I am not a “bad” person, I received Jesus into my life many years ago. But Jesus took it and changes my thoughts. I only understand better how much I need the grace of God when I enter into His kingdom of love.

Another common thoughts that we shared are, after we receive Christ, we really did not afraid of death anymore. We know where we are going afterlife. We know Jesus is at the other end to receive us in Heaven. We know we will enter Heaven not because of our good works, but because of the blood of Jesus.

“Departures” is a good movie. Even someone in our church who works as a counselor recommend us to watch it.

Another good movie is “The Bucket list”. It provides us some thoughts on how we should live before we kick the bucket.