Death Brings Freedom

Death Brings Freedom

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Romans 7:24

Can you imagine a funeral where there are no photos of the deceased? Where family members sit silently and do not share special memories? Where the summary of one’s life is read in just a few minutes, and after that the deceased’s name is rarely mentioned?

We read in the Amish guidebook Our Heritage, Hope, and Faith, “Through cases of death, we are reminded anew time and again that we must die, that our life has a goal (will end), and that we must depart from here. The funeral sermon shall be conducted accordingly, and not too much be said about the deceased. The good qualities (attributes) of the deceased may be held up as examples and models, but this does not require much time. The most devout (godly) man still has too many weaknesses to allow him to be held up as a perfect example. Christ alone is a perfect example.”

The truth of these words humbles me. No one is perfect. Paul proclaims our inner battle in Romans 7:21-24. But as troubling as Paul’s words are in Romans 7:24, the answer in the next verse is exciting: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25).

While I do appreciate celebrating the life of a person at his or her funeral, I’m also reminded that as hard as death is, it’s the only thing that finally rescues us from sin. Our lives will end, and if we have faith in Jesus, our freedom will come. Our story isn’t about what we achieved on earth, but rather about what we allowed Jesus to achieve for us and in us—in this life and in eternity.

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes I think only of the pain of death. Today I thank You for the freedom death brings. I thank You for Jesus, who made a sinless eternity after death possible!