Take a look around you, these are probably the people who are going to
attend your funeral. How will they remember you? Will your funeral be a sad
event, as you will be missed, or a time of joy, because you persevered to the
end and made it to heaven? Will it be family, friends, club members, or just a
private service? Will there be a service at all? And if you could, what would
your final words be if allowed to speak at your own funeral? Today many have
turned form funerals to celebrations of life, but the theme is still the same,
to remember the deceased, and comfort those who remain. Lest we forget. So
some I attend are good, some are bad, some I wished I had passed on, and some
truly are a celebration, but not of the person, but of Jesus Christ. Sometimes
it is the deceased’s wish of how it should be, sometimes the family’s, sometimes
too overcome with grief they leave it up to a pastor or priest. But two
funerals I attended were so different, but only one represented the person who
died.
If a bunch of bikers, over 100 descended on your church, how would you
handle it? Does your pastor know you ride? That you minister? It may affect
the service he provides, and at this one it did. But not to honor my friend who
died. The room was filled with leather and denim, and as the pastor stood up,
you could tell he took a dim view on us. And for the next 60 minutes made it
known. His attitude was “I have all these sinners here, I am going to teach
them all about Jesus while I have the chance.” And he did, or thought he did,
as many of us are saved, and out living for Christ. We deal with bikers,
hookers, junkies, and others who would not be welcomed in his church. And we
didn’t feel welcomed. Just about any of us could have done a better job, not
the way my friend lived or wanted to be remembered. This pastor had us, like a
fly stuck in a spider’s web, and we were his, and we would listen as he forced
the gospel on us. With only a few who couldn’t wait to get out. Alive. He had
told the gospel, maybe as he knew it, he forgot only one thing. The love of
Jesus. The gospel is good news, the good news that day was when it ended. And
so too many try to take advantage of those who attend, preaching at us just
because we look different, but unable to minister as we do, because they don’t
have the love of Christ within. Afterwards too many wondered “what was that all
about?” Personally I wondered, “if the rapture came today, how would he explain
the bikes, but the missing bikers?”
But I was honored to be asked to do a friend’s funeral. A Viet Nam vet, he
was buried in The Riverside National Cemetery, and many of his biker friends
attended. At the last moment, I was told I was to speak at the graveside
service, not just at the church after. Before panic set in, I just turned to
God, always a good thing to do, and he gave me the words needed. I shared how
Lee loved his God, his family, and his country. Many ex-Marines, sorry always
Marines showed up, and the facility was full to overflowing. After a few words
about Lee, to comfort his family, God gave me a song, Amazing Grace. But to be
sung to the tune of America the Beautiful. Try it, it works, and I think should
be a patriotic song. But when it came time to sing “God shed his grace on
thee,” we sang “God shed his grace on Lee!” and the crowd erupted in joy! For
he had, and in listening to the spirit had comforted many, and shown the love of
Jesus better than any 60 minute sermon. I loved Lee, and wanted to comfort his
family, and God did that day. That morning the spider of death was caught in
his own web, as we celebrated a risen Christ, and the fact that Lee and someday
we will to be resurrected.
The song God had given me was so special, we were asked to sing it again
and many were blessed. Jesus and patriotism go hand in hand. The funeral
director told me of the thousands of funerals he had ever done, none gave hope
like this one. He was even touched by it-give glory to God and his spirit. But
a month later an email was forwarded to me. From an elder Marine in his
eighties, who had attended to many funerals of his friends, his words. He had
been taught that Marines don’t cry, yet was moved to tears that morning. His
heart broke for joy, hearing the gospel, and seeing it in action. His life was
changed that day, and he was given hope and a new insight to Jesus Christ. And
was sharing his experience with others. A testimony of the Lord, and how he
changed his life, at a funeral. What better place to be resurrected than a
cemetery?
But don’t wait for a funeral to be born again. The same spirit that
touched hearts that day is alive and well and with us now. The spirit is
willing, are you? I had never sung before a crowd before, and when God put the
song on my heart, I immediately looked for someone to lead the song. God’s
answer was “I am going to stretch you today.” Pride swallowed, love showed, and
obedience led to joy. We never know who is listening, but God always is, and
knows what we need, and when we needed it. Something to remember when planning
a loved ones funeral, but better yet to be recognized and honored everyday of
our lives. Let the spirit perform a stretching exercise on your heart today.
When the spider of death and doubt has you stuck in its web, be confident that
Jesus saves. And rescues. And is the way out.
Look around again, who will be at your funeral? And take note-you won’t
be. Either heaven or hell has been your eternal destination. Only your body
remains, to remind those attending of you. But you still have a say in where
you end up, choose Jesus today, and don’t worry.
So do the attendees. Maybe that long winded pastor was telling us all about hell and I missed it. Hell on earth. It can be hell on earth with religion, don’t confuse Jesus with it. God shed his grace on Lee and thee....a sweeter sound you will never hear. Sing with me to a new tune, and honor God and the US of A he sheds his grace on. Truly grace is amazing. And so is the one who sends it. From sea to shining sea. When you pray, not if.
So do the attendees. Maybe that long winded pastor was telling us all about hell and I missed it. Hell on earth. It can be hell on earth with religion, don’t confuse Jesus with it. God shed his grace on Lee and thee....a sweeter sound you will never hear. Sing with me to a new tune, and honor God and the US of A he sheds his grace on. Truly grace is amazing. And so is the one who sends it. From sea to shining sea. When you pray, not if.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com