One of these days you will be dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by those who love you. Flowers may line the wall and you will be the center of attention. You will wear something that someone else has picked out for you. It may be your favorite dress or suit, or a pair of bib overalls that you always wear. Tears will be shed as people talk fondly of you and stories will be repeated. You will not notice the flowers, or take part in the conversation, or be able to shed a tear with everyone else. Singers will sing, but you will be silent.

Most likely the family will have arranged for someone to preach on this occasion. It will be one lesson you will not hear. The words spoken by the preacher will be of no benefit to you, but may help those that can still hear. His words will not cause you to go to heaven or send you to hell. No preacher will be able to affect your salvation at a time like this. Your fate will be determined by the Word of God and your manner of life. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12.48).

If you have been obedient to the law of Christ, your family will have the comfort of you being in the hands of a just and righteous Judge. "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4.8), emphasis mine D.T.). While your loved ones will miss you, you will be in a better place. However, I will caution you, do not expect to go to heaven if you are not living for that eternal reward. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

If you live your life with little thought of God, Jesus, the Word of God, and your soul, there is no hope. The righteous Judge will condemn those who are in sin. Your loved ones will be saddened by your death and mourn as those who realize that all is lost. The Day of Judgment will condemn all those that are outside of Christ. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction and from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1.8-9).

At your funeral, your soul will be in the hands of God, but your destiny will have been determined by your life. Remember, it is your funeral. — Dennis Tucker