 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2005-09-01 11:27:00
“We can all be certain they are in a better place.” How do we know?
: I recently attended my nephew's funeral. He had been killed in a car accident. He was only 27. The minister who gave the eulogy said three different times, "We can all be certain that Tommy's in a better place." I am sure he said this to help console the family, but isn't there another way? Why do members of the clergy say this at funerals so often when there is no way to know where Tommy's soul is... for sure?
ANSWER: Every Pastor dreads this. It is difficult to conduct a funeral for one who I did not know. But it is doubly difficult if I find that the deceased person had shown no concern for knowing or serving God. I can review the life as a memorial "celebration of life". But I cannot settle for only that. There are people present who are being forced to think about the certainty of death. Some avoid the thought and do not hear about it in church, either because they do not go to church, or because death is not a topic addressed from the pulpit at that church. This may be the only time that they will hear the good news of salvation in Christ and the warning of the judgment of God. Of course, this might add to the sorrow of the close family and friends, so I try not to make a direct connection with the one in the casket. However, I want to correct one thing in your question: There IS a way to know where Tommy's soul is...for sure! That is the Christian Gospel ("good news"). This separates Christians from all other religions. Others teach that we can earn our way to Heaven IF WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH. Christ taught that we cannot save ourselves, so He came to save us. He paid the price for our sins, and promised to change our nature so that we could be fit for Heaven. See Ephesians 2:8-10: "By grace are we saved through faith...it is a gift of God; not by our works, lest anyone should boast. We are then God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, which God has prepared in advance for us to do."So I do emphasize that each person must make a decision and commitment. It is as simple as A,B,C,D: (A) Admit that I am a sinner; selfish by nature, lacking in loving acts toward others, and unwilling to open my life to God's inspection or to seek His will. (B) Believe that God loves me and sent Jesus Christ to earth to suffer for my sins, showed victory over death in His resurrection, and offers to come into my life as loving Lord. (C) Commit myself to Him as Savior, trust Him to enter my life, change my nature, and follow Him as Master. This...and only this... will give me assurance of Heaven after my death. (D) Decide now! Count the cost! You will be changed. He is to be your hope of Heaven, but also has a plan for your life. Were it not for His love, this would be a frightening thing. But see Christ as described in the four "Gospels" (the first 4 books of the New Testament), and talk with a sincere Christian who knows the joy that comes with Him and fellowship with other Believers. This Biblical basis for these are: (A) Ephesians 2:1-3, (B) John 3:16-20 and I Peter 1:3-5 & 8-9, (C) II Corinthians 5:14-21, (D) Acts 4:12 Rev. 3:20 John 1:12 Romans 10:9-10.
