This week I went to Macon to preach my first funeral. The funeral was for the father of a lady that I consider to be one of my “other mothers”. The man was 83 and led a full life, leaving a legacy of service to Christ and His Church. So, the funeral wasn’t sad, in fact there was a lot of laughter as we celebrated his life.

As I expected, this has gotten me thinking about [tag]death[/tag]. I have been thinking about how death isn’t the end, but rather the transition from the imperfect into the perfect. The man that died left a body that was failing and a mind that was dwindling for a perfect body and a sound mind. This life is a continuous struggle, sometimes with our sinful nature, sometimes with our health, sometimes with our finances or our family. We enjoy only a few days on earth without stress or struggle of any kind. Then, one glorious day, we enter into the presence of our creator and enjoy [tag]paradise[/tag]. I know it’s sad for those of us missing our loved one, but for the person in [tag]heaven[/tag] it’s just the beginning of real life. I think our life isn’t ending in the grave, it’s just beginning. It’s like Scott England’s [tag]song[/tag] says, “it’s not over yet.”

The lyrics of a new song by Brad Paisley express what I am thinking. The song is When I get where I’m going and says:

Yeah when I get where I’m going,
there’ll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I’ll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I’m going,
Don’t cry for me down here.