The Final Goodbye
Dan Kunz
If you read my blog two weeks ago, you know my mother-in-law was in hospice care and not expected to last long. On the morning of that blog’s post, she went home to be with Jesus. It was a bittersweet moment. She suffered from congestive heart failure and, as her circulation became worse and worse, her pain became more and more intense. Toward the end, the goal was to simply keep her comfortable.
Although our family would certainly miss her dearly, we knew her pain would be gone, as would her tears, her temptations, and her trials. She crossed the finish line and received the victor’s crown which Jesus won for her. She made sure others knew that by instructing her pastor to make her funeral sermon about Jesus, not about her. A beautiful sermon it was! Throughout her life, she was an example of how a Christian life should be lived – kind, compassionate, and caring, always sacrificing for others. Oh, that we could all live such a life! Her death, too, was an example for all of us.
Two days after her funeral, our family gathered at the cemetery to say our final goodbye to her. At that point, it occurred to me this really was the final goodbye. Because Jesus conquered death, once and for all, we would never have to say goodbye to her again, and she would never hear “goodbye” again. As sad as it is to say goodbye to your grandparent, mom, dad, spouse, child, or anyone else you love, if they hold fast to the faith and you hold fast to the faith, it will be the final goodbye. What a truly wonderful thought!
As I read her obituary one more time, it occurred to me that her life started exactly the way many people’s lives begin – birth, baptism, confirmation, various graduations, marriage, children, life, and finally, death. As I mentioned earlier, my mother-in-law’s life consisted of continued faith in Jesus as her Savior and continued service to him. Unfortunately, too many people’s lives take a detour somewhere along the way. With their baptism and confirmation, they start out following “the Way”, but never finish the journey with their leader, guide, and shepherd, Jesus.
Perhaps you’ve either heard or read of what some call the “dash” of life. The dash of life is what appears on many tombstones - the dash between the date of birth and the date of death. That dash represents a person’s life. Some dashes are a matter of minutes. Some dashes are a matter of a century or more. What happens during your dash?
Jesus, himself, says no one can steal us from him. John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” The Good Shepherd will not let Satan “snatch and run” with us; however, how many people wander away during their dash? Therein lies the problem. Although many people begin as part of the flock, for a variety of reasons, they don’t finish as part of the flock. Once outside of the sheep pen, they become easy targets for all the ferocious wolves which populate the world. They run the risk of a final goodbye which won’t be hopeful or joyful. They separate themselves from the plans of their Good Shepherd.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Stay in the sheep pen and hold fast to the one who has conquered death (and goodbyes) for us!