Continuing Church of God Funeral Service

by COGwriter

Here is the general format of a Continuing Church of God funeral eulogy. (This is modified, with additional scriptures and more, from the one given at the funeral service for the late Loma D. Armstrong that was in the May 1967 edition of the old Radio Church of God magazine called the Good News. For someone not part of the COG, the following may be more appropriate: http://www.cogwriter.com/ccog-funeral-service-not-cog.htm)

(Make comments about the life of the deceased and family if you have knowledge--this is often the best way to begin.)

Humans have sought solace in many fantasies about death conjured up many philosophies about death in an attempt to escape the reality of death! These fantasies and philosophies only cause empty sorrow!

But, Jesus said:

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted).

Many do not know the truth about death.

Many have been misled by false teachings and traditions, such as those in Dantes' 14th century writing known as the Divine Comedy.

Real comfort, real understanding about death can only come from the true Creator God as revealed in His Word!

The Patriarch Job asked the eternal question many centuries ago:

14 If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
15 You shall call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
(Job 14:14-15).

Job knew the truth about death!

Job knew that every one who walks this earth is God's workmanship.

God created people and placed them on this earth to fulfill destiny. Part of that destiny as revealed in God's Word in Ephesians 2:10:

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

To walk and live as the bond slave and servant of God in this world of evil, vanity and competition - to serve Him faithfully in sickness and in health -in trial and storm and trouble - to obey and walk with God in loyalty and fidelity - is the highest achievement and tribute a human life may render on this earth.

That is what we salute here today: A servant of God-who lived before Him and died - His faithful servant.

Notice also

21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:21)

Upon death, the spirit of humans returns to God (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8). The human spirit is there, sort of like a saved computer file of your memory and character--in a sleep-like state (Psalm 13:3; 76:6)--and is saved to be reunited with the body with the resurrection (Ecclesiastes 3:21; John 3:13; Ezekiel 37:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

God has laid before every man and woman - a choice. That choice is revealed in God's Word in Deuteronomy 30:19. God said: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing: "therefore choose life, that both thee and thy seed shall live." (The deceased one chose life and service to God.)

Either eternal life in His Kingdom and Family for obeying and serving Him or eternal death! For disobeying Him and serving self.

These promises reach beyond physical life, beyond the grave - into the soon coming future day that Jesus taught:

24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:24-29).

We cannot escape the eternal justice of God! But for true Christians like the deceased, the judgment, which for them occurs in this age (1 Peter 4:17), is past.

Jesus revealed the truth on this all important question about life after death (see also What Happens After Death?). There WILL be a resurrection of all who live and die!

In this busy world of seeking pleasures – following human vanities - striving for human recognition and status - how lightly so many consider the rules of life set down by Almighty God.

God has revealed through the ages His Law - which if followed produces happiness, peace of mind - abundant, joyful life. This Law of God is the basic Law of love love to God and love to fellowman - expressed in: "Thou shalt love the Eternal thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind -and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

All of us live before God according to that Law. Transgressing that Law is sin - for God reveals in 1 John 3:4, "Sin is the transgression of God's Law" (KJV).

And also in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, [eternal death] but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

None of us can escape this Divine decree. Some time, sooner or later, we must face the choice. We must decide whether to choose eternal life or eternal death.

For those who choose life (as the deceased one did) we are assured that:

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Everlasting life is a tremendous, fantastic reward and heritage beyond any human goal.

For those who choose evil and death God says: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

If we follow human rules - the things that seem right to us but are contrary to God's Law of love - we shall perish forever.

As God reveals, "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12)

And God says: "The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4)

The deceased one lived the way of God (Acts 24:14)--the way to eternal life. A tribute which we honor here today - the highest achievement of human existence.

We pause today to note that example which God has set before us all. That we, if we will live, must turn to the way of the happy, peaceful, abundant joyful life - the way of obedience to God's Law.

That we must believe Jesus and believe on Him as our personal Savior, we must believe His Gospel - the Good News of His coming Kingdom - the Government of God, the Family of God which we may enter by being born again.

On these two conditions God gives, as He did to the , the promised Holy Spirit which is the impregnation of eternal life - the imparting in us of God's nature, which will burst forth at the resurrection into glory and honor and eternal life.

The road the deceased one walked was not easy. But when the deceased one turned into that way, God welcomed the deceased one and He never let go!

The apostle Paul speaks of this soon - coming day:

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

55 "O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:50-55)

In the soon coming World Tomorrow the deceased one will win the victory and LIVE AGAIN to see the seeds the deceased one helped plant, grow into a world of peace, happiness and righteousness!

We also read in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The truth of God brings real comfort!

Yes, one day soon God will have a desire for the work of His hands - for the character, service, and loyalty {the deceased} built and infused in her life.

For those - like she - who loved Him and served Him - Jesus will return to this earth with healing in His wings - with His reward of eternal life with Him.

The Bible teaches that:

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. (Psalm 116:15)

God has a plan!

Jesus said:

1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house [His coming Kingdom] are many mansions [many offices of service]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2-3)

Jesus also said:

12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12)

Men leave behind them many monuments of worldly achievements - in business, in war, in governments and in personal vain grandeur. These monuments are like sand castles which the winds of time erase from human memory and which pass like a fading flower.

The deceased saw many sand castles of men come and go and also saw men fight many vain wars for emptiness.

The choice - the life - of the deceased choose is still before us today will remain forever.

Some wonder why God allows His people to die. But notice what the prophet Isaiah wrote:

1 The righteous perishes,
And no man takes it to heart;
Merciful men are taken away,
While no one considers
That the righteous is taken away from evil.
2 He shall enter into peace;
They shall rest in their beds,
Each one walking in his uprightness. (Isaiah 57:1-2)

So, God's people are taken away for evil to come. God gives them rest until the resurrection.

Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born,And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down,And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain,And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear,And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war,And a time of peace.

We accept His purpose that He worked in the deceased.

Why?

Because we believe, as the Apostle Paul wrote, "that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Many people do not know why God created the universe, including people.

Well, the reason that God created anything was so that eternity could be better.

The reason He created you is so that you would help make eternity better.

The reason He created {the deceased} was for him/her to make eternity better.

Let's notice the words of the apostle Peter:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The reward will be beyond what we can imagine:

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Let us take another glimpse into that glorious, undefiled reward - the Kingdom of God which the deceased will inherit.

It is revealed in Revelation 21:1-4:

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

This is the world and kingdom the deceased will know.

This is the new world the deceased worked many years to help prepare the way for.

The Patriarchs and Prophets, the men and women of God, through the ages, mentioned in Hebrews 11 all died In FAITH not having received the promises. Yet those promises are sure for them by their faith as they are sure for the deceased.

A glorious future awaits the deceased and those who are faithful, called, and chosen (Revelation 17:14) in this age.

(Funeral procedures, and a slightly different service, can be found at the following: Funeral Issues.)

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