Glory in Grief: Reflections on a Life Well Lived

It was Wednesday before noon. As people filed into the sanctuary, I stole a few seconds to pause beside the casket of a good friend. This was not my first funeral, and it would not be the last. Pausing to pray, I said, “Lord, I know your servant is well in glory, but we have so many hurting people here. Let this time be a chance to give you praise as you comfort those that are grieving.” As I turned around, I found another pastor shuffling me off to share a few words with the family.

The next few hours were like a dream. By God’s grace, biblical truths were affirmed. People stood and shared outside of their comfort and talents. The gospel was brought to bear on the hearts and lives of all those present. The ebb and flow of different emotions could not capture the zenith of purpose. Were we there to honor a man that lived a great life? Were we there to comfort those in wrestles of the heart? Could it be that we were there to remember moments of time that are long past? So many of those things were true, but the driving desire to glorify God hung above every other thing.

As the service was ending, I again found time to pray as I sat beside the earthly vessel of a good friend. “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.” These words pressed deeply on my soul as I remembered a friend that wonderfully captured that way of life and death. My friend loved and enjoyed God in all things. He looked forward to being with Christ as the day drew near. And I could hear these words on his lips:

Psalm 115:1Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

The psalmist doesn’t just exclaim that glory should be given to the Lord and Him alone, but he mentions twice that it should not be given to us. Our love and faithfulness rely on the gifts of God; we depend on His love and faithfulness. But God’s love and faithfulness have nothing behind them in motivation or correction. He stands behind all His actions with Himself. Therefore, we can glorify God, and it does not cause change or increase of His love and faithfulness to us.

Without these ideas folding over and over in our minds, a funeral is a vain attempt to say nice things about a person, to relive old moments, but there is no hope. Hope rests on something more to come. Hope rests on a promise that God has given in giving His Son Jesus Christ. Hope is found in the chance to give glory to God for all eternity. Although the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever… we do not glorify God to the end (death). We do it as we enjoy Him forever.

I took comfort that my friend’s death was just a change of location, from earth to heaven. The task of giving glory to God and enjoying Him is still part of his life. Not unto us, not unto us, all glory is given to Your Name.

-Pastor John Richardson