Going Home

I was recently blessed enough to attend a funeral service for a beloved family member. She was older, and her health had declined greatly, so her transition was not altogether unexpected. In my role, I was not certain if it was appropriate or not to get up and say what I was really itching to say. So, I must settle for writing it hear for no one to read.

First, I would like to say a few things about her. She was the kind of person who never met a stranger. In an entire family of people, I felt closer to her than anyone. She was full of life and laughter. Even in my foulest of moods (cursed be my flesh) I was always happy to see her.

I met this lady before I got right with God. I was in the church, but I was playing church. Even then I was drawn to her. I loved being around her and I felt relieved when she showed up at any family function. It was not until much later, when I truly received the Holy Spirit and began walking with the lord that I realized several things about this remarkable woman.

I recognized that she was always joyous. Even in her pain and illness, she had an incredible amount of joy. I get a headache and I'm mad at the world. She had far worse and she was still able to smile, and make other people smile. What I know now is that her joy is a reflection of the life of Christ in her. It is not humanly possible to obtain that level of joy without Christ. And when I was in sin, I was still drawn to her. I realize now that when the word says be 'salt and light' in the world; that her example is what that should look like. It draws people in; the same way Jesus did. She was a light that was always on, even in her own dark places.

When I was in the world there was a saying that I used. It was this: game recognizes game. What that means is that we recognize ourselves and our habits in others. For example, an addict recognizes another addict immediately. They know, because when we view other people we see little flickers of ourselves. The holy spirit is the same way. Only those who have been given the spirit can recognize that spirit for what it is in others. Those who are not in the faith may be drawn to it, but they may think it is personality, or what people call charisma. But I am here to tell you, when I received the Holy Spirit, I could recognize the spirit in her always.

The service was full of rejoicing and happiness. The saints in the building knew that one of their own had made it home, our true home. It was beautiful. But it was also a wake up call! If you are outside the faith, or halfway in and halfway out, please make up your mind to get all the way in. Time is short on this earth and you have a choice to make. Are you going to have a funeral, or are you going to have a Homecoming?