The Tale Of Two Funerals!
Luke 16:22
NIV
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:22 KJV
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
I am not sure how many remember a book by the name “A Tale of Two Cities” written by Charles Dickens!
Well, when l decided to write this article Charles Dickens’s book title came to mind!
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Let me begin by dismissing a basic false assumption, that if you are poor you gain easy entrance to heaven; and if you are rich you go to hell
Those who believe this have made “ poverty a virtue “ because that’s how you can enter heaven. So they will not strive to improve their lives economically!
Sad to say many have been made to believe this false interpretation; as a result, many who could make it in life have been reduced to poverty and depend on the charity of the preacher/pastor. Sad!
This is not the main focus of this article.
I’ve watched how some who are seen, considered, etc as the elite and held in high esteem are buried as against the lowly in society
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I’ve been to cemeteries where these two different scenarios played out. Many were in attendance; the Forecourt of the State House was used for the funeral.
A few yards away was the funeral of another who is considered to be lowly placed in life and societal ranking.
The question is is it about how we are buried? Is it about the fanfare? Is it about the number who were there? Is it about the “ political elites “ that were present?
Is it these that determine where the deceased spends eternity? There is a subtle, deviation if not deception to make it look like the big/great etc funeral that was held determines where the deceased go.
As a result of this satanic deception, the majority these days are striving for fame and popularity so they’ll be buried with such great fanfare!
The scriptures affirm this unchangeable truth
Revelation 14
KJV
13+ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
The emphasis is on “ blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” most ( not being judgemental) of those we see paraded at the Forecourt of the State House clearly did not die “ in the Lord “ but pageantry, public show etc made it look so.
There is no hope of eternal safety regardless of the funeral /burial one receives. It is about your deeds and belief while you lived. If one dies outside Christ he/she is lost.
Beloved let us not be misled, deceived etc into believing that where/how one is buried determines where he/she will spend eternity. Political funerals /burials are no guarantee that one will be in heaven.
These are all secular gimmicks with no spiritual substance, so make every effort to die in Him; how you are buried is irrelevant; this is your back case. It does not matter how many attend.
Many high-class funerals today are nothing but a “ meet me there” session; the common expression you hear is “ long time no see”; it’s not about the deceased but friends we missed.
My observations, please do not let the political glamour attached to funerals/burials fool you.
These will be disappointed in Heaven when the books are opened and the roll call is made.
Revelation 20
KJV
12+ And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
My observations.