Death, thou wast once an...
Illustration
Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing,
Nothing but bones,
The sad effect of sadder groan;
The mouth was open but thou couldst not sing.
But since our Saviour's death did put some blood
into thy face,
Thou art grown fair and full of grace,
Much in request, much sought for as a good.
-- Verses from Death,
by George Herbert (1633)
As pastor of the largest church in town, Graham Thompson was much in demand for funerals. It was therefore no surprise to him when he was called upon to officiate at the funeral of a young girl unknown to him, whose family had neither any connection with a church nor the vaguest understanding of the Gospel. Although he tried mightily to bring some Godly light into it, the funeral was a gruesome affair. The whole family wept loudly throughout, and could not bring themselves to shake his hand after the committal. "Where," he thought, "is the Good News for them?" For them, all was over, and the death was final. One week later, a parishioner died. The lady was one of those quiet saints whose presence in people's lives was never obtrusive, always filled with the loving kindness of Jesus. Her friends gathered at the church she had loved, where the words that had inspired her had been spoken, and gave thanks for a life which had blessed them all. Even though tears were shed, Pastor Thompson's words were received with the joyous ears of those who knew that this death was but the doorway to greatness. -- Walker
Nothing but bones,
The sad effect of sadder groan;
The mouth was open but thou couldst not sing.
But since our Saviour's death did put some blood
into thy face,
Thou art grown fair and full of grace,
Much in request, much sought for as a good.
-- Verses from Death,
by George Herbert (1633)
As pastor of the largest church in town, Graham Thompson was much in demand for funerals. It was therefore no surprise to him when he was called upon to officiate at the funeral of a young girl unknown to him, whose family had neither any connection with a church nor the vaguest understanding of the Gospel. Although he tried mightily to bring some Godly light into it, the funeral was a gruesome affair. The whole family wept loudly throughout, and could not bring themselves to shake his hand after the committal. "Where," he thought, "is the Good News for them?" For them, all was over, and the death was final. One week later, a parishioner died. The lady was one of those quiet saints whose presence in people's lives was never obtrusive, always filled with the loving kindness of Jesus. Her friends gathered at the church she had loved, where the words that had inspired her had been spoken, and gave thanks for a life which had blessed them all. Even though tears were shed, Pastor Thompson's words were received with the joyous ears of those who knew that this death was but the doorway to greatness. -- Walker
