A few weeks ago, as I was paying my respects to the family of a deceased, someone I’ve known a long time said, “Harold, you must attend a lot of funerals.” I replied that at my age and living here all my life, I’ve known many people who have died.

Yes, I do attend many wakes and funerals and always hear the same thing from either the pastor or people in attendance about the deceased, “They are in a better place.”

I, certainly, believe in life after physical death. I believe that there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to miss. However, the Word of God says that many are called, but few are chosen. God sent His only Son, Jesus, to rescue us from spiritual death, but it’s up to each individual to accept the offer of salvation.

Being a church member doesn’t guarantee us where we will spend eternity. Being religious without a relationship with Jesus is all in vain, according to God’s Word, which I didn’t read until I was 45 years old.

Was that the first time I was introduced to the Bible? No, in fact, we had at least five Bibles displayed throughout the house, but I didn’t read any of them until someone told me about being saved in John, Chapter 3. Until that time, I was one of those who always said, “The deceased is in a better place.”

I share these thoughts with you not in a condemning spirit but with love that people will know the truth and not be deceived by teachings that are contrary to the Scripture. I’ve heard many eulogies praising people who have died. I often tell Jeanne and my family that I think I’ll tape my own eulogy to play at my funeral, because only God and I know my heart. I wouldn’t want someone to praise me knowing how I lived before I accepted the truth.

I’ll end this serious message about death with a story I heard long ago about a father who had died. As the pastor was praising him at the funeral and saying how great a man he was, his wife told his son, “That can’t be your dad in that coffin.”

I pray that all of my family and the people I share with will know Jesus as their personal Savior and spend eternity with Him. I also pray that if I’m asked to eulogize someone in the future, that I’ll be honest, not for the deceased but for the people in attendance.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.