THE EFFECT ON THOSE WHO REMAIN
E. F. Woodford
What an effect the death of a loved one has on those who remain! We often think, and it is encouraging to think, of the result for the person who has gone. What a comfort it is to be assured that our brother is with Christ. He could not be in a better place; he could not be with a greater Person; he is with Christ, and how very much better that is. He is beyond the range of pain or anything here; he is restfully with Christ. But what about the effect on those who remain?
The greatest effect of any death was when the Lord Himself died. What a reality that was! It says, “And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom”. The greatest effect, of His death was that God could come out in blessing toward men. I trust that every one of us has come into the blessing of God as a result of the death of Jesus. There was an effect on this centurion; there was an effect too on Joseph of Arimathaea so that he involved himself in the burial of that precious body.
We sorrow, and feel the loss of our brother, but what effect, what lasting effect, is it going to have on us? I believe the Lord would be very near by way of comfort at this time. In the scripture in John 11 that was read earlier we see how affected the Lord Himself was at the death of a loved one. It says that He loved Lazarus; He was affected to the extent that He even wept. We would all be very feeling on this occasion, but what effect is it going to have, if the Lord leaves us here for a while? Is our brother’s place going to be taken in this locality? Is there going to be, through fresh committal, more for Christ than there has been before in this city? I believe the moment is ripe for such committal. So whilst we sorrow, and shall miss our brother, we pray that the Lord will strengthen and encourage that which remains. I am thinking of Joshua to whom after the death of Moses it was said, “Be strong and courageous”, Joshua 1: 6. Oh may this be a fresh start, as it were, for us all in devotedness to Christ, and to what He has here. May it be so, for His name’s sake.
Words at the burial of Mr. H. J. Baker, Portsmouth
8 January 1987