Sara Lunde Buried Today
Note: An earlier post on Sara can be found here. Please leave a comment. I would like to know how you have been touched by Sara's death. Thank you, BofP
A church funeral service drew 100 mourners for Sara Lunde in Ruskin, Kentucky, today. According to FoxNews the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ was filled with friends, family, law enforcement officials and the father of Jessica Lunsford who suffered a similar fate at the murderous hands of a convicted sex offended less than two months ago.
Sara was buried later in the afternoon at a local cemetary.
Her Uncle is quoted as saying, "Sara is certainly in a much better place now."
Personally, I share that belief. But I doubt that Sara was eager to leave this world for that "better place" so soon.
It seems somehow trite and empty to try and find comfort in a sentiment that, loosly translated, could mean, "Her torturous and murderous death was all for the best."
The Apostle Paul, faced with the possiblity of martyrdom, once wrote, "I desire to depart (die) and be with Christ which is better by far..." But Paul was an adult, facing the consequences of his own freely-chosen beliefs and actions. He had set his priorities in life and was willing to live and, if necessary, die for them. His eyes and his heart were fixed on Christ and his heavenly kingdom. The world had worn him down.....his body was tired.....his body chained to the stone wall of a jail cell. Death would mean not only victory but rest from his weariness. He would have finished the race set before him and he would receive the crown of life.
Sara's death was not the consequence of her freely-chosen faith or actions. Her life was just beginning, not nearing an apparent end. She had not yet set her priorities for life or for death. Her heart, while seeking to know and serve Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, was not yet yearning to cash in her salvation for a seat at table in the Kingdom of God.
Her life was not poured out; it was not given; it was taken.
While I am glad to know the truth of the Gospel, the saving love of God in Jesus Christ and the sure and certain hope for resurrection to eternal life, I would much prefer to have Sara back with her family and friends in Kentucky.
But maybe I'm just being selfish. Maybe I am still in shock and denial of this tragedy.
Perhaps we would all be better served by claiming the promise found in Romans 8:28, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
For those of us who "love God," as Sara reportedly did, we should be keeping our eyes open to see what opportunities for "good" will come out of this tragedy. Sara's death was not "good" by any means. But, by God's grace, good may yet sprout, green and beautiful, from the ashes of her life, watered by the tears of her death.
From the very beginning God has declared that human life and love is "very good." For Sara's sake we must live and love so that the world might begin to look more and more like John's vision of the coming day when,
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
A church funeral service drew 100 mourners for Sara Lunde in Ruskin, Kentucky, today. According to FoxNews the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ was filled with friends, family, law enforcement officials and the father of Jessica Lunsford who suffered a similar fate at the murderous hands of a convicted sex offended less than two months ago.
Sara was buried later in the afternoon at a local cemetary.
Her Uncle is quoted as saying, "Sara is certainly in a much better place now."
Personally, I share that belief. But I doubt that Sara was eager to leave this world for that "better place" so soon.
It seems somehow trite and empty to try and find comfort in a sentiment that, loosly translated, could mean, "Her torturous and murderous death was all for the best."
The Apostle Paul, faced with the possiblity of martyrdom, once wrote, "I desire to depart (die) and be with Christ which is better by far..." But Paul was an adult, facing the consequences of his own freely-chosen beliefs and actions. He had set his priorities in life and was willing to live and, if necessary, die for them. His eyes and his heart were fixed on Christ and his heavenly kingdom. The world had worn him down.....his body was tired.....his body chained to the stone wall of a jail cell. Death would mean not only victory but rest from his weariness. He would have finished the race set before him and he would receive the crown of life.
Sara's death was not the consequence of her freely-chosen faith or actions. Her life was just beginning, not nearing an apparent end. She had not yet set her priorities for life or for death. Her heart, while seeking to know and serve Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, was not yet yearning to cash in her salvation for a seat at table in the Kingdom of God.
Her life was not poured out; it was not given; it was taken.
While I am glad to know the truth of the Gospel, the saving love of God in Jesus Christ and the sure and certain hope for resurrection to eternal life, I would much prefer to have Sara back with her family and friends in Kentucky.
But maybe I'm just being selfish. Maybe I am still in shock and denial of this tragedy.
Perhaps we would all be better served by claiming the promise found in Romans 8:28, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
For those of us who "love God," as Sara reportedly did, we should be keeping our eyes open to see what opportunities for "good" will come out of this tragedy. Sara's death was not "good" by any means. But, by God's grace, good may yet sprout, green and beautiful, from the ashes of her life, watered by the tears of her death.
From the very beginning God has declared that human life and love is "very good." For Sara's sake we must live and love so that the world might begin to look more and more like John's vision of the coming day when,
(God) will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 8:02 PM
<< Home