“If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.”

Job 14:14

This morning, the two pastors I listened to both mentioned recent funerals they had officiated. In each case, they said something that stuck with me: attending a funeral has a way of sharpening our sense of urgency about life.

It’s true, isn’t it? When we’re reminded that life is fragile and fleeting, the things that once felt so pressing suddenly seem smaller. And the things that truly matter rise to the surface.

Ironically, today marks thirty-seven years since our dad passed away. The older I get, the more I realize just how young he was. He was only a few months away from his 49th birthday when he was murdered at his business.

That’s still hard to think about. Dad wasn’t perfect—none of us are—but I remember him as a man who lived for what mattered most. As a pastor, he cared deeply for people. Whether in the church, around town, or at his business, his concern was always for the person in front of him. He shared the gospel with his words, yes—but just as importantly, he lived out his faith in Christ both publicly and at home.

What you saw on Sunday was what we saw during the rest of the week.

Looking back over these 37 years, I can see God’s grace woven through our family’s story. By His kindness, our loss did not drive us away from Him. Instead, it drew us closer. Rather than turning from God in anger or bitterness, we turned toward Him. And by His help, we’ve tried to point our own children in that same direction—toward Christ, toward faith, toward what lasts.

Funerals remind us that our days are numbered. But they also remind us that faithfulness matters. The quiet, steady life of obedience matters. The way we love, serve, forgive, and trust God in the ordinary moments—those things ripple far beyond what we can see.

At the end of the day—and at the end of our lives—each one of us will bow and acknowledge Christ as Lord. How much better to do so now. How much better to live today in light of eternity.