Joy Whitten is with Jesus Now!

(A sermon preached at the memorial service for Joy Whitten of Greenwood, MS, a long-time member of the congregation at Grace Bible Church)

In attending or preaching a funeral, the question should be asked, what should Believers really long for at their death? Why do we want to be raised from the dead?

Is it just to continue on with our lives that were cut short? Is it to meet loved ones again? Is it to wonder at the glories of Heaven?

It seems that most funerals proceed along such lines these days.

It is true that the loss of life means that this life's desires are cut off. No doubt when any person dies, some work is left unfinished, some desire unfulfilled, some hope cut off.

What do the Scriptures teach us the greatest hope of the Believer is in death?

That we shall see Jesus is our greatest hope! Paul says that it is far better to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord!

Seeing Jesus very soon was our dear sister's greatest desire as she drew nearer to her death. The thought of this was what filled her with such joy at the end! To see Him Whom her soul loved, her dear Lord Jesus!

Paul taught that the departed saints are with Jesus right now, and that when He returns, He will bring them with Him to be clothed with their glorified, resurrected bodies.

This was Job's great desire - to see his Redeemer with his own eyes, even after he had rotted in the grave.

This desire to be with Jesus is reciprocated by the Lord Himself. He promised He was preparing a place for us in Heaven, so that we could be with Him.

He prayed to His Father that His people might see His Glory.

Our delight, and Christ's, become one and the same.