Awaiting a graveside service, a meandering walk through a graveyard revealed many past lives. There were headstones of those that lived long lives; some had journeyed on this Earth for 90 plus years. Those with varying ages of life dotted the neatly ordered cemetery.
Some stones were very old. In one section of the graveyard were unetched, plain rocks that were put over many graves. Possibly, they were used because those doing the burying could not afford a carved headstone, or they were so old that at the time there was no stone carver to create a tombstone.
Some of the stones revealed lives cut short by war, some from WWI and WWII, others from the Civil, Korean, and Vietnam wars. The thought that is known casually by others became a hard reality when it was realized that those soldiers gave their shortened lives for our freedoms.
The saddest of the chiseled memorials were those of children and young people. Some lived for one year and some less. There were some headstones with the young person’s favorite toy etched on the cold stone. One grave was marked by a marble, little lamb. Oh, the hurt and tears that must have accompanied that youngster’s body to that cold dirt-covered place that marks their shortened existence. An even more heart-breaking story was behind the markers of four different young children that died on the same day over 100 years ago. Their life was ended so suddenly, I am sure.
There were new sites that still had a small tent, where mourners huddled around the coffin of a missed friend or family member. At those graves, many tears flowed, and hearts were crushed over the loss of their loved ones.
Gazing over the field, hundreds of headstones are all that remains of past lives — cold stone markers. One truth was very clear; all will die one day. None will escape the sting of death. There may be ways to stall the inevitable, but everyone will one day occupy a place such as that — unless they, of course, are raptured up to Heaven without dying which God promised will happen one day.
As I wandered among the memorials, some thoughts crossed my mind. After those past lives lived their last moment, where are they now spending their eternity? Are they in Heaven or Hell?
That field of cold stone also reminded me of the responsibility every Christian has to direct as many lives as they can to Heaven. Many need to have the assurance that they will one day dwell eternally with the Lord.
When your last moment on this Earth comes, where will you go next? Heaven or Hell? Has your reservation in Heaven been secured?
Do not hope, or think so. Do not gamble with the most important possession you have, your eternal soul. Have you done what the Bible says one must do to spend eternity with the Lord? Have you been saved?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
“Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection of all his joys.” — Aughey
I recently buried my husband and took a picture over his flat economical beautifully engraved stone. Passing the other markers, old and new, did make me realize that people died long ago and people were continually dying as I saw grave digging machines and tents everywhere. This is in a large busy city. I gave honor and respect to the markers and knew there were a lot of broken people still trying to live their lives out, as I. But I don’t understand is when people began to bypass the markers and was and is being allowed to just toss ashes out on the sea. I wonder will God respect your life if you willfully ask to be cremated. I know that it is done for some in financial binds but this does not apply to all. Any thoughts?
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. How difficult it must be for you.
As for cremation, I know it is done many times for financial reasons, but the Bible talks about His people being buried. Usually, burning (cremation) is spoken of as a practice of the heathen.
I believe God can still put the ashes or dust back together as even buried people a long time ago have returned to dust. He will resurrect them, so I am sure he will resurrect the burned/cremated also. In the Bible and in early church history, the heathen burned Christians to death. It was not their will to be burned and I doubt if God would no respect them because of the actions of the ungodly. The Bible also talks about all facing judgment (the saved and the unsaved). None will escape, not even the burned.
I have intended on writing on the subject, but have never got around to it.
Yes, I recently buried my husband and took a picture over his flat economical beautifully engraved stone. Passing the other markers, old and new, did make me realize that people died long ago and people were continually dying as I saw grave digging machines and tents everywhere. This is in a large busy city. I gave honor and respect to the markers and knew there were a lot of broken people still trying to live their lives out, as I. But I don’t understand is when people began to bypass the markers and was and is being allowed to just toss ashes out on the sea. I wonder will God respect your life if you willfully ask to be cremated. I know that it is done for some in financial binds but this does not apply to all. Any thoughts.