God Has a Purpose

This week there were two passings of individuals that I know of; one who was a famous singer, and the other, a quiet, unassuming man who worked at my elementary school. Some of you might be wondering how there could possibly be a link between these people who were from two completely different walks of life and clearly never knew each other. Other than passing away about 18 hours apart, most would be scratching their heads wondering what Whitney Houston and Edward Justice could possibly have in common.
But what they shared made them brother and sister. They both had faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Not only that, but their funerals were focused more on celebrating life and promoting the Gospel than mourning the loss of a singer plagued with past drug addictions and doubts trying to make a comeback or the loss of a humble man of the church lost his battle with cancer, but had spent his life sharing the Word with everybody he associated with, including myself. I was not present at either service, but I was relayed information from my mother about all that was shared at the service for Mr. Justice. The message that was preached was that all people are sinners and everybody is in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). For a packed service on a Friday night that included individuals who knew Ed, but maybe didn't share his faith, this was definitely a great message to convey at a memorial service.
As for Whitney Houston's funeral, I'll admit that I watched part of it as it was televised on CNN. I applaud her mother's efforts for keeping it a private affair to allow her daughter dignity, but also knowing that she should still share it with Whitney's fans by televising the event. I was very happy that the focus was not on her career or shortcomings, but her faith. Tyler Perry I think said it best when he stated, "There are two constants that I know about Whitney Houston: that she was carried by grace and she loved the Lord." Many others shared beautiful memories, but they all came back to how she was grounded in her faith. The eulogy was fitting as well, in my opinion, especially in a room full of celebrities. The pastor focused on the importance of prioritizing in life and how we can't serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Definitely a message that not only celebrities need to hear, but the whole of America.
Upon reflection, I believe that the passing of these two people was to serve as a platform for the Gospel to be promoted. Both people were pillars of faith to the world around them, and though some feel that they were gone too soon, their passings served God's purpose. All glory went to Him when these two individuals were memorialized, and that serves as a reminder to everybody that we are to honor the Lord with our lives. In the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:a time to be born and a time to die...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." So as we mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters in Christ, let us remember that God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives and that He deserves all the glory for the blessing of being able to live each day to the fullest.