Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 says, “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.”

Today we went to a house of mourning. One of our dear friends lost his mother. I remember his mom, used to talk to her when we went to the same church and saw her at numerous baby and bridal showers for her grandchildren over the years. She was born in Germany, so we have similar roots. (My great-grandmother was born there too.) Her husband died many years ago – I remember him, so outgoing and friendly, always quick to give a giant bear hug. What a shock it was to lose him. What a joy for her to finally be with him again!

Her death was less of a shock than his, but it came the week before her granddaughter’s wedding, so the family will have two celebrations in a week’s time. I say celebration because this death is not a tragedy but a home-going. She is now with her beloved Lord and reunited with her husband, and they will see her again some day.

When I heard the news, I must admit, I felt the slightest twinge of jealousy. Does that sound strange? No, I don’t have a death wish. I love life and want to enjoy all that God has for me. But I long to be where she is, to see Jesus face to face. In that, I rejoice with her, and I feel the pull of heaven, for that wonderful day when we will all be reunited with believing loved ones who’ve gone on before.

Pondering this today, I realize that Solomon had it right. So why is it better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting? The answer, put succinctly, lies in an epitaph from 1715, Wiltshire Notes and Queries -

Remember Man as you Pasby (pass by)
as You Are Now So once Was i
as i Am Now so Must You Bee (be)
Make Peace With Christ And
FOLLOW ME

The house of mourning shows us the earthly end of all men…there comes a day when we will shed this body and move to another residence, either rejoicing as my friend’s mother is today in heaven or weeping and gnashing our teeth in hell. Hard as that is to swallow, it will happen. It is reality…and the living will take it to heart.

Indeed…