The House of Mourning

Ecclesiastes 7:2 – It is 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 lay it to his heart.

When death comes to a family or friends, even those we hear about but didn’t know, thoughts of the condition of our own lives come into thought. We think about how short life may be and how we are living it. Though many of us want to be in a house of great joy and look for ways to please ourselves, death brings things into perspective.

Solomon states that the house of mourning (or at least death) is the end of all men. Those that are still living will lay ‘death’ to their heart. So what thoughts come to you when you are in a house of mourning?

1. Life is short. The King David wrote that are lives are but like grass. Here today and gone tomorrow:

Psalm 103:15-16 – As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Living for 60, 70, or even 100 years is a not a long time when compared to eternity.

2. How are you living your life? As I stated earlier, many people want to be a part of the crowds that are feasting, partying, and living life to the ‘full’ (at least according to the world’s standard). They do not consider the condition of their souls, only having a good time and pleasing their flesh and its desires.

Luke 12:16-21 – And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

3. What type of life should we live?

Luke 12:28-31 – If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We should desire a life that seeks the kingdom of God, not the stuff that the Father knows we have need, yet it is His pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

4. How will God find you? Many people look at what they do over the course of their lives and grade it on a curve. ‘I’ve done more good things than bad, so I’m good with the Lord.’ However, Jesus said…

Matthew 24:45-51 – Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We have to be faithful at all times unto the Lord. Our lives will be required of us at a time we do not expect. We don’t know when the Lord will return or when He calls our lives on earth to an end. How will He find you?! Will you be found doing good or evil? From Jesus’ own mouth you can read what will happen to those found doing good and those doing evil.

5. How will you choose to live out your life? Death brings many questions and thoughts concerning our lives now and in eternity. I pray each of us will consider our day-to-day, even moment-to-moment lives before God. May we fear Him more and more. may we consider the path of our lives over have a better life on earth. A great future exists for all that place their faith unto the Lord until the end – overcomers of the flesh and the world.

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