(This is the continuation of last week’s blog about lessons learned at recent  funerals of Christian men of unwavering faith.)

The second service I attended was for a local church pastor who also had a decades-long international itinerant speaking ministry. I admit that because we, and hundreds of  others, had been fervently praying for Ivan’s healing, I felt deflated that he died.

However, I left that memorial service with renewed faith, hope and a fresh perspective on life and death for the Christian!

Yes, there was sadness and grief at the loss of a world-class leader, husband, father, colleague and friend. But the entire service, from songs of worship to eulogies to sermon, was infused with such confidence in the power of the Gospel! Ivan’s own eternally-minded perspective on life and death came through so beautifully. As Isabel, his wife, recounted at the memorial, Ivan had often said that if he were ever given the choice by God between living on the earth or going to be with Jesus, he’d choose Jesus every time!

This is not escapism. This is living with a revelation that being in God’s presence, unfettered by the vestiges of sin, is infinitely better! This is fruit of intimacy with Jesus.  It is yearning to be at home with our Bridegroom King. “Our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you”, says St Augustine as he found faith in Christ for this life and hope for the one to come. The Apostle Paul came to a similar conclusion: “For to me, to live is [to serve] Christ and to die is gain.”

This is also the conviction of God’s devoted sons and daughters throughout the ages. Revelation 12:11 puts it this way, They triumphed over him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

This is how Ivan lived his life. He was not “being too heavenly-minded to be of any earthly good”. He was dedicated to, and awesome at, his life and ministry here, but ever since he became a follower of Jesus his heart longed for home. Ivan was so effectively used by the Lord, beyond his natural capabilities, as a result of this eternal perspective. The gravitational pull of this sin-soaked life was losing its grip on Ivan. As a consequence, he did great exploits with the Lord!

How does this apply to us?

I have been challenged to examine how earthbound my faith really is. I too have a yearning for heaven – that eternal city who’s designer and builder is God! My heart and imagination have glimpses of that perfection. I want to live out my assignment – bringing heaven to earth in my sphere of influence.  But I am always in danger of letting the distractions of life limit what God can do in and through me. I want to be so heavenly-minded that I am of great earthly good!  Don’t you?

A starting point is asking for an intimate, singled-minded vision of Jesus.