Today, which marks the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, furthers a years-long prayer and concern for her and the Royal Family. Forty-one years ago when Princess Diana married Prince Charles my brother and I watched the wedding from our living room on Glen Lily Road in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We were both nine years old at the time as we watched. I think this was our first real introduction to the Royal Family. As the pictures below show, Prince Philip and the Queen (as all of us) were much younger then. As we watched the pomp and listened to the special coverage on Good Morning America, I remember listening to all their particular stories and the intrigue they brought.
Today Marks the Fourth Death
The Queen Mum (technically Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) died in 2002 at almost 102 years old. Princess Di died in a tragic car crash in France in 1997, just 36 years old. Last year on April 9th, Prince Philip died at 99 years old. Ten days ago, Queen Elizabeth’s death marks the fourth death of those in the immediate Royal Family from that wedding day.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family – A Forty-One Year Burden
Today seems a bit personal (as did Princess Diana’s and Prince Philip’s deaths) because of that wedding day forty-one years ago.
I remember going to bed that evening burdened spiritually for the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Di, Prince Charles, and the entire Royal Family. As I laid there that night, I wondered if anyone would reach them with the Gospel, how anyone could reach them, and when anyone would reach them. I laid in bed that evening dreaming up ways it might be possible. I prayed that someone would impact them with the Gospel and that they would all be saved.
The testimony of Queen Elizabeth was very clear. She said she depended upon the work of Christ. Her hope was in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was said that she hoped to be alive at the return of Jesus Christ in order for her to leave her crown at Jesus’ feet.
Of course I do not know or pretend to know the eternal state of Queen Elizabeth. But I certainly pray that she did understand Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). I pray that she understood that no one comes to the Father but through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. My hope is that she recognized as a sinner her only hope was to repent of her sins, ask God’s forgiveness based upon the completed work of Christ, and trust only in Jesus for salvation. I also pray that she followed Jesus as His only Lord.
The Realities of Today
One sad reality of today is that a family mourns over the passing of a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A woman born into privilege, the daughter of royalty. Her dad surprisingly became king. She determined to serve with her whole life, and has. The Queen served with dignity, integrity, and compassion.
Another reality of today is the fact that today Queen Elizabeth is more alive than ever. Unfortunately, we do not know where she is alive. She enjoys Jesus and heaven today or has begun everlasting punishment in hell. Those same two experiences face every person who lives on this earth. Regardless of your privilege or not, at death, there are only two options: heaven and hell. My prayer for forty-one years has been that she knew Jesus’ forgiveness and that today she might be in heaven.
One happy reality of today is that you and I as readers are living. We each still have the opportunity of choosing where we will spend eternity. I’m grateful that for years I have known that I would spend eternity in heaven since I trusted Jesus as my personal Savior for the forgiveness of my sins back when I was just five years old. I write this evening in confidence of my future home in heaven. I hope in that day to meet Queen Elizabeth there. Thankfully, you can enjoy heaven as well.
King Solomon wrote that we are better to be at a funeral home than at a party. He told us that because it is in the funeral home that we consider death and eternity. As people all over the world today consider death and eternity, my additional prayer for them and for you the reader is that each one would also consider their eternity as well.
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