Last summer, I went to one of the saddest funerals I’ve ever been to. He was my cousin. We were the same age. We grew up together. He even lived with us for a period of time growing up.

As we got older, I only saw him a couple of times. Once was shortly after I had to deny him from coming to my home because I couldn’t trust him anymore. Sadly, his funeral was the first day I didn’t worry about being near him.

The path he had chosen in life was filled with deceit. The sad part was that his funeral was no different. It was a showcase for the deception that took his life.

At funerals, there are normally pictures displayed that showcase the good to remember in someone’s life. That wasn’t the case at this funeral. The pictures showcased the lifestyle he lived as if it were something to be glorified and praised.

At funerals, the one who leads the prayer service normally shares the good in the life of the deceased. That appeared to be the case at this funeral. I felt sorry for the minister who shared only what he was told, which would be fitting for any funeral. The minister didn’t know that the good he shared was only evil twisted to make it sound good.

Hiding my cousin’s lifestyle with lies such as, “He would never take no for an answer,” and “He would do anything to feed his children,” when the truth was he would steal from anyone he could to feed his habit.

Friends who shared his lifestyle let out chuckles and praises throughout the service, which made those of us who didn’t support his lifestyle cringe. My heart deeply ached at the glorified deception that took place at that funeral. What hurt most was knowing that what his family and friends perceived and glorified as truth was a lie.

My family and I left the funeral that day feeling like the devil had won. I regretted not reaching out to my cousin more. I regretted not standing up and confronting his family and friends with the Truth. I regretted not telling them about the devil who was deceiving them. I regretted not warning them that they’d wind up the same if they didn’t change their ways. I felt like evil triumphed and I sat there and did nothing while the devil rejoiced.

Though my family and I felt defeated that day, it didn’t take long for God to remind us that the enemy never prevails. God had bigger plans.

About a month later, God began exposing the lies. My cousin’s mother and step-father received Christ and stood up to his friends and admitted his lifestyle was wrong. God shined His light of Truth on a family that had been living in darkness for many generations.

The devil did not prevail even though it appeared he had for that moment. Christ prevailed and Truth won!

Love … does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

—1 Corinthians 13:6 (NLT)

Truth always triumphs. Jesus has already given us victory over everything. Even though evil seems to be prevailing all over the world, we will triumph!

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

—2 Corinthians 2:14

If you are discouraged by all the sin in this world, rejoice in the Lord that Truth will prevail. We’ve already won! Praise God for giving us victory in Jesus!

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

—1 John 4:4 (AMP)

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Week Ten Love Walk: Rejoice With The Truth

If you have a loved one who doesn’t know Christ, I want to encourage you not to give up on them. Pray this week for an opportunity to share the Truth in love and pray for God to soften their heart to receive it. I deeply regret not sharing the gospel with my cousin. But I did not delay in sharing it with his mother and step-father. God led me to share with them the Truth of His love as well as the plans the enemy has for all of God’s creation. Their eyes were opened to see the Truth and they received Christ. Praise God! Ask God to do the same and shine His light of Truth into your loved ones’ hearts.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.