Written: Nov. 29 2015
He was a stranger in a strange land, and yet his funeral had the largest attendance the funeral home had ever seen. That is just a small glimpse of the impact of Dr. Raouf Ghattas. I will be posting the eulogy in English and Arabic for the many who wanted to be with us but could not make it. The Scripture reading for the funeral was from 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:28. Thank you all for the overwhelming out pouring of love. I am truly overwhelmed, but not surprised by the love shown to my dear sweet man. Love you all.
Of all days to read God’s Word, today is the best, for when we are downhearted and full of grief, we cannot help but find comfort and even joy in reading the Bible. I wish I could write the entire passage out to you here, but I’ll leave that to you to read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. Here are the highlights that Dr. Raouf would want you all to remember:
“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” “How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…Listen I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will ALL be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. Where, O, death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. Always give yourself FULLY to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Let us all prove that the years of labor our dear Raouf did for the Lord are not in vain by giving ourselves fully to that same mission and task for the Kingdom and to God’s glory. I love you all and thank you for your outpouring of love and prayers. Carol