As we sit in empty rooms for virtual funeral services, we must look to our real hope that we have in Christ Jesus. In a strange providential season when friends, family, and our church body is kept at a distance—we must cling to the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We must remember the words of Jesus as he said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

This COVID-19 pandemic season has been dark. Our church family has experienced three deaths since we have been separated from one another. As I write this article, I’m preparing to preach my third virtual funeral through livestream tomorrow. Although it’s being called a virtual funeral, the truth of the matter is—it’s real and such reality necessitates tangible hope.

The Reality of Pain

The family members who prepare to bury their loved ones during this pandemic experience the reality of loneliness as they walk into an empty room. The funeral directors don’t have to ask everyone to stand as the family enters, because the room is literally empty. The pain is only intensified through an empty room with friends and family watching through a camera positioned at the back of the room.

As we navigate the pathway of this pandemic, we hear the word virtual being used in church contexts and business circles. Initially when you hear the word virtual it brings to mind virtual reality which makes you think of something that looks real, but it’s really a fake pixelated imaginary world. In a virtual reality world you merely remove the glasses when you are experiencing fear and whatever you were experiencing immediately disappears. That is not possible at a virtual funeral service. It’s real and so is the pain and sadness.

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