A Beginning And An End

This sin is a caustic acid that etches our soul with death. It is to us what rust is to metal, what mustard is to a silk tie, what scars are to a lovely face, what blood and broken bones are to a person.

Paul tells us that we all die because we all sin. So what is the answer. It is my friends, Jesus Christ. He came that all might live through him.

I began this message with the seventeenth verse of 1 Timothy. It spoke of the timelessness of God. But what Paul tells us leading up to this verse is important too:

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Changes the power of this verse doesn’t it!

Listen to me: The way of man isn’t supposed to END in death. The way of man is to share eternal life through Jesus Christ with God Our Father.

Our friend learned that many years ago. Don’t grieve for him. He is with God. Grieve for us. We lose his presence and we will miss him greatly. But he is with God and where he is we will someday be through God’s Son, Jesus, our savior.

Yes, there is a beginning and there is an end to most things in life. But God made an exception in King David’s case. He made an exception in the case of Peter and Paul. He made an exception for the thief who repented on the cross. He made an exception for Butch O’Leary. He gave them all eternal life.

God wants to make an exception for every person.

The Alaskian Airliner nosed over and dropped like a rock. It fell seven thousand feet towards the ocean. Then the pilots were somehow able to pull it out the dive and flew straight and level for nine minutes.

According to a Senior Alaska Airlines Pilot who has listened to the tape recovered from the black box a pastor’s wife on the airplane got on the intercom and explained the message of hope through Jesus Christ.

Her voice is on the tape recording during these last minutes of the plane. God gave 83 passengers and 5 members of the crew one last chance to become an exception to the rule of death and to join him in eternal life.

Perhaps these nine minutes are God’s attempt to reach you. I urge you to consider carefully the ways of man and the way of God.

Our friend that we say goodby to today did and we who share his faith know that he now dwells with God.

Closing Prayer

Committal Service

Psalms 23

A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.