And Now (Funeral Message) Series

Reading: Jude 24 & 25.

24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Today’s reading comes from one of the shortest books of the Bible. Written by one of Jesus half brothers who out of humility called himself the brother of James. It is understood that he did not believe that Jesus was the Christ until after his resurrection.

In his short letter there is a lot to read and take in, in these two verses we can gain an understanding about, how God is able! Able to keep us to stop us from falling - you may ask falling from or off what? And in doing so, through his gift of grace bring us worthy, not through anything we have done, into his presence without fault and with great joy.

The word falling in the passage can be seen as stumbling, something that is as easy to do in our spiritual lives as it is in our physical lives, usually our spiritual stumbling is due to some physical thing. What is referred to in Christian circles as ‘Sin’? God can if we hold fast to his ‘word’ and the leading of his Holy Spirit help us to stand firm in our faith and in our life styles, so that we may live a life that’s less than the ordinary and that brings glory to him.

What about this part of the passage that talks about being presented before God without fault and with great joy?

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’ve picked up a few faults over the years, scars from burns, a couple of broken bones, scars from operations and a gammy arm that just isn’t up to what it should be up to. Along with spiritual and emotional dramas, those things that had me burdened, in my head and in my heart – things that I needed to be set free from.

The idea of being able to stand before God free from our sins, which as we know Jesus has already paid the price for us to be released from, is brilliant. Also the freedom from all infirmities, no wonder there will be great joy, I can image ( ) right now released from the need for a walker, from the heart condition that claimed her - fully aware of her surroundings, in heaven, in the presence of God rejoicing.

No wonder this brother of Jesus finished his letter proclaiming the joy, that he had seen and could see ahead of him when he again entered Jesus presence. He did this with the words “to the only God our Saviour be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

It is with such rejoicing that we remember our sister and her salvation as we join in rejoicing as we sing of God’s Amazing Grace.

Benediction:

And "now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before he presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and for ever." Amen. (Jude24-25 KJV)