Funeral Service: New Christian

FUNERAL SERVICE

FOR: Emily Thomas Stricklin

TITLE: Lessons From Death.

TEXT: II Corinthians 5: 1-10

CLERGY: Rev. George E. Crumbly

DATE: Wednesday, March 31, 2004

TIME: 10:00am – Graveside Service

PLACE: Arkansas Memorial Gardens

(Jacksonville, Arkansas)

We are gathered here today to pay our final tribute of respect to that which was

mortal of our deceased loved one and friend. To you members of the family who

mourn your loss, we especially offer our deep and sincere sympathy.

(JOHN 11:25-26) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me

will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

I’ve known of Miss Emma for 2 ½ years – thru my wife. My wife worked with her

in Sales Audit for these 2 ½ years. July will be 25 years that my wife (Donna) & I

have been married. I believe this to probably be one of the best jobs that she has had.

I believe this is probably due to the fact that Miss Emma was her Supervisor.

We spend so much time working. It sure makes it easier when you have a Supervisor

like Miss Emma. I used to drop in occasionally on the Saturdays that I was on the

radio, she was always very nice & very friendly.

II Corinthians 5: 1-10 is the text today that the Lord led me to. It deals with death.

There is a lot that we can learn from death.

I. THE FIRST THING WE LEARN IS: “The Frailty of the Human Body.”

(Verses 1-4)

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from

God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,

longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we

will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened,

because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”

a. Paul tells us that the body is simply a “temporary dwelling place.” We don’t realize

just how frail these bodies are until you start to get old.

b. Miss Emma was just “57” years old. On February 11, 1947 she was born – yet on that

day, she began to die.

c. Why do we have to die? Because of man’s sin in the very beginning!! Now we live in

these “temporary homes” preparing for our eternal destination.

(You & I have the say as to where we spend eternity)

d. It’s not up to the preacher or my wife or my kids or the church as to where I will

spend eternity….It’s up to George Crumbly where George Crumbly will spend

eternity.

II. THE SECOND THING WE LEARN : “The Faithfulness of God.”

(Verses 5-8)

“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the spirit as a

deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know

that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith,

not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at

home with the Lord.

a. Here Paul is telling of his eagerness to be with the Lord!! Paul was always looking

for the returning of the Lord. I have a feeling that Paul not only thought it might happen,

but was hoping He would return.

b. God is faithful to be there when we are absent from the body. (Time will prevent us

from looking at all the pain & suffering that Paul did. In all of His suffering though…

.God was and IS faithful today)

c. Paul said to be “absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord.”

d. One thing we can be sure of today: MISS EMMA DOES NOT SUFFER anymore in

this “temporary dwelling place.”

e. The writer in the book of Revelation: John, says

(Revelation 21: 4) “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no

more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

……..This brings us to the last thing Paul talks about:

III. THE THIRD THING WE LEARN IS: “The Fruitfulness of Life.”

(Verses 9-10)

“So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away

from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may

receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”