Going Home

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11:25

1. The Funeral is a universal custom. It is our attempt to:

a. Remember

b. Honor

c. Offer Comfort

d. Prepare

2. Funerals remind us of:

a. The Certainty of Death (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

b. The Shortness of life (James 4:14)

c. The Shortage of life (John 10:10

1) How much do we waste on the trivial?

2) There is power in priority!

d. The sovereignty of God and Reality of Eternity.

3. We preach our funerals by the way we live.

4. Obituary

Some years ago a Missionary was returning to the USA. It was shortly after WWII. He had labored in the mission field for many, many years. He had contracted an illness and was on his way to be with his family.

He happened to have been on the same ocean liner as one of the great heroes of WWII. When the ship docked in NY, great crowds turned out to cheer for the War Hero. No one was waiting for the Missionary.

As he departed the ship, Satan whispered in his ear, "Look at how the Lord has let you down. All of the years in his service and there is not even one person to welcome you home."

The Missionary began to feel sorry for himself and a bit resentful that he had devoted so much of his life to God for no reward. Then God whispered, "You are not home yet."

We have brought Kenneth "HOME" from Texas.

I. Home Is a Special Place to Us.

A. It is a place of Refuge -- an escape from worry and stress.

B. It is a place of Comfort and Security.

C. It is a Place (maybe THE place) to be Ourselves.

D. It is a place of the Strongest Relationships (siblings/parent-child)

II. The Christian's Home Is the Most Special Place Imaginable.

A. It is Prepared by Jesus (John 14:1-3)

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

1. By the best

2. With the best

B. It is Prepared for Jesus' Disciples (John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-9)

1Now 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. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

1. Home is that place we are 'from.' We have brought Kenneth 'Home.'

2. Home is also that place we are going 'to.'

3. Christians have an eternal, heavenly place to call home

Prayer

Graveside -- Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

8 The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.