If The Worst

Invocation texts

Psalms 62:7-12 (CEV)

(Psa 62:7) God saves me and honors me. He is that mighty rock where I find safety.

(Psa 62:8) Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety.

(Psa 62:9) We humans are only a breath; none of us are truly great. All of us together weigh less than a puff of air.

(Psa 62:10) Don’t trust in violence or depend on dishonesty or rely on great wealth.

(Psa 62:11) I heard God say two things: "I am powerful,

(Psa 62:12) and I am very kind." The Lord rewards each of us according to what we do.

Poem: The Voice of Jesus

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Come unto me and rest;

Lay down, you weary one,

lay down your head upon my breast."

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary and worn and sad;

I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made me glad.

-author unknown

Introduction

Life is like a day. There is the dawn, the joy of early morning, then comes the heat of the midday noon. After a bit there comes the late afternoon, followed by twilight, and then comes the evening and night.

Death comes to all. To some it comes suddenly and in the days of youth. To others it comes quietly in the middle of the night. To some it comes slowly and through many tears. To others it comes quickly and unexpectedly - shockingly. Death, however it comes, comes to us all.

Years ago, when I was starting my family a life insurance man came into my home and said as he attempted to convince me of the need to buy, "If the worst were to happen...".

Now, it struck me then and it has stayed with me through the years that there were two important errors the man made in his statement.

The first: It is not "if". There is no question of "if" when it comes to the issue of death. Death is not something which is arbitratry or optional. It isn’t a matter of chance or happenstance.

But the second error is even more important. It is not the "worst”. Death is not the enemy - at leas not for we who have put our faith in God.

Death makes us come to grips with God. At death we come to the end of human knowledge with all it’s attmpts to overcome the inevitable. At death we come to the end of human power as doctors and technicians stand by helpless. At death we come to the end of human comfort as the drugs of the nurses and even the hugs of loved ones cease to ease the pain. At death we come to the end of human dignity.

We are left only with God. It would be good to remember something of the nature and character of God at such a time as this. His perfect love, which is unconditional and unlimited. His complete knowledge with goes beyond the bounds of time and space. His boundless forgiveness which covers over all our sins, past, present, and future. His infinite patience that overlooks our arrogance and foolishness.

God is love - The cross is the proof. He has loved us so much that he gave his only son. Why? Because he sees in us the potential. Because he cares for his creation. Because it his nature.

God is merciful. All fall short of the glory of God. None of us is without sin, yet you cannot get so far from God that you cannot come back.

God is here. Today. We are not alone in this time of sorrow and need.

Jesus said "I am not alone, because the father is with me"

David said, "Where shall I go from your spirit? Or, where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in the grave you are there! If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."

He is with us here today. He gives us his love and his comfort as we say good by to this one who is now in his presence.

It is good to recall the words of Peter.

(1Pe 1:3) Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on.

(1Pe 1:4) God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.

(1Pe 1:5) You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do.