INTRODUCTION:
A)As we gather here this evening, we do so with mixed emotions.
There’s the natural emotion of sadness, as thoughts of continuing on in this life, without ______ sink in.
The last few months have been very difficult for ___________ and _____mate______.
As difficult as it is watching someone dear to us struggle physically, having to say good-bye is equally
difficult.
B)Coming together this evening, we are filled with emotions.
Mixed with the emotion of sadness, there’s also a sense of relief, a sense of peace and even joy for our friend.
* Relief because _______ no longer has to suffer physically anymore.
To say the last few years have been challenging for him would be an understatement. But he never let his limitations get the best of him, he continued to be faithful, he continued to be optimistic.
Then the last couple of years he began a battle with cancer.
Especially the last few months we’ve watched his condition slowly deteriorate.
But now there is relief, even though his relief causes us pain and sorrow.
* There’s also a sense of peace because of ________’s faith and love for the Lord.
In Philippians 3 we read about Christians going to heaven to be with Jesus when they die.
Knowing heaven is now a reality for _______, brings about a sense of peace for those of us here tonight.It’s never easy saying good-bye to someone we really care about, but knowing, with great confidence that ______ is much better off today than ever before – brings peace to our hearts.
Which also brings us a sense of joy, because heaven, that which many of us dream of and hope for became a reality for __________ Friday.
Now heaven is his home.
For those of us left behind – the words of Jesus in John 14 have more meaning than ever before.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3 (NIV)
C)For many people, an occasion like this is a sad occasion, a time of mourning, a time of grieving.
But for those of us who are Christians, those of us who understand the hope Jesus Christ offers, this is not a sad occasion but a time of celebration.
The hope & assurance we have as Christians is anchored in the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our hope is anchored in the promises of a loving Savior who said:
25 ... “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die...” (John 11:25-26) (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) (NIV)
This time together is not a time filled with sadness, it was meant to be a time of remembrance and joy, a time of encouragement.
Sure there have been tears shed, but it’s also been a time of embracing, a time of laughing, a time of reliving fond memories.
To some people, that may have seemed strange, but most of us in this room cling to the words of the Apostle Paul who said, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who (die), or to grieve like (those), who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Because of Jesus Christ we can approach this transition in our lives with assurance, with the
confidence that only comes from knowing Him as Savior.
D) My philosophy concerning a funeral service has always been, that this service is not for the one who has died, but for those who are left behind.
There is nothing I could do to bring ________ back to us, however I can share a few words of encouragement & hope that will hopefully make this difficult time a little easier for you.
The scripture I’ve chosen is a favorite of mine, when it is a Christian who has died.
To some it may seem a little strange for a memorial service, but I find it to be most appropriate.
The scripture is from Philippians chapter 1 where Paul writes, 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; (Philippians 1:20-23)
I love those words – 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I. To live is Christ
A) To live is Christ. What did Paul mean by that?
Very simply, Jesus Christ was the source and secret of Paul’s joy.
Paul found all he needed in life, in Jesus Christ.
B) How do we see evidence of people living for Christ today? We see that by the way we live, the way we love the Lord.
Jesus is not some distant person way off.
No – the Lord is near and dear to us.
We walk with Him and talk with Him daily.
We speak of our gratitude for all Christ had done for us.
C)We see it by the way we love the church.
Because we love Jesus, we also love His church.
If you truly love Jesus, you love His bride the church.
You demonstrate that love by assembling for worship with the church. You express that love by supporting the church with your prayers, by sharing words of encouragement and gifts.
____________ loved the church.
It seems so appropriate to have this memorial service for him, here in this building, with his church family.
In our short time together, I knew he loved me.
At the end of the service, he always had an encouraging word for me.
D)We see that by the way we love the Word of God.
Paul was well versed in the scriptures.
God’s Word truly served as a light for his path.
There is no doubt in my mind that _________ loved the Word of God.
It was his guide from grace to glory. It provides us with comfort and strength.
E)We see that by the way we love our family and friends.
We gain strength from one another.
We share sorrows because we divide them, our joys are greater because we have folk to share them with.
II. What does a Christian gain in death?
A)If that be the case, what would Paul gain through death?
What would we, as Christians gain in death?
More importantly for us tonight, what does ________ gain in death?
#1 – We gain freedom.
Freedom from the aches & pains, sufferings, problems and troubles of this world.
Freedom from the sin and injustice that is all around us.
Freedom from the limitations that come with age or disease.
We gain freedom when we die in Christ.
For __________ that means no more aches and pains.
No more struggling to breathe, no more being confined to a bed or a recliner at home.
#2 – A Christian gains fellowship.
When a Christian dies, there is a wonderful reunion that takes place, in death we gain the sweetest fellowship ever enjoyed by anyone.
There is the fellowship with all the great men and women of the Bible. Fellowship with some of the great people of history, fellowship with all the loved ones who have gone on before us, best of all, fellowship with the Lord Himself.
That which _________ has experienced over the last 48 hours, is just the beginning of a wonderful fellowship that he will enjoy for all of eternity.
Can you imagine waking up and seeking Moses or David or Esther or Paul or Jesus face to face?
That’s a fellowship that’s very real for him right now, a fellowship we too will someday be a part of.
#3 – A Christian gains full knowledge.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12 the Apostle writes, Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
There are so many things that take place that we just don’t completely understand.
And I’m convinced the older we get, the more evident it is that we’re not meant to know everything.
But we rely on the promise that some day we will have full knowledge. Someday, in the glow of the glory of heaven, we will sit down beside the Lord Himself and He will explain it all.
Then we will see some of the things that caused us heartache & sorrow, were actually blessings in disguise.
The Lord allowed them to come our way for our own good and His wonderful glory.
#4 – A Christian gains a reward for their faithfulness.
________ was a faithful Christian. He loved the Lord, he put his faith and trust in Him.
Therefore, we need to be mindful of the promises, the rewards, that come with being a Christian.
The things I have talked about this evening, have been prepared with us in mind.
Heaven is a perfect place, a place of freedom, a place of fellowship, a place filled with answers.
And most importantly, it is a real place.
Heaven is as real as Washington, DC – Gatlinburg, TN – or Blountville, TN
It’s a place for our enjoyment, a home, a mansion, prepared specifically for the ones who will call it home.
Because of that reward, death is different for the Christian!
Conclusion:
All of this was made possible when ___________ made a commitment to Jesus Christ.
And followed through with that commitment to the best of his ability.
He has left behind family and friends, people he wants to see again, people he wants to share eternity with.
His life has set the example that we ought to follow as we strive to be like Christ, that we might be reunited with him someday.
And somehow if ________r were here with us today, after having experienced these past days in heaven, days of perfect rest, days of perfect fellowship, I think he would try to comfort us with words like these of a poet long ago:
Grieve not for me Nor let one tear drop fall
For what you dream of, I now see and friend it’s worth it all.
