Dr. Wayne A. Lawson
Perfected Praise Worship Center – OKC
www.perfectedpraisewc.org
Preached at Funeral – June 16, 2010
(Sermon adapted and revised from Rev. Bruce Ball’s 2006 sermon)
TITLE: I’LL FLY AWAY
SCRIPTURE: II TIMOTHY 4:6-8 / I CORINTHIANS 15:54
Today we are here with heavy hearts as family and friends have gathered to remember and celebrate the life of _____________. She left this world as we know it just a few days ago. She is remembered for her loving Spirit. Although she had no children of her own, I am told that she loved her nieces and nephews as though they were her own. I am told she had a spirit filled with Laughter, she loved to laugh, and I can fully understand and appreciate that. Anyone who SHARES THE SAME BIRTH DATE THAT WE RECOGNIZE AS THE EARTHLY BIRTHDATE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR J ESUS CHRIST – could not help but to have a Loving Spirit filled with laughter.
Laughter takes us to a Wonderful Place and enhances our Mood, and changes our Outlook. God has given us this mechanism of laughter and songs that touch our Mental Faculties in a strong and Powerful way. I want to share with you for just a few moments the words of a familiar song authored by Albert Brumley. It is a beautiful Hymn entitled “I’LL FLY AWAY.” I challenge you to listen to the words of the Song that we may take great comfort as we connect it to the Holy Writ.
VS. 1 -- SOME GLAD MORNING WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER. I often wondered, especially in times like these, why would the author use the word ‘GLAD’ when referring to this earthly life being over? Can we find a sense of Gladness even when a life has been cut so short and abruptly? My brothers and sisters, I think that is the only word we can understand when it comes to meeting Jesus, our Redeemer, in person. And we can only do that when the life we know on this earth is over. When the final chapter in this Novel called life has been written. Don’t know about you, but that will be a “glad morning.” When we close our eyes on this side and open them in the presence of my Savior, in that Land where every day is Sunday and the Sabbath will have no end. Yes, that will be a Glad Morning.
VS. 2 -- WHEN THE SHADOWS OF THIS LIFE HAVE GONE. Everything we read and understand about the Old Testament was simply a foreshadow of the New Testament. Well what does that mean? Everything that happened in the Old Testament pointed to the way for the coming of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. And just as the Old Testament was a foreshadow of things yet to come to each and every one of us:
• This life we know on earth is but a foreshadow of the life of eternity that is also yet to come
• We should look forward to that everlasting life
• Because we will spend it at the Table of Grace with our Lord
The Old Testament is the Foreshadow of Christ. He is on every page. He is the true theme of the Old Testament—by type – teaching – sacrifice and prophecy.
• He is the prophet greater than Moses
• He is the Priest greater than Aaron
• He is the King greater than David
• He is the Captain greater than Joshua
• He is the Seed of the woman
• He is the fulfillment of the brass serpent
• He is the goal of all the sacrifices
• He is the true meaning of the tabernacle
• He is the Kinsman Redeemer
• The Lamb that takes away the sin of the world
• He is the great high priest who lives forever to intercede for us
• He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
• The Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his Sheep
If you want to find Jesus, just open your Bible because the whole book is about him. If you want to understand the Bible, look for Jesus. He’s there on every page. The whole purpose of the Bible is to point us to Jesus. He’s the theme of every book from Genesis to Revelation.
VS. 3 - JUST A FEW MORE WEARY DAYS AND THEN. And sometimes our days here in this life can be weary, can’t they? Oh, sometimes the burdens we bear! Just a few more – no guarantee of longevity – just a few more days. That is all you and I have left on this earth. Just a Few More Weary Days AND THEN….
• Not to be concerned about the Weary Days
• The longer we live the more Weary Days we will experience
• That is just part of life – part of living
• We are to be concerned about the – AND THEN
• Just a few more Weary Days and Then
• What does the AND THEN consist of?
• This is what you need to Ponder today
• Where will the AND THEN find you?
++++In the refrain, the song says, ‘WHEN I DIE, HALLELUJAH, BY AND BY, I’LL FLY AWAY!’ Can you see the absolute joy that is found in these words?
• The joy of winning the race
• The joy of going home
• The joy of being with our beloved Lord
• Not just for a moment, but for evermore
• Reminded that death is not a finality
--II CORINTHIANS 5:1 “FOR WE KNOW THAT IF OUR EARTHLY HOUSE OF THIS TABERNACLE WERE DISSOLVED, WE HAVE A BUILDING OF GOD, AN HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS.”
--I CORINTHIANS 9, the apostle Paul likens this life to a race. We cannot relax; not for one moment. We must keep our eyes on the end of the race – for the reward that is offered at the end of our lives does not perish but will last forever.
++++When I was in Jr. High School, I was on the track team. I always wondered why I joined, because that meant I had to run races, and I did not like running races. They required too much energy, and there was no time to relax. You will never know how glad I was when I finished the race. To me, the reward was not the trophy, nor was it the applause; it was the fact that the weary race was over and I could finally relax. I never won a single race while participating on the Track Team -- don’t think I was ever close to winning -- but I finished the race. .
Ms. ___________ earthly race is over. We hurt because we miss her. We grieve because she is gone. What kind of race are you running today? When all is said and done, will you finish this race strong?
--II TIMOTHY 4:6-8 “FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED, AND THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND. I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH: HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, SHALL GIVE ME AT THAT DAY: AND NOT TO ME ONLY, BUT UNTO ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING.”
If there is anyone here today who would like to prepare to spend eternity with the Lord? As we say our goodbye during this celebration of life, over and above the sense of grief and loss, there is a sense of triumph.
• A sense, that a great victory has been won
• A sense, of a life well and wisely lived
• A sense, that heaven is singing for joy, and that the darkness of death, so gloomy and imposing, is just an illusion
• Behind the coffin and grave stand life
• Life everlasting
• Life in all its fullness
• Life overflowing in abundance
• Life, in the presence of the glory of Almighty God
--We almost feel we could tear away the veil, we almost feel the bubbling up joy of our heavenly Father, as He looks to the day of resurrection, when all those who died trusting in Jesus' work on the cross, will be with Him forever.
YES, ONE GLAD MORNING WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER, I’LL FLY AWAY
