Funeral Message (of Sandra Age 73)
We are here this morning to pay our respects to Sandra. She died at the age of 73 after a 15-year long battle with cancer. Her life, although not without its difficulties was rich and full. It was through her most difficult times that her strength of character and faith in Christ showed forth strongest.
This coming Saturday was the date that marked her 50th wedding anniversary. With her devoted husband, Joe. Sandra died just one week before the date marking the 50 years of marriage. She did not reach 50 years, but she did experience many of the blessings that come with 50 years of marriage.
She was able to see the true devotion of her husband, the love of her family, and the kindness of her friends. We pay our respects to Sandra who was: A faithful wife, a loving mother, a dedicated church member and a genuine Christian.
Read the poem Sandra wrote for her 50-year wedding anniversary.
Sing the Hymn: In the garden.
Scripture reading Revelation 21:1-22
Prayer: Father at this time we seek your comfort. I pray that the scriptures that have been read, the words spoken, will be a ministry of healing to broken hearts. God we ask for your presence. You know the needs of each one here and you are able to meet each need. In Jesus name, Amen.
Solo: When the role is called up Yonder.
The story of water bugs and dragonflies is told to comfort young people and help them understand the concept of death.
There was a colony of water bugs who swam together in the pond. One day one of their group climbed up the stalk of a waterlily, and climbed until he disappeared out of the water. He was gone.
The leader of the water bug colony called a meeting. If anyone of their group goes out of the water, they must all agree they will come back and explain why they did that and what happened on the other side.
After the meeting that water bug who called the meeting felt compelled to climb the lily pad stalk. When he reached the top of the lily pad, he collapsed unconscious. When he finally regained his consciousness, he discovered an amazing transformation. He now had a long thin body and wings. He was awake to find that he was transformed into a dragonfly. Now with wings he could fly over the water.
Then as he was flying he saw the water bug colony swimming below. I must return and tell my friends what has happened. Then they will know what they have to look forward to. He flew down to tell them, but only bounced off the water. His new transformed body could not go in the water.
He could not return to them. He must wait for his friends to join him above the water.
Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/water-bugs-and-dragonflies-doris-stickney/1003169550
This story illustrates some of what the Apostle Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 12:3-4.
And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. (2 Corinthians 12:3-4)
Paul was caught up into heaven. He saw inexpressible things, that man is not permitted to tell. Those who have departed to heaven, have a wonderful experience to tell us. But they cannot return and tell us. They have to wait for us to join them.
For us we look to the Bible to see just a glimpse of what God has revealed about heaven. We find it is more wonderful than what we can even comprehend.
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
What a comfort for the Christian to have a glimpse of what awaits us in heaven. How especially appropriate for Sandra, one who underwent so much suffering with her illness in this life. All the pain and suffering that her illness brought can only be understood when we look at what lay ahead in heaven. We see how temporary our suffering is and how everlasting the glory of heaven is.
When we understand that we grasp how truly wonderful heaven is. The images and description of heaven in the bible give us some fantastic pictures.
There is the great banquet with the patriarchs. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 8:11)
The city of the living God. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, (Hebrews 12:22)
The wedding feast. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)
Heaven is called Paradise. And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
It is where thousands of angels are in joyful assembly. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, (Hebrews 12:22)
The lighting of heaven is not by electricity. It is illumined by the glory of God. There is no need for the sun in heaven. There is not a temple. There is no need for a temple. God and the Lamb of God (Jesus) are the temple.
Sandra told me, a few days before her death that her worship of God in church, was the most meaningful thing to her. Those who know her recognize this as true. She attended church even when she received chemo treatment.
Being confined to a wheelchair did not keep her from coming to church to worship God until it was physically impossible. But now, to be around the throne of God, surpasses any worship experience that we might have on earth.
Sandra has joined those gathered around the throne singing praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever.” How wonderful it is for Sandra to be in the presence of God. Our minds cannot even fully comprehend it.
Why do I speak with such confidence that Sandra at this moment is in the presence of God in heaven? It is because of her faith in Christ and the reliability of the Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father except by me.” Sandra’s salvation experience as a young girl of eleven years old is why.
She recognized her need to accept Jesus Christ as savior and Lord of her life. The blood of Jesus Christ God’s son that died for our sin cleanses us from all sin. Here we base our standing before God.
Because our enemy of death has been defeated by Jesus who died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin. He died the just for the unjust to bring us back to God. He rose again so that as Christians we also share in the resurrection.
The words that Sandra hears in heaven now are, “well done good and faithful servant.” For Sandra to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” It is fitting in the light of Sandra’s suffering that she now has received the wonderful inheritance as promised in these words from Romans, The suffering of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Sandra knows the glory to be present with the Lord. Her life gave testimony to her Christian faith. She attributes much in her life to the hand of God. Even in her time of suffering it was evident that her Christian faith was real.
