Earlier in the service, you heard Russell read Isaiah 40:1-2:
40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
That one phrase has echoed in my heart all week:
“Her warfare is accomplished.” It’s one of the most tender invitations in all of Scripture—a word from God spoken to weary people who have fought too long, lost too much, and are ready for rest.
It’s an old way of saying, “The battle is over.” When Isaiah first spoke those words, God’s people were weary. They had known exile and loss; they were battle-scarred and homesick. And into that exhaustion came a tender word from heaven—“Comfort ye.”
Today that word feels tailor-made for this moment. Because we’ve gathered to honor a man whose life was marked by courage, loyalty, and duty. And we’ve also gathered to remember that, in Christ, the long battle—inside and out—finally gives way to peace.
The Battles We Can’t See
Like so many who have seen the front lines, Scott came home with battles that weren’t visible to the eye. Iraq left its mark. The wounds of war can be deep and quiet, and the fight with memories and pain is one most civilians never see.
It's often said of men like Scott that they can fix anything—but they couldn’t fix themselves. That sentence is heavy with truth and compassion—and it describes Scott well.
Because the same heart that kept him loyal also made him tender. The same sensitivity that made him a good friend made the memories of losing friends harder to bear. And the same desire to fix broken things made it excruciating to face situations that couldn’t be fixed.
So what do we do with a life like this—strong and wounded, faithful and flawed, loyal to the end?
Isaiah gives us the only answer that makes sense. Into every war—on the battlefield or in the heart—God speaks these words…
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.”
Isaiah wasn’t talking only about armies; he was talking about the war that rages in every human heart. And he was pointing forward to the day when God Himself would come to end that war—not by sending another soldier, but by sending a Savior.
Jesus Christ fought the battle we could not win. He carried our sin, our shame, our sorrow. At the cross He took every wound and bore it Himself. And when He rose from the dead, He declared what every weary soul longs to hear: “It is finished.”
That’s another way of saying, “Her warfare is accomplished.”
Rest and Homecoming
In 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul knew that he was coming to the end of his life. And he could look back on his life and say,
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Those words fit Scott. He fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith.
So now let’s talk about that crown of righteousness. We’ve already talked about the Bronze Star—one of the highest commendations a soldier can earn. It’s awarded to someone for the deeds they have done.
But this crown of righteousness was awarded to Scott not for anything he had done, but for what Christ had done for him. You see, none of us can earn our own righteousness. The same Isaiah who promises an end to our warfare and a pardon for our iniquity said that all of our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
Our crown of righteousness isn’t earned. It’s bestowed. We aren’t awarded it because of anything we do on the battlefield. No. Jesus earned it on a battlefield called Calvary. And then he turned around and put it on our heads.
The inability to fix ourselves isn’t a weakness. It’s actually a prerequisite. If we try to fight all the battles ourselves, we will fail. And we will destroy ourselves trying.
I wish I could have met Scott. I wish I could have told him that. But since I can’t, I will tell you.
You don’t have to fight your battles alone. You can’t fix what’s broken. Only Jesus can.
The book of Revelation promises,
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”
(Revelation 21:3-4)
For Scott, that isn’t prophecy—it’s reality. The battles are done. The pain and the noise have been replaced by the voice of the Savior who said, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
The hands that once turned wrenches and tuned guitar strings are at rest. The mind that was once plagued with memories is at peace. The heart that broke over others’ burdens has been lifted into the presence of Christ.
The Comfort of Those Who Remain
Isaiah’s word doesn’t end with the individual—it is for a community. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
God commands His people to comfort one another. That means the legacy Scott leaves is now entrusted to us.
When we show loyalty to our families, when we keep our word, when we serve quietly without applause, when we run toward need instead of away from it—we honor him. We honor the God who shaped him.
So today we do two things at once:
We grieve—because love always grieves when it loses what it cherishes.
And we hope—because faith always believes that death is not the end.
One day, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” There will be a reunion, and on that day there will be no more goodbyes, no more battles, no more pain.
Closing Reflection
If I could summarize Scott’s life in one sentence, it would be this:
He kept showing up.
He showed up for his father, for his family, for his country, for his church, for his friends. And now, at the end of his journey, he has shown up before the throne of God—not by his own merit, but by the mercy of Christ.
And to all who trust in that same mercy, the promise stands: one day, we will see what he now sees. We will stand in the presence of the Lord who makes all things new, and we will hear the voice that says, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Scott’s warfare is accomplished.
His iniquity is pardoned.
His rest has begun.
And until that day when we see him again, we will comfort one another with these words.
Benediction (James Jackson)
And now,
may the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace—
the same peace that Scott now knows fully in the presence of Christ.
And until the day when every battle is over,
and every tear is wiped away,
may the God of all comfort strengthen your hearts,
steady your steps,
and keep you faithful until we are all home together.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
