What comes to your mind when I say "NEW"? What do you think of?
I believe I would have to say that I think of Christmas. At Christmas, we get those "new" things.
You may have thought of a new car or new house…maybe a new suit of clothes or a new baby even.
But when you really stop to think about the word NEW, what does it mean? When you get down to it, it really implies something better. If you’ve ever traded an old, worn out car for a new car, then you know how much better "new" can be.
This morning we’re gathered here to say goodbye, at least for now, to a very special lady. And today, as we stop to remember _________ and all those things that made her special, we have to add one more word to that list-"new". For today__________ has a lot of "new" things. including a perfect, disease free body fashioned in the image and likeness of Jesus himself. A body she can use to enjoy all the splendors of that place called heaven.
Over the last few weeks I have come to know and love _________and her family. It has beena joy to see just how close a family can be and to see their love for each other.
Speaking of love ,Love was certainly one of the things that really stood out about _________
In the day or so following ________’s home going, I had the chance to talk with a lot of you about _________ and to learn more about her. One said she was "A good mother", "loving"," some one else said she "had a great sense of humor"-still someone else said she was "A person who really cared about others"---all of these were wonderful and very encouraging-words that make my task so much easier.
But the greatest thing I heard about __________ was that, as a young girl of 11 or 12, __________ gave her life to Christ. And I believe this relationship with Jesus only served to make those other qualities even more special.
The bible tells us in II Cor. 5:17 says "If any person be in Christ, they are a new creation; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."
My friends, this is a perfect picture of _______ Because Saturday morning ,old things passed away and behold, all things indeed became new for her.
We already know some of the new things that _________has today in heaven, but what did she have new here? You see,I believe that the moment she accepted Christ as a child that she recieved Three new and wonderful things---And I believe she recieved them as a result of The love of God.
Let’s read from the New Testament, the book of I John Chapter 3 versus 1, 2, and 3. The scripture reads this way: 1) Behold what manner of love the father hast bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. 2) Beloved, now are we the children of God and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3) And everyone that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.
1.) First, notice that the love of God has given "___________" a NEW IDENTITY.
Surely, most of you here could tell me a lot of things that made ________, ___________ You could tell me how she looked, where she lived, the car she drove. You could tell me the kind o person she was, what she did, who her friends were.
Essentially, you would be giving her an identity.
But today, __________ has a new identity because of the love of God. The scripture here in verse one tells us that she is a child of God.
Many of you may have heard the story of Saul found in the scriptures. Saul was a Jewish leader who was doing his best to stifle the new wave of Christianity that was sweeping the land. He was persecuting Christians, doing his best to punish, torture, and even kill those associated with Jesus.
On the road to Damascus however, God had had enough…you know the story… a great light hit ole Saul right in the eyes and he was immediately blinded. It was here that Saul had an encounter with the master-in fact, it really was an encounter with his great love.
To make a long story short, Saul became the Apostle Paul. The same Paul who wrote 13 books of the New Testament. The same Paul who was himself punished and tortured and later killed for the cause of Christ. The same Paul who once prayed that he could be sent to hell if only others could be saved.What a wonderful picture of the transforming power of God’s great love.!
Notice what John says-"BEHOLD!!" STOP!! TAKE NOTICE!! This is the love of God! Love that gives a new identity to such an evil man as Saul, and yes, love that gives a new identity even to someone sweet like _________ The love of God can give you a new identity too, if you’ll only call on Jesus.
2.) Not only did the love of God give _"________"_ a NEW IDENTITY, but it also gave ________a NEW SECURITY.
Verse 2 here tells us that we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him.
Really get a hold of that word "know". We know-there is no shadow of doubt…She is secure today; in fact, she was secure from the moment she accepted Christ.
Notice Also in the book of I John, in Chapter 5 Verse 13 we read that "these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life…there it is again "Know".
Jesus Christ offers you and I a "Know So" salvation. One we can depend on.
As _________ and I chatted over the last few weeks we talked about her faith in christ several times. And I was so encouraged by the fact that she KNEW where she was headed. There was no shadow of doubt. Never once did she say "I’m scared"-I ’m not sure where I’m going" She was constant, unwavering ---in a word , she was secure.-And that comes from the love of God She didn’t complain-she didn’t balme God-she didn’t go on and on about her condition. She just continued to live and and exhibit all those sweet qualities that all of you had come to know.
This world is so precarious-crime, violence, the economy,-all of these things are unknown; we don’t know about tomorrow. But, based on the authority of the word of God, I can tell you today that your eternal soul can be secure, simply because of the powerful love of God…it is a gift from God, but it has to be accepted.
3.) Lastly, notice the third new thing that "___________" recieved because of the love of God. Not only does she have a NEW IDENTITY and a NEW SECURITY, but praise God, she also has a NEW PURITY
You and I may be fine people today. We may pay our taxes, go to church, pay our tithes, help our fellow man, do all of the good things that we can possibly do.
But today, I must tell you that we are dirty, nasty, rotten, hopelessly lost sinners in the eyes of God-that is until we accept the that God gave us when his son Jesus died on the cross.
You see, all the good things that you could possibly do isn’t enough o get you to Heaven. The Bible says that "all of our righteousness is as filthy rags". It doesn’t’ measure up to God’s standard of Holiness.
But, here again, the awesome, powerful love of God steps in and verse 3 tells us that "everyone that has this hope in him purifies himself even as He is pure".
What hope is he speaking of? The hope he told us of in verse two..that we will see him and we will be like him.---The hope that gave __________the courage to face her illness and ultimately her passing.
As kind and loving as __________was, she was still born a sinner. As sweet and caring as __________ was , she was born lost and undone in relation to Jesus Christ.
But thank God, when __________ accepted Christ those years ago, the love of God stepped in and covered her-covered her sin,her past, her present -and praise God her future.It changed her from one that was lost to one that was found.YES-A NEW PURITY--Because HE is pure SHE is pure.
Thank God we can be pure even as He is pure! We can have that "New purity!" PraiseGod! What an awesome love!
CONCLUSION
What about you? Have you discovered this love that John spoke of? Have you experienced this love that _________’s life testified of?
Today__________ is in the presence of God almighty because of that love. In spite of anything that she may have done, God freely gave her that new identity, that new security, that new purity.
Do you have these new things because of God’s love? If you don’t, I must tell you sadly,that heaven will not be your home. I have to be straight forward here--I don’t believe __________ would want me to candy coat that fact. Without God and His love, hell is your destiny and , yes, like Heaven, it is eternal. The crossing that __________ made Saturday Morning must be made by all of us…The question is, where will you cross over to?
Today, Christ stands at your heart’s door and he is knocking; if you’ll open the door he’ll come in…and behold! All things will become new.
Let me say this and Ill be finished.
One thing that a lot of you told me __________ always said, and something I heard her always tell me was "BE CAREFUL".
I beleive if it were possible for __________ to speak to us this afternoon, if she could say just one thing to us , I believe she just might tell us to "BE CAREFUL!"
" Please don’t miss heaven---please don’t miss out on this awesome love that God has for you---please be careful.
I want to see _________again and I know you do to.
The only way is through Jesus.
May we pray.
