Comments
Let me take this opportunity to thank you, on behalf of (name’s) family, for coming today. Over the past few days many of you have dropped in or phoned the family to offer sympathy and support. The number of people in this room, the flowers, tears, cards, food, and visits, all speak of your love for (name) and (her/his) family. It means a lot that you are here. Thank you for coming.
Prayer . . . Thank You, Father, for the years you allowed our sister/brother (name) to live among us. The lives of all who knew and loved (her/him) are better and richer and fuller for knowing (her/him) and because (she/he) was came their way.
Hymn:
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Eulogy
One of (name’s) sons told me he knew if anyone went to heaven his (mother/father) was there. I can think of no greater gift a (mother/father) can leave (her/his) children than the assurance that (she/he) is in heaven. Neither can I think of a greater gift children can give their (mother/father) than to let (her/him) have the same confidence in their faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.
Let me encourage you today, cherish your memories of this dear (lady/man, wife/husband mother/father, sister/brother), friend ... as among your most valued treasures. Flowers fade. Things can be lost, broken, or stolen. But the memories are yours to keep. Little things, trivial events, a look, a laugh, (her/his) voice, the things (she/he) said, minor incidents and important moments are comprised into a private collection of memories unique to each of you. They form a kind of mental photo album of the experiences you had with (her/him).
Gospel Presentation
In John 14 Jesus tells us about His Home, our Hope and How we can get there. I would like to read those comforting words of hope from God’s word. This is one of my favorite Scripture passages for occasions such as this.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In these verses Jesus speaks the Home He has prepared for us...
Jesus begins with calming words, words of comfort. "Stop letting your hearts be troubled." He had just spoken of His own death and His disciples’ hearts were troubled. He was telling them, "Quiet your hearts. Settle your fears and anxieties. Still your anxious thoughts. Believe in God. Believe in Me too. Trust in God- and trust in Me." (GB)
Then He says, "In My Father’s house there are many rooms." In other words, there is plenty of room in His house. There is lots of room for all who will come. Overcrowding heaven is not a problem we need to worry about. We do not need to fear that we will arrive at the gates of the city to find "No Vacancy" signs posted on the walls of jasper.
Jesus says there is room for everyone who receives God’s offer of salvation. He says, "If it were not so, I would have told you." He has gone ahead to prepare a place for each of us. When (name)arrived (she/he) found there was room for (her/him). Jesus is there making our home ready for each of us right now.
The Lord also talks about the Hope of making His Home ours...
Jesus said, "If I go I will come back and take you to be with Me that you may also be where I am." That is the hope of all who believe in Him. Later in the NT the promise of Christ’s return for all who believe in Him is called "the blessed hope." (Tit. 2:13) One day Jesus will return for all who are truly His. It doesn’t matter whether we are in the grave or still living when He comes. What does matter is that we prepare to make heaven our home. Be certain your name is registered in the Lamb’s Book of Life so a place will be reserved for you.
One of the comforts this hope gives us today is that Christ’s return will be the reunion of all believers - the living and the dead. Those who trust in Christ have the assurance of being reunited with (name) for all eternity.
Jesus also tells us How we can know The Way to Heaven
The Lord Himself tells us how to get to heaven. How to be ready whether we are alive or dead when He returns. This is how we get our names listed in the guest registry of His Father’s home. It’s how we transfer our citizenship from earth to heaven. Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me." This is very similar to what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. . . . Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." . . . ‘You must be born again.’ (Jn. 3:3, 7)
Heaven is not automatically the home of everyone when their life on earth is over. Jesus says it is possible to get on the wrong path and miss Heaven all together. The Bible says there is only one Door into heaven and Jesus is that door. (Jn. 10:7, 9) It also says, "Christ in you, (is) the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27) Only by faith in Jesus Christ will you gain an entrance into His heavenly home. Being a good person is not enough to open the door of heaven. The best and greatest person in this room needs Jesus to get into heaven. There are no exceptions. Jesus said, "no one comes to the Father except by me."
Graham Scroggie, a famous pastor in Edinburough, Scotland almost 70 years ago, was fond of telling the story of a small boy in London who wanted to meet the Queen. The little boy often passed by the gates of Buckingham Palace in hopes of seeing the Queen. But he never caught sight of her. One day he went up to the gate and tried to go in but the guard wouldn’t let him in. He watched as the guard march back and forth. When he was at the far end of the gate the little boy ran to the gate and tried to squeeze between the bars. In a flash the guard was on him and grabbed him. The small fellow pleaded, "But I just want to meet the Queen." The guard spoke sternly and told him to go away, the Queen didn’t have time for little boys. Dejected the lad turned and left. Just around the corner he sat on the curb and cried. Before long a young man came by and asked him what was wrong. He looked up at the young man and told his story, "All I wanted to do was meet the Queen, but that mean man at the gate won’t let me in." The man took the little boy by the hand and said, "come with me." Together they walked around the corner, and up to the gate. This time the guard opened the gate, and they walked right past the guard, and into the palace. The young man told the little boy to wait for a moment and presently the Queen appeared. She sat and chatted with him over tea and cookies. Before long it was time for him to leave and the Queen offered him a cookie to go. Oh, how that little boy felt so big when he walked through the gate and passed that guard. It turns out that the young man who took the boy by the hand was the Queen’s son! Graham Scroggie liked to say, "I know that story is true, because I was that little boy."
I repeat this story today because Jesus tells us not everyone is permitted inside gates of heaven. But as God’s Son, if we will let Him, Jesus will take us by the hand and lead us through the gates right into the presence of the King!
I believe that He takes the soul of every true believer into that wonderful home of His. I believe He wants every person in this room to make heaven their home. But it’s not automatic. You have to choose the right way. Jesus is the Way - the only way to heaven. Let Him take you into the presence of the King.
If you want to make certain today that your place in heaven is reserved for all eternity pray this prayer with me.
Dear Father,
I confess that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I believe your Word. I believe you love me and sent Jesus to die for my sins. I believe He rose on the third day. And I believe He is Lord. Please forgive all my sins and help me to forgive all who have sinned against me. Give me the grace to live every day from now on in a way that pleases You. Thank you for a brand new start, a new life in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer with me, please let me know once we are dismissed.
Or if you would like to know more about salvation please contact me afterwards.
Now let’s lift this family to the God of all comfort.
Prayer of Comfort . . .
(Husband/Wife) (name), (all her/his children), as well as the rest of (her/his) family and friends.
Announce
