On behalf of Anton, Chris, Hans, Peter, Maria, Tony, Andrius and Robbie, the 14 grandchildren and 9 great grand children, I would like to welcome you here today as we celebrate the life of their Dad Anton.
You know when you meet someone and they just make that impact on you. They are not like everyone else in that they have something that just makes you know they have life sorted.
On Friday evening I met such a man. He was in a bed in Olivedale clinic surrounded by his family, and as I took dad’s hand, I knew he had life sorted. As I spoke to him the Lord gave me a scripture, I would like to read that to you now:
1 Cor 5:1 (expand)
John 5:24.
Today we celebrate that dad had life sorted because he believed in Jesus Christ and he was on his way to the place that was prepared for him. And so today we celebrate. We are sad but we know that no better life could have been granted dad. No better way to pass over to eternity could have been given him. He had life sorted.
SONG
The gift that God gave this legend, is the God above all. We praise him now as we stand to sing Lord I lift Your Name on High
PRAYER
Father God, you alone are the God whose name we lift on high. Father as we come now to say thank you for the legend you gave us in our Dad, Grand Dad, Great Grand Dad and Friend, we thank you that Anna and Anton are celebrating together this day the life that you blessed them with. We celebrate with them father that Anton was a man of your name, He was a man who through you became the legend that you moulded him into readying him for that hour on Saturday morning. Father hold those who will miss him. Keep them and may their sadness be brief and their mourning founded simply on the fact that Anton and Dad will be missed, but Father we pray that we can smile with the fact that whgen it came to your will around this man, your word was fulfilled and your will in his life was done, just as it was with Jesus when Christ looked heavenward at his final hour and said father I have obeyed your every word, It is Done. For the family please grant them the peace that for Anton’s life it was done and done to completion.
Father, Your Word teaches us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Today as we come together as friends and family to weep and to grieve our loss, today is also a day to rejoice knowing that through Christ, dad has gone to be with You. We ask O Lord that You fill this house with the fragrance of faith, and Your Holy Spirit abide with us today providing peace and comfort beyond our realm of understanding to all those who mourn.
We commit this time to You. Have Your way in this place. We ask in the lovely name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
ANTON
MESSAGE
Family and friends, thank you for coming today. As we find ourselves sitting here this afternoon reflecting on dad, granddad and great grandad’s life, our minds may race with a wide range of thoughts. Perhaps of how he touched your life, or something he said to you, or just remembering his laughter.
When I took your dads hand in the hospital I just knew that he was at absolute peace. Yes his tent on earth was being taken apart, but his home in heaven was ready. The kind of man I have heard about would not want anyone to be without the kind of peace he was blessed with.
A man with an incredible general knowledge, a man who kept his important papers in his “safe” in the couch, a man who just before he would have a wise comment or joke would not only have a smile on his lips but a smile in his eyes. A man who could not see very well but would listen intently to everything that was going on around him. .A man who had an incredible memory, b ut most importantly a man who simple loved people.
That same love of people is the very reason why I think I sensed that peace. He had done what God needed him to. He had accomplished all that was set out for him and as a result at the time when many would be terrified, he was at peace.
The process can best be described as looking through a window out into the garden. For many years we are able to enjoy our life and gain glimpses of what may be on the other side through the specled glass in our window. The day however comes when we need to leave the room of life and step through the doorway into our eternal garden.
Today think just for a moment on two things. If you have given your life to Christ, dwell on how Christ spoke to you through Antons life, if perhaps you wrestle with this Christianity thing, perhaps consider that today in his passing Anton, dad, wishes to give you the giuft of peace. The same gift Christ had given him.
I know he would want you to have that peace. I know that he would not want you to have to only discover that peace on your death bed, but would want you to have it now already.
Anton, Chris, Hans, Peter, Maria, Tony, Andrius and Robbie you can count yourself blessed to have had a dad such as yours.
We know that your dad touched people’s lives. His life and death was ordained by God before the beginning of time to touch the lives of those around him. But it doesn’t stop here.
Revelation 14:13 says, ’Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ““Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
Your Dad’s God ordained purpose will follow him into the portals of Heaven, and the seed of salvation and thus its peace will be fulfilled in this place today.
John 12:24 sums this up the best.
A seed has in deed fallen today, but because of who Anton was, many seeds of fulfillment and peace will come from his life. Today I would like to ask you if you are one of those who will not let this beautiful seed fall without being a new vessel for the peace God bestowed upon Anton.
Lets Pray…..
Alter Call….
Music….
SONG: We Exalt Thee
Father, we thank you for this time together to reflect not only upon the blessing of our Father GF and GGF and Friend Anton’s life, but also to remember the eternal hope we have in You. As we go from this place to commit this vessel of clay to the earth, keep on the forefront of our minds of the day we will again see him and ouma Anna. A place where there will be no more sadness, no more tears to dim the eye. A place where there will be no more goodbyes. A place where you have prepared for us to be with You throughout all eternity. Go with us from this place providing counsel and comfort as only You can. In Jesus name, Amen.
COMMITTAL
Now that our beloved’s spirit has departed to join the great cloud of witness that rest in Christ, with cherished memories we therefore commit this body to its resting place – from the dust we came and to dust we shall return – knowing that the end of all flesh is the grave; but Christ is our eternal hope.
Closing Prayer:
May “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Phil 4:7,20,23
