Funeral Service - Stephen Arthur WIlliams

after in the garden

Open with Obituary

Stephen Arthur Williams, 70, passed away on March 27, 2022, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

He is survived by his son, Seth Williams, his former spouse and mother of his son, Susan Moore Williams, both living in North Carolina; his sister and brother-in-law, Alicia and John Fletcher, two nephews J.H. and Drew Fletcher, all living in Lexington, Kentucky.

He was stationed in Japan while serving in the military and lived in several states after discharge. He was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and never forgot his Kentucky roots. He lived in Fayetteville for many years before moving to White Lake, North Carolina.

"Steve" eventually came to love the White Lake community and cherished the many friends he found there. His body was donated to the Department of Funeral Service Education at Fayetteville Technical Community College in fulfillment of his wish that his body donation would benefit others.

Prayer

Psalm 40:1–3 ESV

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

My name is Brad Pearce. I am the pastor of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington Kentucky. I would like to thank everyone for being here today to pay our respects to Steve.

It is never easy for us when someone we love passes on.

When a veteran, a brother, an uncle, a friend is suddenly no longer with us, it brings upon strong feelings and reactions. We feel both the pain and confusion of loss.

I want to tell you today, as a minister of the Lord, there truly is comfort from God made known to us in the Word of God. I want to encourage you all in this time to rely on the Word of God and the bonds of love that exist in this family. May all of us here today commit to supporting one another.

I know that you all have wonderful stories from your time with Steve. Stories of how he became more than an in-law and became a brother. Stories of growing up together and visiting each other when you were grown. We look back on these times with fondness, but now in this time we are grieved by the feelings of loss.

Today, I want to briefly share with you a message of hope amidst loss. This is a message of hope in all situations for anyone and every who believes in the Lord Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15–16a (ESV)

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

It is my prayer this afternoon that all of us would leave here today ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you. Hope even amidst trying times. The Bible says that the Christian is to be always ready to do so. No, not merely when it is convenient, comfortable, easy, or well-received, but always. Yes, in this moment as much as in any other—perhaps especially in this moment, when all seems so dark and lost. We must have hope.

There is only one true hope. All others are counterfeit copies.

For some, their hope in both this life and the life to come is based on their church membership. “I joined the church twenty years ago,” one will say. “I attend faithfully, give generously, and even invite my friends to come along with me so that they may find a comfort and peace that will lead them to hope too.” But, my friend, church membership assures you of nothing in light of eternity.

Others base their hope on their own goodness and believe that when this life is through, their good intentions and works will earn them favor with God. “Just look at me,” some insist. “Am I not better than many? Am I not more honest, more compassionate, more loving, more giving, more tender, more concerned, more generous than most? Surely I am living a moral life that will commend me to God when my time before him comes.” But again, my friend, good intentions and works, as wonderful as they may be, assure you of nothing in light of eternity. The Bible states that God’s only acceptable standard is perfection, not goodness, and further states that no one is perfect—no one is righteous—save Jesus Christ alone. My friend, if you are pointing to your good character or reputation, your praiseworthy deeds or intentions, you may be quite sure that yours is a false hope.

Others base their hope on their assumption of who God is and what he is like. They are often heard saying something like this: “God is loving and merciful, is he not? And given that he is loving and merciful, I believe that things will come our all right in the end for me. But, my friend, the same God who is loving and merciful is also just and honest, and he has said throughout Scripture that he will not pardon the guilty.

Still others base their hope on their feelings. With a cool shrug, they say, “I just feel that all will work out well, both now and in the future.”

These are all examples of false hope—counterfeit hope—which is really worse than having no hope at all.

You may be wondering, “How can I know whether mine is a false hope?” Well, here is a test that I think that we can each apply to ourselves: Does your sense of hope change with your circumstances? Are you here today with doubts and discouragement that you did not have a week ago? Has this tragedy shaken your confidence? Then you may have a false hope.

But there is hope that is built upon an ever-steady foundation. This is hope founded upon the unwavering, un-shakable Jesus Christ. Nothing but Jesus Christ will do. A hope built on any other foundation is built on shifting sand and will not stand the test of time or trial in either this life or the next. Only Jesus Christ will do. Anything else is a false hope propped up by self-delusions. Anything else will wither and be swept away by either the disappointments of this life or the judgment of the next. Only Jesus Christ will do.

I did not have the good pleasure of knowing Steve. I cannot tell you where his hope was placed. All I know is that he had been exposed to the gospel even by those here today and that he was a dear friend and brother to you all.

But I can say here to all of you, that when YOU truly have hope in Jesus Christ. When you have faith in Him as the one who died and paid the cost of your sin. Then you are restored to God and enabled to see and understand that God uses everything, EVERYTHING, even the things we do not understand and the things we do not know, He uses everything together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

That means that when we are reconciled to God, He uses even our pain in moments such as today for His glory. Have hope. Know that the Lord is using all things for His glorious purpose. When we have faith in Him, we have hope as well because we share in His eternal glory and victory.

Family, today, be still and know that God is God. And through Jesus Christ, He has reconciled undeserving sinners like us unto Himself. This doesn’t remove the loss that you have experienced, but it puts your suffering in perspective of eternity. And that is where your hope is found. In Christ alone.

John 11:21–27 ESV

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

May we now commit these remains the Lord for His purpose.

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of His great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother Stephen here departed: we therefore commit him to the Lord; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

Revelation 14:13 ESV

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

This prayer will conclude our services.

Pray