Myra Eicher

I think my favorite story about Myra was how she decided to marry Bob. It was during WWII and Myra was writing to several service men at the same time. Each of these men thought he was the only one she was writing. So how did she decide which one to marry? She chose Bob because he return home first. I’m not sure that’s the best method for choosing a spouse, but it worked. They were married for almost seventy years.

Myra lived a long life. In her ninety-one years I know she saw a lot of changes. When she was born automobiles were just beginning to take over the landscape and talking movies were still in their early stages. At that time who could have predicted the changes that she’s seen in entertainment, travel, medicine, and technology. But the truth is everything is always changing. There are changes everyday that we just don’t pay much attention to.

Styles in clothing change. Music changes. Customs and manners change. Even what we’re told is healthy changes. Today eggs are good for you, but many of you remember when it was determined that eggs were bad for you. Everything is constantly changing – everything except for God. God remains the same. The author of Hebrews wrote:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

And James wrote that:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

While everything around us is changing faster than we can keep up with it, God stays the same and that should give us comfort.

God’s laws never change. Our laws are always changing. Sometimes those changes are good, sometimes not as good, but there are so many laws on the books that you probably break one every day. But the laws of God stay the same. They never change. So you can always know what is right and what is wrong.

God’s character never changes. I know I’ve changed over the years. Hopefully those changes have been for the best. Hopefully I’m more patient than I was when I was a teenager. Hopefully I’m kinder than I used to be. We need to change. But has always been patient and kind. There’s no reason for him to change. He is always the same.

God’s promises never change. We don’t do so good keeping our promises. We sometimes say we’ll do something honestly hoping that we will and then something happens that prevents us from keeping it. But God will keep every promise he ever made. Perhaps it seems like God is taking a long time keeping his promise, but every promise will be fulfilled.

And this evening here are some of the promises of God that we need to remember.

Giving comfort to the disciples, Jesus said:

1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Jesus has promised to prepare a place in heaven for those who put their trust in him.

Paul wrote:

14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. . . 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)

That is certainly a promise we can’t wait for God to keep. And in the book of Revelation, John says that he saw a new heaven and a new earth. John wrote:

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ ” (Revelation 21:3-4)

We can look forward to the day when we won’t have to deal with the pains and sufferings we experience now.

Most importantly, the love of God never changes. God’s love is the same yesterday, today and forever. The psalmist wrote:

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

The story is told of a medieval monk announced he would be preaching on “The Love of God” that next Sunday evening. As the sun set and the shadows lengthened the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the chapel the monk lit a candle and carried it to the crucifix. Holding the candle high he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound, and lastly he moved his candle to the nailed pierced feet. He then blew out the candle and walked out. There was nothing else to say.

The everlasting unchangeable love of God, is demonstrated on the cross. And it is his endless love that’s the first motivates us to turn to him, and it will be why we will praise his name for all eternity.

Sometimes we wish things would stay the same. But that’s just not the way life is. However, we can look forward to the day when we will go to be with God and all our loved ones who have gone on before us.

From the book of Jude we read:

24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:25)

Graveside

The good news as we gather here today is that we don’t face this life or death alone. God is our shepherd that provides for us daily and restores our souls. He guides us and comforts us. He is always with us to bring us comfort and to give us strength.

What we learn from the Bible is that:

Death is not the end but the beginning

Death is not a loss but a gain, and

Death is not a defeat but a victory

My prayer today is that you will know this hope the Bible gives and that you will know God who gives comfort. As David wrote:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.