Difference in a Christian's Sorrow

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.

I’m told that this was one of Louise’s favorite quotes, favorite prayers, and I am sure she was a woman who both understood the meaning and lived out those words to the best of her ability.

Louise Kivett was a life-long resident of Randolph county, married for over 62 years to the love of her life, Mr. Harold Kivett - by the way, I understand, she had on more than one occasion turned him down refusing to date him - with whom she shared the responsibility of bringing up three young men, Mitchell, Steven, and Neill. Louise was from a different generation, she was a hard worker, and instilled that in her boys. She loved her grandchildren and I understand she did her best to spoil them rotten!

Louise loved her family, and she had a lot of them to love! I know that she will be greatly missed, and as a wise person shared with when my mother passed, “We mourn for ourselves, not for them.”

On February 27th I went to visit Louise at Universal Healthcare where she had spent the last several years of her life in their care, I had never met Louise before that day in February, (I had actually went by the Saturday before but she was sleeping, so I just prayed silently over her as not to disturb her), but luckily she was awake. She of course didn’t know me, but I introduced myself as Neill’s pastor and asked if I could pray, and she said “Yes, pray, I’m ready. I want to go home.”

I had mentioned already that she and Harold were married for 62 years! That by itself is praise worthy! For 62 years she was by his side or in the stands cheering him on as he would, quite literally I’m told, drive around looking for a baseball game to play! Let’s be fair, she spent a lot of her time in the stands cheering her husband and her boys on in either baseball or football. She was a trooper. Always by her husbands side, driving around town in his truck in matching hats.

I’m happy to report that on Sunday, March 19, 2023, Mrs. Louise Kivett got her wish, she went to her heavenly home. Today as we lay her body to rest on earth, Louise, the real Louise, is in heaven with the two men she loved most - Jesus, who died for her, and Harold who lived for her. Mitchell, Steven, Neill, I want you to know that your mom is no longer bed bound. She is no longer weak and frail, she is as strong and vibrant a woman as she ever was. I know that today is hard, but I am thankful that as Christians, even though we sorrow, there is a difference in our sorrow.

Its on this thought that I want to speak this afternoon:

Some Differences When Someone Knows the Lord

Today is a day...

…Of Sorrow, but it’s not like those who have no hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

You will miss your mom, your mother-in-law, your grandmother, your sister....but you can also rejoice in knowing that for Louise, she is in heaven today because she knew Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Let me share two reasons why our sorrow is not like that of an unbeliever, because…

The Christian’s destiny is settled -

John 10:27-28 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

The safest place for anyone to be is in the hands of Jesus!

I’m glad that Miss Louise knew she was in those mighty hands!

I’m glad that when she closed her eyes in death on earth, she opened here eyes to eternal life in heaven!

All because she knew Jesus as her Savior!

Not only is a Christian’s destiny settled, but..

The Christian’s death is assuring -

1 Pet. 1:3-5 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I like that part where it says our inheritance is “reserved in heaven”

The word means “guarded”.

If you know Jesus as Louise did, no one is going to take your place from you!

I honestly do not know how someone who doesn’t know Jesus deals with situations like this? Sure we sorrow, but not like unbelievers do. Today is a day of sorrow, but not like those who do not have hope. Today is also a day...

...Of Separation, but its not going to be forever

Life is temporary. What matters is where you will spend eternity. While death may separate us from our loved ones, as a Christian we understand it is only temporary. The Bible teaches us that...

The Christian will be resurrected -

1 Thess. 4:16 “16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

My friends listen to me, there is coming a day when Jesus will return to this earth to call home ALL of His children

When that day comes those, who like Louise, have ended their time on earth, will be resurrected.

Right now here spirit and soul are in heaven, but one day, and I believe soon, she will be reunited with her body

But not the frail body you have seen these last years

She will be given a new body, a glorified body, one that never grow tired, sick, and, praise God, will never die!

Not only will the Christian be resurrected, but...

The Christian will be reunited -

1 Thess. 4:17 “17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

I am happy to stand here today and say that if you know Jesus as your Savior, you will one day be reunited with your loved ones who have gone on before!

Do we still sorrow at a time of loss like this? Of course we do! But knowing that Louise is in heaven, and knowing that we who have trusted Jesus ourselves will be reunited brings peace and joy to our hearts!

Today is a day of sorrow, but thank God it’s not like those who have no hope. It is a day of separation, but thank God it is not forever. Lastly, today is a day...

…Of Soul-Searching, but there’s no doubt about what awaits the Child of God

No doubt some of you are concerned by what has been said. Some here today may not understand what I’m even talking about, “Those who have no hope? Death is only temporary?”

Those who have no hope are those who have rejected the gospel, but for Louise, and for those who saved, we know awaits us on the other side of death...

The Christian has a mansion awaiting him

John 14:1-3 “1 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.”

Jesus has made a place for you to be with Him in eternity!

Let me say a word about that phrase “I go to prepare a place for you...”

Jesus is not in heaven building mansions today as some have said.

No, the place He went to to prepare you way was the cross of Calvary

It was there that the Son of God took your place and died for your sins

It was by His death and resurrection that you can be saved today!

The Christian has the pleasure of heaven awaiting him -

1 Cor. 2:9 “9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

No painting, no drawing, no movie, ever made depicting heaven can do it justice!

I can only imagine what Louise is seeing and experiencing today!

On the other hand, I don’t even want to think about what an unbeliever has awaiting them in eternity.

Conclusion:

Today is a day of sorrow, but praise God, we don’t sorrow the way those with no hope do. It is a day of separation, but you can rejoice in that it is only temporary. It is a day of soul-searching but if you’re a child of God, you do not have to wonder or worry about what awaits you.

Friends, our time here is over, my message is done, we have one more song and I’m going to pray before we head out for the committal service. But I want you to know that if you find yourself doing some soul-searching this afternoon, if you are unsure about where you will spend eternity, you don’t need to. You can settle that right here, right now.

You say, “How can I know that I am going to heaven when I die?”

It’s simple. You just need to understand what Louise did - that we are all sinners and as sinners we cannot save ourselves, and we cannot enter heaven. In spite of that God still loves us, He sent His Son to die for you, and if you will believe what the Bible says, and simply ask Jesus to save you, He will.