Sermon for June Grissom

What do I say about June? She was such a sweet lady…with a bit of orneriness for sure. I really enjoyed her sitting in almost the front row…listening as best she could…interacting…and so many times she’d be brought to tears just thinking about the Lord and His love for her.

She also at times would wonder why the Lord still had her here. After her beloved husband had already passed…why was she still here…and why was she still here for so long. We always told her that God still had more for her to do…and we know He did…she was still impacting people even up to her last days.

I loved seeing her smile. And I know she loved to smile. She also like to flirt with our deacons…she had several sweethearts in our church. June was such a good and fun loving woman.

But our hope this morning isn’t in June being a good woman, a good mother, a good grandmother, a good aunt, a good friend, a good church member, a good owner to her beloved dog. No, our hope this morning is not in her goodness. If all she has is her own goodness—no matter how good that is—it will fall short of the glory of God.

In fact, what we are witnessing here this morning is the gravity of sin. Sin carries with it the sentence of death. June’s hope is the same hope that you and I have; the hope of life found in Jesus Christ. That those who trust in Jesus Christ are freed from the penalty of death and sin. June, professed her faith and trust in Christ.

I’ve chosen a bit of a strange passage for a funeral sermon. Psalm 100. But Jeremy, who by the way was one of June’s sweethearts, had sent this to me on the day she passed away and said it made him think of her. I agree. And so it seems fitting...

Psalm 100 is what is known as a triumphal psalm…it’s a song of praise. In the very early church this Psalm was used for morning prayer…it’s used often in church as a call to worship.

And those of us who aren’t blessed with singing ability like to point out that the verse just says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord...”

But we see who is supposed to make that joyful noise to the Lord…it’s all the earth. It is an invitation to worship to everyone.

Which June accepted that invitation—or rather that command—what does it mean to worship the Lord? We know from the New Testament in the gospel of John that it ultimately means to believe in Jesus…to trust in Jesus.

I know that June would want John 3:16 to be part of this. She loved what that testified to…what that verse meant.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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This had happened in June’s life and so because of that she loved to sing.

But she also as v2 says loved to serve the LORD with gladness...

…difficult when she was older…what can I do...

…loved serving funeral meals…too hot…orneriness meets with her loving to serve...

And she’d do this come into the Lord’s presence with singing....

The LORD, he is God...

What does this mean in our suffering? God’s in control. God is in charge…he numbers our days.

He made us…we are His…he calls the shots...

The sheep of His pasture…God’s tender care. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD...

Enter his gates with thanksgiving…give thanks to him…bless his name…what does that mean?

Psalms, Volumes 1–2: A Mentor Commentary 2. A Call to Thanksgiving (vv. 4–5)

The final expression is literally ‘bless his name’ (bârakû shemô), drawing attention to the fact that the worshippers are to have the LORD himself as their focal point. His self-revelation as the redeemer of his covenant people calls forth praise.

His love endures forever…a reminder as we grieve…the Lord is with us…

his faithfulness to all generations. What June would want is for other generations to know her Lord as well.

And there is no doubt that all of us here today would have loved more time with June. There is no doubt that we would not be grieving this morning if she were here. But if she could come back for one brief moment, I believe I know what she would tell us. Having seen what she has seen and experienced what she is experiencing, she would tell us: Be certain that you know Jesus. Put your faith and trust in Jesus and Him alone, He is the only one that can pardon you and the only one that we can hope in. Do not leave this life without knowing the One who is Life Himself. The greatest experience that June has had is not being reunited with family or friends as wonderful as that may very well be. No, her greatest joy is in seeing Jesus Christ and being with Him.

Having now seen what she has seen and heard the things that she has heard—she would certainly tell us that what really matters is Jesus. She would let us know that our present suffering does pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us. And she would be entering His courts with singing…and thanksgiving like she has never had before…

June would say to those of us that are believers—it’s worth it. Keep pressing on, keep trusting Jesus, every ounce of pain and suffering is worth it. It only makes Christ all the more sweeter. And to those here that may not be trusting in Christ—I am confident that June would encourage you to trust in Jesus alone. He is all that really matters.