Ramiro Villareal Jr.

Introduction

Jesus Christ said:

Juan 11:25 NIV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

Good afternoon, my name is Abraham Armenta. I am the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Agua Viva, the church that brother Ramiro and sister Bertha Villarreal attended.

It is an honor to lead this brief service to:

Give thanks to God for the life of Ramiro Villarreal

Encourage Bertha and his immediate family

I want to personally thank you for coming today as you support the Villarreal family in this difficult time.

Why?

Less than one month ago we were all gathering with family and loved ones to celebrate Christmas - Christians around the world gather every December to celebrate that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Many of us received invitations to more than one family gathering and many of us even celebrated with our coworkers at an office Christmas party.

Some of us struggled to be at every event and we did our best to not disappoint our friends and family - and at least spend some time with them during the holidays.

It seems almost too hard to believe that in the last week, many of us received a call or a text message telling us that Ramiro had passed away.

And although funerals are sad occasions, thank you for coming.

It is a good time to reflect on the “why” for having a funeral service.

Why is it good for us to be in a place like this.

The Bible says:

Eclesiastés 7:2 NIV

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.

It allows us to honor those who have passed away

Many of you knew Ramiro as a neighbor, a cousin, an uncle, or a friend.

But a few of you had the wonderful privilege of knowing Ramiro as a husband, a father, and a grandfather.

The fact that you are here tells me that you cared about Ramiro, that you will miss him dearly, and that life will be very different without Ramiro.

Sometimes the best way to honor someone is as simple as showing up…so thank you.

It allows us to support his immediate family

Usually when we gather when someone has passed away, we commit to checking in on the family.

I would encourage to do your best to come alongside the family and continue to support them.

Remember that this day will come to a close…and we will resume our daily activities. But the Villarreal family will learn to adapt to a new life - a life that will look very different.

…so let us encourage them and continue to show meaningful support.

It reminds us that one day we will also die

God granted Ramiro sixty years of life upon this earth.

He breathed his last breath on Friday of last week.

He has experienced the reality of Hebrews:

Hebreos 9:27 NIV

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

After Ramiro became ill…he had to face the reality that one day the inevitable would happen - and he would pass away.

One day we shall also die.

Eclesiastés 3:20 NIV

20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

None of us will live forever.

One day others will be mourning our death.

But let me tell you what Ramiro did when he confronted his own mortality - Ramiro started to seek God.

Ramiro had been ill and he felt the need to seek out a bible believing church.

Ramiro did not seek out a church because he felt he was sufficiently cleaned up, or was better or holier than other people.

Ramiro felt a deep, sincere, and heartfelt need to be right with God.

Ultimately, Ramiro recognized that he had broken God’s commandments and had no assurance of what would happen if he happened to pass away.

Ramiro believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ - which truly is a very simple message:

God created humanity and there was no sin or pain in the world.

Tragically, man and woman sinned against a holy God. This introduced pain, suffering, and death into the world.

However, God showed his love for humanity by sending his son - Jesus Christ - into the world.

Jesus lived a perfect life.

Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for me.

He took upon himself the punishment that I deserved for my own sin.

…and the best part of this message is that if we believe in this message - we will experience:

Forgiveness of our sins

Freedom from guilt and shame

The promise of eternal life

Ramiro believed this wonderful news.

He recognized that he was a sinner and justly deserved God’s punishment.

But Ramiro believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross for his sin.

This does not mean that Ramiro never sinned again.

I am sure Ramiro had very good days and not so good days.

Ramiro continued to struggle with his health.

Ramiro continued to struggle, as we all do, with doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty about his health.

But there was something that did not change - and it is this:

The love that God had for Ramiro.

God’s assurance to Ramiro…that Ramiro could be absolutely sure that when he breathed his final breath - he would be immediately ushered into God’s presence:

Not because Ramiro was a good person

Not because Ramiro had no son

But simply because Ramiro had a great savior - Jesus Christ.

…and while each of us is free to imagine what heaven will be like, sometimes we let our imagination run wild.

We sometimes wonder what christian believers are doing when they pass away.

I can tell you once thing for certain: they are in God’s presence, awaiting the glorious resurrection of the dead, when God will raise up their mortal remains, and their body will be transformed into a body that has no need for dialysis, that does not need a cane to walk around.

They will live forever

A glorious life without fear or pain

…because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Ramiro was not one for much ceremony or formalities.

He would’ve loved for me to keep this short.

He would want me to tell you - Believe in Jesus Christ, Trust him, confess your sin and failings to him, he will forgive you, it is possible for us to be reunited - but first you must trust Jesus Christ for salvation.

We will end this short service by praying for the family, that God will extend his comfort and love to them.

We pray that he will strengthen Bertha and his immediate family.

We pray that God will give us faith to believe…for one day, we shall also die.

Let us pray that we may also face death trusting in Jesus Christ.

Amen.