Michael Vogt Funeral

2 Peter 3:10–13 (NIV84)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

The Bible teaches us about the future. And the prospects are not necessarily good at first. In this section Peter emphasizes that the world as we know it will be destroyed. Even though scoffers deny this or cannot fathom how God could be the agent of that destruction, Peter makes it very clear that the Day is coming when Jesus will return and bring on destruction.

That destruction of that which is sound, good, and healthy is not limited to the last day. What does the hymn writer say? “Change and decay in all around I see.”

Abide with Me (verse 2)

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away Change and decay in all around I see O Thou who changest not, abide with me

One hobby I have is photographing old buildings. By old buildings I mean those in our state which are “only” 100-150 years old. In some countries old buildings are centuries old if not more. But in our state buildings get old and if not maintained they begin to show their age sooner rather than later.

Plants certainly get old. Some sooner than later.

We are here today because people also are subject to the aging process and disease. This causes us sadness and times of reflection.

A common display at funerals is the picture boards of the deceased. You see photos of them in infancy, as a toddler, the school years, major events like graduations, wedding, the births of their children and grandchildren. We see or remember how at one time they were vibrant, vigorous, and full of life.

Lois, you are in some of my immediate family’s photos and in my memory.

In October of 1955, you posed for a photo right here at Trinity. You were the flower girl for my parents wedding.

About ten years later, when I was five years old, you baby sat four rather rambunctious children out on the farm. When I drove out there last Sunday, I told my fellow pastor friend of how you had done this and how much we enjoyed it.

As you grew older, you went off to college and met the love of your life. You know just how full of life and vitality Mike was for decades.

But then what happened? As he grew older, he became ill and limited by age and disease. Finally, according to the Lord’s time line, he passed away. In less than an hour you and your family will do for his mortal remains what my own family will do for me and my wife and in a very similar way. Mike will be buried in the Friesland Cemetery after this service at Trinity. This is also the plan of my wife and me. Our gravestone has already been erected.

This is sad. When that which was alive and vigorous ages and dies.

The Bible speaks on this in poetic fashion using the analogy of the plants and flowers. Just as the grass withers and the flowers fall (which we know to be true), so to we also must wither and die.

1 Peter 1:23–25 NIV84

23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

But just as a seed “dies” when it is planted to produce new life (quote), we don’t really die but we continue to live. (quote)

1 Corinthians 15:35–44 NIV84

35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

And that gives us hope and even joy. Peter wrote that even though Jesus will destroy the earth, that will not be the end. 2 Peter 3:12–13 (NIV84)

12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

We also trust that God will raise our mortal bodies and give us immortality. We will live in a new home free from aging, disease, and death.

I’m But a Stranger Here

2 What though the tempest rage, Heaven is my home; Short is my pilgrimage, Heaven is my home: And time's wild wintry blast Soon shall be overpast; I shall reach home at last, Heaven is my home.

Why? Because God so loves us that he sent Jesus to be our Savior and we have his sure promises that our risen Savior will return to raise the dead and all who died with faith in him will have eternal life. “So he will also bring with him those who have fallen asleep in him.