Clark Sauls - Interment

Let’s begin with a word of prayer:

Pray

It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

A supernatural darkness had covered the land.

People would have noticed.

Work around town would have stopped - animals would have quieted thinking it was night.

Children would have come in from play scared and

Everyone, everyone would have wondered what it was all about.

On a hill just outside the city gates, three men hung on crosses.

The work of killing them had not ceased.

It was very difficult to frighten a Roman soldier.

At three o’clock the sun broke through the darkness.

The heat returned full force beating down upon the bloodied and bruised body of Jesus.

In agony, Jesus yelled the first line of Psalm 22.

We only focus on the first line, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” not realizing that He was reminding us of the whole Psalm.

Psalm 22:30–31 “Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.”

Shortly after that, Jesus uttered one word - tetelestai - it is finished.

Matthew says Jesus breathed his last breath.

You know the story - he was laid in the grave on Friday.

He spent Friday night, all day Saturday and into Sunday morning in the stony, cold tomb.

Then, just as supernatural darkness had covered the land, a supernatural power reached into the grave and brought Jesus back to life.

And just like that - everything changed - everything.

2,000 years later, Clark Sauls went to the doctor.

When it came time to get out of the car back at his house, things changed.

Clark melted to the ground and had to be lifted into his chair.

It was like someone pulled a plug and the life started leaking out of Clark.

He was put in bed.

Hospice was called.

And each hour a little bit more of Clark Sauls’ life leaked out of him.

Until Friday night - in the darkness, Clark heard a voice.

Tetelestai - it is finished.

The Bible teaches that an angel of God came for Clark.

That angel took Clark into the presence of Jesus.

And Clark finally understood - completely - what Jesus really meant when He said it is finished.

Clark’s sin was no longer a memory.

Every tear, every pain, every sorrow - wiped away.

Clark met Jesus face to face.

As far as men go, Clark was one of the best.

A long time friend of his emailed me and said, “Clark was one of the best men I’ve ever known.”

“He was truly a committed Christian and always a southern gentleman.”

“He touched many lives while he was on this earth.”

I am a firm believer that we have no clue the number of lives we impact on this earth.

I suspect if you asked Clark how many people’s lives got changed because they ran into him - he wouldn’t even try to say.

Clark didn’t raise a banner saying “Look at me.”

But he didn’t have to - people were drawn to him.

Because he was “truly a committed Christian and always a southern gentleman.”

I went to Clark for advice and he was always gracious.

His graciousness and generosity brought me to tears once.

And you might find this funny - I know because you’ve told me that he didn’t like folks to cry over him.

On the day when Clark did something for me no one in any church has ever done and my eyes got a tad moist

Clark said, “Well, it’s time for you to go.” - and our visit was over.

What will you miss most about Clark?

What is the one thing that will happen and you’ll almost call him and then remember, you can’t do that anymore?

What is the thing that will make you smile?

What is the thing that will shut your mouth and cause you to sit and stare off into the distance

And thank the Good Lord in Heaven for letting Clark be in your life for a season?

I bet the memories are too numerous to count.

So we are gathered here on this hill to lay Clark’s body to rest until the day of the rapture.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Clark’s spirit resides right now with Jesus in heaven.

But one day Clark’s body will rise - just like Jesus’ - and he will live in the new heaven and the new earth

And reign with Jesus’ forever.

A few things had to happen - had to happen in order for us to be able to say that with such certainty.

First - Jesus had to be born, live, die and be raised again so that our sins could be washed away.

Second - When the Holy Spirit spoke to Clark the first time, Clark had to respond turning from his sins and trusting Jesus from then on.

And third - Clark had to persevere through life.

He had to overcome the challenges to his faith.

He had to stand firm when giving in would have been easier.

Revelation 3:12 says “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.”

Clark was a pillar in our church.

The Bible says that Clark is a pillar in God’s temple now.

It will be Clark’s home forever.

Jesus will write on Clark the name Yahweh and the New Jerusalem and the name of Jesus.

And Clark will grin from ear to ear as he basks quietly in the love he’s talked about to so many people all of his life.

Clark knew Jesus loved him.

Clark loved Jesus and stood for him to the very end.

Clark was in bed and not really responsive.

Kenneth Cobb was there.

He touched Clark, told him he loved him - said his good-byes.

Clark didn’t stir.

I stepped beside him and told him I was going to pray.

And he opened his eyes and looked at me - for just a moment.

Hearing about prayer - Clark reacted.

It wasn’t that many hours later that the angel came

And Clark was called home.

I know his prayer right now would be, I hope you all will follow Jesus so you can see what I’m getting to see right now.

That’s my prayer for you as well too.

Let us pray:

Holy Father, We commend into thy hands of mercy the soul of this our brother departed, Clark.

And his body we commit to the earth, beseeching your infinite goodness, to give us grace to live in your fear and love and to die in your favor

So that when the judgement shall come which you have committed to your well-beloved son,

Both this our brother, and we, may be found acceptable in your sight

And that we receive that blessing, which your well-beloved son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear you, saying

Come you blessed children of my Father: Receive the kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world.

Grant this merciful father for the honor of Jesus Christ, our only Savior, Mediator, our Advocate and our Friend.

[Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB] 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.