C.O.L Jerry Snyder

Introduction:

This afternoon we are gathered to celebrate the memory Jerry Snyder.

A loving husband.

A loving father.

A genuine friend.

But most importantly, a friend of Jesus Christ.

Jerry’s favorite verse was Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

While it might seem odd of some of us to call this a celebration of life. I assure you, in the midst of the pain of losing someone we loved our faith has not been shaken. We miss the person, yes! but it is not goodbye forever, but merely a “see you later.”

Our congregation has had our fair share of heartache and suffering. The last couple years we have lost some very good people and something really stood out to me preparing for this exhortation…The testimony of our church members is pretty profound, unlike those who are not a friend of Jesus Christ, our congregation has stood in the face of death and proudly proclaimed:

1 Corinthians 15:55 NKJV

55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

For the unsaved, there is no real assurance of an afterlife or if there is if they are worthy to be included.

Yet, for the believers… we are absolute confidence in the salvation that Jesus Christ grants to any who believe and confess He is Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

This passage in 1 Thess uses a very beautiful statement: “those who have fallen asleep.” This describes those who have died. Some Bible translations have translated it as, “those who have died.” This is an incorrect translation, as Paul is drawing the Thessalonians to the realization of the resurrection that Jesus Christ brings to those who believe in His name.

This afternoon, you will see Pattie cry and weep for the lose of her husband… but, you will see the flame of joy knowing exactly where he is. Jerry is in heaven!

2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Jerry wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. He couldn’t do enough good deeds to every outdo his bad.

Jerry was a sinner, just like the rest of us. Also, Jerry was a born-again believer, he placed his full trust in the hope that comes through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John 14:1–4 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Jesus died on the cross not only to remove Jerry’s sin but to also prepare a place for him. We know exactly were Jerry resides. In heaven with his perfect Father who has given him life and life everlasting.

Whenever we are confronted with death we need to take a hard look at ourselves and understand that we are not going to live here forever.

We cannot rightly have a celebration of life with out an opportunity to know this gracious and kind God that saved Jerry. To give you an opportunity to not only be reunited with Walt but to also get to spend eternity with the one who created you!

Gospel:

Accountable

Bad News

Romans 3:23;6:23a

Good New

Romans 6:23b

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

How will you respond to what Jesus has done for you?

You cannot earn salvation, you cannot hope to be good enough to be saved.

Repent and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

[Prayer]

I want to close with a beautiful picture of what is to come for those who are saved:

Revelation 21:1–7 NKJV

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.