Lillian Peterson Funeral | John 14:1-6

8.18.24

Jason Jett, Pastor of Eastside Baptist Church here in Sioux Falls.

I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the service this afternoon.

I only met Lillian a few times, but every time we had a conversation, I left encouraged.

She always had a smile on her face. You can tell she loved the Lord and loved people.

I really enjoyed talking to Connie about the kind of person Lillian was.

Lillian Loved Her Family

Her life was about her family and raising her kids on the farm.

She wasn’t all that interested in the other trappings of life because her family was her life.

She was always home when the kids got home from school.

Her life was the farm, the house, and her family. She was content with that.

At Christmas, she would go overboard with the gifts because she wanted it to be special and wanted each child to feel loved.

She loved to bake for her family as well.

Connie said you couldn’t visit her without her insisting you eat something. That was her love language.

There are so many more things we could talk about.

She loved to sew, she loved playing games, even on the tablet. That shows some good ingenuity. It seems to me that most people in her generation have a tough time adapting to technology, so that’s pretty impressive

When you think about all that she was, you can’t help but rejoice in the legacy she left.

But of all the things that Lillian was, the one that gives us the most comfort is that she knew Jesus Christ as her Savior. She could have been the most accomplished person in the world, but without Christ, this day has an entirely different meaning. Fortunately, she knew the Lord. And that changes everything.

One passage that helps provide comfort for many is John 14. In this chapter, Jesus was concerned about those who were troubled. He told His disciples in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Jesus wanted His disciples to be comforted. He’d just told them He was going to be crucified. Judas had already left to betray Him. They were about to be left alone. But Jesus says, “Don’t be troubled.”

This shows us something about God: that He wants us to be comforted when we’re troubled.

Life is full of troubles. Especially these days. There are all kinds of question marks when you think about this age. But understand, God loves us and doesn’t want the troubles to overwhelm us.

So we have 3 truths from John 14 to provide comfort when we’re troubled.

The first thing to notice is this:

1) Comfort comes from trusting Christ’s presence (1)

What He was saying is, “You believe God, but I am God and I’m right here with you.”

There is nothing more comforting than the presence of someone stronger than you when you’re unsettled

When I was a kid I was afraid of the dark when I was by myself, but if my dad was in the room, I wasn’t afraid

Walking through the church as a kid alone vs with my dad

There is comfort in Christ’s presence

Ps 46:1 “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

God doesn’t promise to keep us from trouble. But He promises to be with us through the trouble.

Heb 13:5 says He will never leave or forsake us

We’re going to face trouble, but we don’t have to BE troubled because we have His presence

2) Comfort comes from trusting Christ’s preparation (2-3)

Mansions - Dwelling places

That means Christ is preparing a place for us to live in eternity

Those who trust in Christ alone have a dwelling place prepared for them in Heaven

Lillian had made that choice, which means she has a dwelling place too. I wonder if she’s already settled into it?

If they have tablets in heaven, I can imagine what she’s doing.

How does this provide comfort?

Someday those who trust in Christ will have a place that is free from trouble to enjoy for eternity.

It will be free from all the worst things, like sin, suffering, and death.

Right now God is preparing a place for His children where it will all be better someday.

It’s in that prepared place that loved ones who’ve placed their faith in Christ will be reunited

If Jesus is preparing it, you know it’s going to be incredible

3. Comfort comes from trusting Christ as a personal Savior (4-6)

He basically says, “You already know the way to get there.”

Thomas doubts that, so he says “We don’t know how to get there”

And Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life…”

Our greatest comfort comes when we place our complete trust in Christ alone for salvation

We all have a problem- Sin

Sin has a consequence- Eternal separation from God

There’s only one answer- Jesus Christ

You must acknowledge that your sin means you’re guilty before God

You must admit that your sin means you have no hope of heaven in your own strength

You must trust Christ as the only path to heaven

He died in your place on the cross

When He said “I am the way, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” he was saying “There’s no other way to heaven”

Not about good works, not about whether or not you come from a Christian family, not about church attendance, it’s about whether or not you’ve turned from your sin and its consequences and placed all your rust in Christ as the exclusive door to Heaven.

Have you? You can today. You’ve heard truth and you can respond to it in your own heart. I pray you do.

One thing about funerals is it can almost feel like a family reunion.

Although the reason for gathering is hard, it’s also great to see everyone and spend time together.

In a similar way, there will be an eternal reunion someday.

Everyone who has placed their faith in Christ alone to save them will see each other again.

When Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am there ye may be also,” that means everyone who has placed their faith in Christ as the only way will be a part of that grand reunion in the place He has prepared.

You talk about comforting. But understand, it’s only a comfort to those who’ve truly established a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Those that haven’t can’t be comforted until they do.

If you want to see Lillian again, or others who have passed on before, you must be willing to do the same.

If you could ask Lillian what she wants the most right now, I believe it’s this: That every person she knows would place their faith in Christ alone.

That’s the best way to honor her life today.

I remember when my grandmother passed away a few years ago, I was able to get my hands on her Bible and read many of her notes.

Next to John 14:1 she wrote “The Worry Cure.”

How true it is. This passage is the “Worry Cure.” There’s a lot to worry about, but when you have Christ’s presence, and you have His preparations, and you know Him as Personal Savior, a lot of things you could worry about fade into the background.

You don’t have to be troubled.

If you’ll recognize your sin.

Admit you can’t fix your sin on your own.

Trust in Christ as the only answer to your sin problem.

Not only will it release you from your worry about your own soul, but it will give you confidence that you can be reunited with others like Lillian in that place Christ has prepared.

Will you trust Christ?

You can be comforted by His presence. He’s with you.

You can be comforted by His preparation. It will all be better someday

And, most importantly, you can be comforted if you have trusted Him as your personal Savior. Your soul will be secure no matter what happens. Don’t leave today without doing it.

PRAY