Funeral Sermon for Don Rasmussen based on Romans 8:31-39

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don was a regular attender at worship services here at St. John Lutheran Church until his health began to become worse. Each of you have memories of his life. Don served in the National Guard for six years. He was a truck driver for Kraft Trucking. He was a farmer for most of his life. Don enjoyed his Allis-Chalmers tractors. He liked to go bowling. He liked going to farm sales. He enjoyed working with wood. Don usually did not say much until a person was able to know him better. Going out to eat at Pizza Ranch and other restaurants with Bob and Deb Rusche was a highlight for him also. I remember going out to eat with Don and other church members occasionally for food and fellowship at different area restaurants from time to time, too.

Today we have our questions. Whether we are young or old, we wonder about things in life. Why do some live to be over 80 years old and others live to be only a few years old? Why do some have more health problems and others less? Why do some have lots of good things in life and others have less? Those are a few of the questions we have at times like these.

The apostle Paul in Romans 8 has a good question for us to consider: “What then shall we say to these things?”

We can say, “Thank you, Lord.” Thank you for Don’s dedication to worshiping the Lord in church for so many years. Don’s example of regularly sitting in the back of the church for worship services was a good example of his faith in the Lord in action.

What then shall we say to these things? The apostle Paul in Romans 8:31-39 gives us more good things to think about. “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 103:8–12 reminds us this morning, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

We do not have all the answers to all our questions about life. As Christians we trust in Jesus to forgive our many sins and wrongs, just like Don did. We trust that God is with us even when we go through difficult days. We trust that nothing can separate us from God’s steadfast love for us as seen best in Jesus, who died and arose to redeem us and to give us the sure hope of everlasting life in heaven. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.