Willis Ring

Willis Ring Funeral

Welcome friends

On behalf of the family, thank you for coming and sharing some love and support during a difficult time. I know they appreciate every prayer, every word and or deed you have shown to them during this time.

I knew this day would come, Willis had asked me several years ago when He first contracted cancer, if I would do his funeral.

Every time he saw me out in town, he would say “There’s my preacher...”

And Willis, He was always the same, He always had a smile and a handshake for you when you did see him.

Willis started life in these mountains a long time ago, and by the grace of God, Willis has been blessed to enjoy life. And he has enjoyed a good number of years. I know he wanted just a few more to see his grandchildren grow up. But that wasn’t meant to be...

We never know how long we have in this life, We are born and we start moving toward the end.

Job in the Old Testament says Job 14:1-2

Job 14:1–2 ESV

1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. 2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.

Life in this world cannot be forever, but it can be forever in the here after and that my friends is the best thing i can tell you today. Because of Jesus, we can have eternal life.

John 1:12 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, Willis Ring has eternal life, not because I say so, but because Jesus said so! John 10:28 “28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

You see, several years ago Willis gave his heart to Jesus, and he got sick and has dealt with cancer on and off for a good while. And just about a month ago, we were able to baptize Willis.

That was a joy my friends, that was a joy. and it was indeed a special day.

It has been a blessing to know Willis and Pat and their family through the years. I think I have know them for about 20 years now, and they have lived well in their community.

And in all my years, I don’t think i’ve ever seen anyone love Tennessee as much as Willis. And if you’ve been in his home, you know what I am talking about.

Willis was really a super fan...of all things Tennessee.

And one of the greatest blessings of knowing Willis and Pat was the amount of generosity they shared with others around them.

Willis has helped so many and Pat supported him through it. God blessed him and he has cared for family, friends, neighbors and He has cared for those who worked for him in and around the mines.

And that is the mark of a great person my friends, for a great person cares for those around them.

Willis and Pat have faithfully supported their church and when he was sick and couldn’t come to church, he would always tell me I miss being there.

He missed it because he loved God and he loved the people he got to worship with at our church, East Stone Gap Baptist Church.

And Willis loved his family. He told me this on many occasions. Willis jr I know he loved you and was proud of you. Heather I know he was blessed to be able to be your dad all these years. And everything pails in comparison, He loved Layla and Cameron

He told me on more than once, I just want want to see them graduate… That is what he hoped for… But it wasn’t to be.

But you have all these precious memories of your dad and papaw.

I could tell you more...but you know Willis, so let me tell you more about the one Willis loved...Jesus.

You see my friends, there comes a time when all that’s matters is what you’ve done with Jesus.

You can have little or you can have much, but as long as Jesus delays His second coming, death will come to visit us at some point.

The Scriptures tell us “...that it is appointed for man once to die and then the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

But here is the blessing...Jesus said “...I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.” Jn 10:10.

My heart was sad when Willis Jr and Heather told me he had passed but I also knew Willis had only changed addresses.. He had moved from Big Stone Gap to that Celestial city.

Willis took his last breath here early Friday morning but then inhaled and opened his eyes in Beulah land… a city whose builder and maker is God.

I am reminded that the Apostle Paul said “...to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

That when death silences this life, the soul of man makes His journey to haven, Eternai life is enjoyed..

This body here, we will lay it to rest and it will remain there but Willis isn’t there, he is with the Lord. But one day the Lord will raise this body and reunited it to soul..

And there in that city he has seen all those who have gone on before Him, those family and friends...and most importantly Jesus. His savior and friend.

And we can be encouraged too my friends, why… Jesus told us not to worry. You see if you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you don’t have to worry.

Let me share a passage with you.

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

These are some of my favorite words in days like these Jesus says do not let your hearts be troubled… . a troubled heart is a worrisome heart. You see worry and fretting about the future, about things we cannot change can trouble us, Jesus says instead of worrying do this instead..

Just as you have believed in God, believe in me as well… in fact don’t allow your circumstances to keep you from believing.

In my Father’s house are many mansions or rooms, if it were not so, would I have told you I go to prepare a place for you?

The Father’s house here is talked about in a way we can understand.

You see on the 1st century, children didn’t move off, they didn’t take off down the street, across town or out of town to start their life and build a home. No.

The Father had the son help him add on to the Father’s house. They would expand the house, to accomadate everyone. The father would make sure this happened properly

And when the building and renovations were complete, he would send the son to go and get his bride, now they were ready for a wedding celebration.

Jesus says I go to prepare a place for you.. this was the reason he had come to earth. He came that we might have life… eternal life.

Jesus came to lay down his life and give it as a ransom for sin. HIs death on the cross, burial and resurrection would be the means for completing his mission and preparing what the Father had planned for all mankind.

God planned for a redeemer to come… He promised one was coming, he gave hints and prophecies until the perfect time came and His son was born of woman, born under the law Gal 4:4.

And Jesus came, he lived and taught us, he healed the sick, made the lame walk, gave sight to the blind and even raised the dead before finally laying down His life.

And he allowed sinful men to put his to death but on the third day he rose again.. and is alive forever more. And because Jesus lives, we can live as well my friends.

We can live… that is having life to the fullest that Jesus promised..

In Christ, Jesus we can live, love and even die knowing that we will be where Jesus is.. in heaven at the right hand of the Father.

And here is the best news, Jesus is comin again.

How do I know that for certain… The Scriptures promise it…

Jesus said in verse 4 John 14:3 “3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

There is our hope my friends, He left and returned to the father, and now we are waiting for him to come again.

Now Jesus will tell his disciples, you know the way to where I am going in verse 4… They knew the way.. Jesus is the way.

Now that confuses Thomas, he is like Lord we don’t know where you are going so how can we know the way.

And it is there that we find some of the blessed words,

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you want to make sure you are going to heaven, just ask yourself what have I done with Jesus....

Our works, our efforts they are not enough to get us into heaven.

Jesus is the way. he is the only means into the presence of God

Jesus is the truth.. He is the complete revelation of the Father

Jesus is Life… The one who was present at the beginning of all things, whose.. The one who could raise the dead and the restore life is the one who ensures life eternal.

When days like this come, I am so thankful for Jesus. He gives us hope for what is to come in the days ahead.

Let us pray