Nathan Cox
Notes
Transcript
As I look out on everyone’s faces today, I know that going through your mind is a variation of this thought: “I should have shaken Nathan’s hand last week. I should have told him that joke. I should have told him he looked nice today. I should have _________________.” Maybe you’re saying, “I’ll miss his smile, I’ll miss his laugh, or I’ll miss how he never failed to give Gwen a hard time!” I know this is going through your head because it is going through mine as well.
The fact is I could take all afternoon into the evening talking about what Nathan meant to me as his pastor, Steve as his father, to his grandchildren, his friends, his family, and this church, but...is that what Nathan would want? I don’t think so.
He was a selfless man, always thinking of others and putting them before himself. I do not believe that he would want us to sit here today crying and making a big fuss about him not being here....although I could also imagine him making a joke about us being here today.
Nathan had his priorities right. God first, family second, others next, self last. That’s the Nathan I will remember and that is the example I want to follow.
Steve, I can’t help but wonder what his first moments in heaven were like? I wish I could have seen his face as he crossed over. In my mind I imagine he was met by Ada and she took him by the hand to see Jesus. I wonder what message Nathan would have for us today if he were here? He’d probably tell us something like this: “Its OK. I’m home now with my LORD.”
There is a verse in Psalm 116 that has always struck a chord in my life: Psalm 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.
There is a vast difference between the sorrow of a Christian and the sorrow of the unsaved. As Christians we...
Do Not Sorrow as Others Do
Do Not Sorrow as Others Do
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
If Nathan were here today he’d remind us that there are two hopes (assurances) for the Christian, and they are good!
The hope of heaven...
Jesus said in John 14:1–3 “1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Today, if you know Jesus as your Savior, as Nathan did, then death is nothing to you but a roadway to your heavenly home!
Last Tuesday morning, Nathan took that road to his heavenly home.
The hope of the rapture...
This is what Paul had in mind in 1 Thessalonians.
Not all believers will taste death. Some of us will go in the rapture. Nathan was convicned of this.
I had many conversations with Nathan about this very subject.
Every time Israel was in the news he would call or text or have me sit with him and talk it through
Understand this: He wasn’t afraid, he was excited at the prospect of Jesus’ return!
There are some who do not understand what I am talking about, but Nathan did. Nathan knew where he would spend eternity, and today he would remind us that for him, there is no more sorrow, and for us, we don’t have to have sorrow as unbelievers do, not being sure of their eternal destination. Another difference in the way we sorrow is that we...
Do Not Sorrow Alone
Do Not Sorrow Alone
35 Jesus wept.
Those two words compose the shortest verse in the English Bible, but they made a tremendous impact on those who were watching. John goes on to talk about how everyone who saw Jesus weep commented on how much he loved Lazarus.
There is another verse that touches on the closeness of our Lord to His children Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The word “touched” means “sympathy.” Jesus knows what it is like to suffer loss.
Understand my point today, Jesus is not in heaven mourning over Nathan, but here, with us today, mourning with us in the pain that we feel.
If we could hear His voice today He would be saying to us: “I know what it is like to lose someone close to you. I know the pain of loss.”
No other religion offers a kind, caring, sympathetic God! You only find this in the Bible. Nathan knew this, and so do we. Today was we sorrow over our loss, let us remember that we do not do so alone, and lastly, may we remember that we...
Will Not Sorrow Forever
Will Not Sorrow Forever
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
For the believer in Christ, there is the promised resurrection and reunion with our loved ones. We’re not here today to say “Goodbye” to Nathan; we’re only saying, “I’ll see you soon.”
Conclusion:
What a wonderful place heaven must be? Nathan is waiting for us there. No walker. No braces on his legs. No medication. No physical therapy. Just Nathan, smiling. I know what his first words are going to be when he sees us: “What took you so long?”
The truth is heaven was already a wonderful place because heaven is where Jesus is. Do you know that the only person who wants you to come to heaven more than Nathan is Jesus?
Jesus is the reason Nathan is there today! Nathan is saying to us today that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
May I ask you a question before we dismiss to the graveside? If today we were gathered here for your funeral, would you have this same hope as Nathan? Would your family be able to say, “He/She is waiting for us in heaven”? Can you say beyond any doubt that if today were your last day that heaven would be your eternal home?
You can. “How can I know that heaven is where I’ll spend eternity?” By understanding the same thing Nathan did
Your position as a sinner. Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Your inability to save yourself. Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
That Jesus took your place. Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
By calling on Jesus to save you: Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Today if you will call out to Him, confessing yourself a sinner and believe in your heart that He died for you, He will save your soul and heaven will be your home.
