Leonard Lenz Funeral

How can we know the shepherding love of the Lord?

My name is Pastor Joshua VanZandbeek, I am the pastor of Leask Gospel Tabernacle here in Leask, where Donna Yew attends regularly.

In talking with Angel in particular, I learned two important things about Leonard’s life.

He loved his family

He loved nature and the outdoors.

Though apparently camping had to always involve a trailer - never a tent. :) Glamping.

I got the impression from what I have been told that Leonard was most at peace when he was out in nature. On the boat, fishing. I don’t blame him - I think one of the most peaceful places out there is in the middle of a calm lake with nature surrounding you, not doing much other than waiting for a bite.

All of us long for peace. We long for that sense of stability, of tranquility even. We long to not have cares on our shoulders. I think Leonard found this for short periods out on the lake, or in nature, or perhaps even with his family.

I would like to ask the question though: where do we find this eternally?

We read early psalm 23, but I’d like to read it again:

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

As I thought about Leonard and what I’ve learned about his life this psalm came to mind. Particularly because it speaks to that idea of peace, and actually uses a powerful illustration from nature to show us God’s shepherding love.

How do we know the shepherding love of God? I think this psalm demonstrates it in many ways.

I want to take a moment just to focus on the first four verses of this psalm.

Ps 23 was written by a man named David, who knew what it was like to experience everything from being a well-love king to running for his life. Here, he writes this Psalm in praise of the shepherding love of YHWH - the Lord God. Basically David’s main point is that God shepherds his people, caring for them, guiding them, and protecting them.

Look at how David starts: He says the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. another way to say this is that the shepherd cares for David’s needs.

Then we get to verses 2-3, that at least for me reminded me of the tranquility of nature that I think Leonard understood.

Psalm 23:2–3 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Have your ever been up in the mountains, and found on of those tucked away spots where there’s a quiet stream, or a gap in the trees that is sheltered and quiet? It’s like a place where time stops for a little bit.

The shepherding love of God is like this for all who have a saving faith in Jesus. It is restoring, it is life-giving physically and spiritually. God’s shepherding love brings life and peace. I wonder if Leonard would have understood this word picture here better than many. I wonder if perhaps it would have spoken to him to be walking beside the still waters, and to lying down at peace in the green pasture.

We are gathered here today to remember the life of Leonard Lenz. He was a man who loved his family, loved nature, and found peace in God’s creation. Sometimes though, for those of us left behind the death of a loved one feels like anything but peaceful. It is hard, painful, tumultuios.

How do you get through these time? The times of the “valley of a shadow of death” in a sense as the psalm continues to say. How do we know God’s shepherding love in these times? God extends His love to each and every one of us through Jesus Christ. On the cross, at Calvary, The Bible tells us that Jesus bought our peace with His own blood, poured out for our sins. It is through this sacrifice that we can both be right in relationship with God, and experience the shepherding, caring, peace-giving love of God.

Today is a day to remember, but it’s also a chance to reflect. As you reflect on the life of this loved one who has past away, you are faced with the question, what will my legacy be? Where will I find peace in the end? True, lasting peace can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

For he himself is our peace…

Jesus is the peace needed for your life. He is the one who allows you to know what it means not just physically to walk by streams of quiet water (or perhaps in Leonard’s case sit in a boat on a quiet lake) but to spiritually and eternally experience these things.

I would also like to leave you with this: As you read Psalm 23 in a time of loss and grieving, please realize that God reaches out to you now and offers His love to you. You can claim the promises of this Psalm when you know the One of whom David talks about. As you take time now to celebrate and remember Leonard, I encourage you to think through your peace. Where will you find it - ultimately? Ultimately, it is found in one to whom we now commit the soul of Leonard. He reaches out to you now, ready to extend His shepherding love to you as well.