It’s Time to Come Home

The Importance of Home

Always happy on occasions like this when the family present me with what the person we are remembering wanted in the service.

Saves us wondering about what hymns to sing, what Bible readings to read, what music to use, and all the other elements that go into Service of Thanksgiving.

On this occasion, Dawn presented me with a complete Order of Service written out by Frank himself.

Very helpful!

But also, as so often case, a fascinating insight into what Frank wanted the service to emphasised, how he wanted to be remembered, and what he wanted his family and friends to take away from today’s service.

One theme: the idea of home.

We’ve sung: “When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation / And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart!”

A sense of heaven as “coming home”.

We’ve sung: “King of kings, majesty, God of heaven living in me, gentle Saviour, closest friend, strong deliverer, beginning and end, all within me falls at your throne”.

A sense of coming into the presence of God - at home - and falling at his throne in worship.

And we’re going to sing: “Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There by His love o'ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest”.

Yet more images of coming home to the safe arms of Jesus.

Also seen from photos and heard from Maddie, Eponine, Dawn, and Tracy about many memories of Frank at home and in the family.

A real sense that Frank also made his spiritual home here at Maidenhead Salvation Army, where he was a cheerful ever-present, and showed genuine love and care to his church family.

Heaven: A safe, and loving eternal home

Frank also chose for me to read those beautiful, comforting words from Jesus in John 14.

He wasn’t to know, but we are shocked by his sudden death.

He was here, his usual happy, smiling, and cheerful self, in his usual seat, just two days before he passed away.

And I know Dawn and Tracy both saw him in those final two days too.

So we are left bewildered and sad by his passing.

But Frank wants us to know that he is home.

Safe in the arms of Jesus.

That’s the promise he’s chosen for us to hear from John 14.

Jesus promised his followers - like Frank - that he would provide them with a safe and loving eternal home.

John 14:2–3 NKJV

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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

J says he is going home to his Father’s home to prepare a place for followers/us.

A home with God.

Forever.

We can choose to believe that promise for Frank and for ourselves this afternoon.

John 14:1 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

The Resurrection Guarantees the Promise

Promise is guaranteed.

Can be sure J will keep his promise.

How?

The empty garden tomb in Jerusalem.

If Jesus’s grave is empty, then his promise isn’t.

Death need not be feared.

We can die with faith in J’s promise.

We can allow resurrection to sink into our hearts.

Frank is even now enjoying heaven

At his graveside earlier, I shared words from the very end of the Bible, Revelation 21.

A beautiful picture of what Frank is enjoying right now:

Revelation 21:3–4 NKJV

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

God is making his home with his people - including Frank - in heaven.

He dwells with them.

They are forever in his presence.

And the promise is that if we follow Frank’s example in life, one day the sorrow, sadness, grief, shock, bewilderment we feel today will be wiped away from our eyes, because we will be where there is no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain.

Coming Home to God is Not Just for Eternity

There is another message Frank wanted you to hear this afternoon.

It comes from the first reading we heard from Luke 15 - Jesus’ story of the Lost Son.

You can tell those who have wandered far from God was one of Frank’s passions in life, because not only did he specify that I read you the story, he also asked us to pray for the prodigals - for those who have lost their way from God.

The father in Jesus’s story is an image of God.

When his lost son returns to him, he doesn’t wait at the front door for him.

While he is still a long way off, in his love and compassion, he runs to his son, embraces, and kisses him.

He interrupts his apology, instructs his servants to bring the finest robe in the house - the “royal robes I don’t deserve” - and a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet, and orders a celebratory party.

In choosing that story for today, and asking us to pray for the prodigals and the lost, I believe Frank is saying to each one of us: don’t wait until the end of your life to come home to God.

Do it today.

Be safe in the arms of Jesus, today.

Allow him to wipe your tears today.

He understands - he wept at the graveside of his friend, Lazarus.

Don’t be lost anymore.

Come home to Jesus today.

If you do, then Jesus’ promise is that you will see Frank again some day:

John 14:3 NKJV

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Even as we meet to celebrate Frank’s life this afternoon and to mourn his sudden passing, we can accept J words: “Let not your heart be troubled”.

We can imagine Frank today, entering into his home in heaven.

In the safest and most loving home of all.

And hear and respond to his invitation: come home to Jesus today.

May God bless you all.