Tommy Cottle funeral message
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On behalf of the Cottle family, thank you for being here this afternoon. Your presence is a testimony to the love, respect, and friendship you shared with Mr. Tommy. Today we gather with heavy hearts, because someone we love is no longer with us. But we also gather with grateful hearts, because his life touched ours in ways that will not be forgotten.
This is a sacred moment. A moment to grieve, a moment to remember, and a moment to find comfort in the promises of God. Scripture tells us that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. That means God is near to us right now.
We’re here to honor a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend—a man whose life left a mark on everyone in this room. And as we reflect on his life, we also look to the hope that sustained him, the faith that shaped him, and the future that is secure because of Jesus Christ.
The family is grateful for your prayers, your support, and your love. And as we begin this service, we ask the Lord to give comfort, strength, and peace to every heart.”
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Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
Family
God established the family first.
God created a man and gave him the name Adam,
God recognized his creation of man as very good.
God observes his creation and responds with…”it is very good”
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
The very first time God declares that something is not good in found in Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
From the very beginning, God designed us for relationship. That’s why He gave Adam Eve. And in that same gracious wisdom, God gave Mr. Tommy the gift of Mrs. Carolyn.
One phrase I have heard over and over is “Family was important to Papa”
“He did this for family”
“He did that for family”
Family is important to God and Family was important to Mr. Tommy
Something devastating happen to the family though. Sin entered and broke the eternality of the family. Sin would separated the family for eternity if God didn’t do something.
Family is very good, being part of a great family is special. But we need to hear this…being part of a family is not eternal without Faith.
Faith
The first mention of faith in the Bible is Genesis 15:6
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Faith can be defined as “believing what God has spoken and behaving as it is so.”
In Genesis 15 God gives Abram a word of promise. You and Sarai will have a son.
This promise was humanly impossible.
Abraham had no life in him
Sarahs womb was dead.
In order for God to fulfill this promise a miracle would be required.
Even though it was outlandish, impossible, and would require a miracle Abraham BELIEVED God was able to perform what He had promised.
God is able to perform what He has promised.
That is where Salvation begins, with faith that God is able to perform what He has promised.
Sin has marked each of us
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Sin has touched every one of us. It breaks things we cannot fix. It separates us from God and, if nothing changes, it separates us from one another. But God refused to leave us there…
Like Abraham and Sarah we have no life in us and we are dead in sin, there is nothing we can do to gain eternal life, so we are in need of a miracle.
God performed the miracle that we need.
Jesus was born of a virgin
Jesus lived a sinless life
Jesus was crucified for our sin and was raised from the grave on the third and glorious day
God made us a promise
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Mr. Tommy had faith and he placed his faith in what God had promised!
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Faith is important to God and Faith was important to Mr. Tommy
Future
Death is intimidating it is actually our enemy and according to scripture it is our last enemy to face.
The future can be a source of anxiety because it is surrounded by uncertainty.
But for those of us who have faith in the promise of God to save all who believe in the work of Jesus on the cross and resurrection we can face the future with a sense of certainty.
Mr. Tommy could face his last enemy with grit and grace, He could walk towards death with peace because he knew his future was secure and settled because of Jesus.
He didn’t step into the unknown—he stepped into the arms of the Savior he trusted.
What about you?
If Mr. Tommy could stand here he might remind us of this old hymn that asks whether the family circle will remain unbroken in the life to come.
There are loved ones in the Glory
Whose dear forms you often miss
When you close your earthly story
Will you join them in their bliss?
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by
In a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky?
Family, God has been gracious. Who you are today has been shaped by His kindness and by the influence of Mr. Tommy Cottle. You will miss him deeply, but he is not lost. Because of Christ, you will see him again. His life and legacy continue in each of you
