COMFORT IN CHAOS/SORROW

TRUST HIM

Opening:

Good morning/afternoon everyone. We gather here today with heavy hearts, united by our love for [Name] and by the sorrow that comes with saying goodbye. Moments like these remind us how precious life is, how deeply we are connected to one another, and how much one person can impact so many lives.

Even in our grief, we come seeking comfort, strength, and hope. The Christian faith does not ask us to ignore our sorrow, but it does remind us that sorrow is not the end of the story. In times of loss, many hearts have found peace in the words Jesus spoke to His disciples on the eve of His own suffering.

Today, we turn to the words found in John chapter 14, verses 1 through 3 — words spoken to troubled hearts, words that still bring assurance and peace today:

John 14:1–3 “1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Let me say that I have chosen not to spend alot of time on trying to convince you on what type of life Mr. Vernon lived. God is the only one who has the power or authority to judge anyone’s life. I want to concentrate on those who are left behind with a void, or with questions, or doubt, or just do not understand, why death comes. I want to speak to those who are asking these questions and are feeling some sorta way.

Point 1: Belief

In this first verse of this Chapter from the book of John, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, who are going through the emotions of what is about to happen. They are experiencing the emotional roller coaster of the unknown. Just as you today are feeling emotions you don’t understand, you can’t explain, and you can’t figure out. These things are normal let me assure you of this. We all experience emotions such as sadness, longing, emptiness, sadness and loss. The disciples are feeling these things in fact Jesus himself is deeply troubled with emotions at this very moment when He is speaking these words. He is facing the most significant events of His life, there are physical and spiritual unknowns. The same unknowns you are experiencing, but he says “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Jesus is telling His disciples to not worry about the things they cannot control, that He has all things under his control.

Point 2: He makes Preparations

Here we see in verse 2 that Jesus has gone to be with His father, where He is preparing a place for all of those who would believe. You should be comforted today knowing that Jesus has been reunited with His Father, Jehovah, and that in heaven He is making preparations for His people, The Church. We need to understand that the preparations being made in heave are for us and for our benefit. it is just like us when we are expecting company to come and visit, We make preparations for those guests that are coming, this is the same thing that is happening right now this vary moment for each of us. The Son is making special preparations for his servants to come home.

Point 3 Reassurance

Here in verse three Jesus makes it very clear that if he has gone, that is is making preparations for you and I, and If he is making those preparations then we can be reassured that one day he will call each of us home to a glorious reunion. It may be by either him calling us home or by his return for the Bridegroom. Either way we can be reassured that he is coming to receive us, not just as simply a guest that is coming to stay but as joint heirs with a right to be received just as the Son of Man was received.

I am here to tell you this afternoon that Jesus is alive, and he is waiting on us to make a decision, and that decision is where do you want to spend eternity. It is our decision he is simply wait on you.

Benediction:

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

As you leave this place, may the comfort of Christ sustain you, the love of God surround you, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit strengthen you.

And may the hope of the resurrection and the promise of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ bring peace to your hearts, both now and forevermore.

Amen.