Larry McDuff Funeral

Introduction

Good morning.

On behalf of the family, thank you for taking the time to be here today. Your presence is a reminder that none of us is meant to carry grief alone.

While this is a simple graveside service, it’s no less significant. Moments like these cause us to pause from the busyness of life and remember what’s truly important. We gather today with heavy hearts as we lay Larry to rest, and we gather with the awareness that death touches every family eventually.

Because of that, before we say anything else, I'd like us to hear from the One whose words never fail. My words are limited, but God's Word speaks with truth and hope.

Please listen as I read from Psalm 90.

Psalm 90:1–12 ESV

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

And now hear the words of our Lord Jesus from John 14.

John 14:1–6 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Let’s pray.

Prayer

Father, as we gather here today, we ask that You would quiet our hearts.

Grief has a way of stirring many emotions, and so we ask that Your Word would steady us. Help us to hear clearly what You have to say. Comfort this family, remind us of the hope found in Christ. And Lord teach us to live wisely as we consider the brevity of our own lives.

Lord, we ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Message

One of the things I appreciate about the Bible is that it never pretends death isn't painful.

Sometimes our world tells us to celebrate death, or to simply remember the good times and then move on. But the Scriptures don't speak that way.

The Bible tells us the truth.

Death is painful. Death is unnatural. Death reminds us that something’s broken in the world.

And that's exactly where Psalm 90 begins.

This psalm was written by Moses, making it the oldest psalm in the Bible. Think about that for a moment.

Moses had buried countless people. He watched an entire generation die in the wilderness because of their rebellion against God. He knew what grief looked like. He knew what funerals looked like. He knew what it was like to stand beside freshly covered graves.

And from that experience, he writes these words. The main truth of this psalm is simply this:

Because our lives are brief, our only lasting hope is found in our eternal God.

That's true for Larry.

It's true for every one of us standing here today.

The first thing we see in this Psalm, its that God is eternal.

Moses begins,

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations."

Before there were mountains… Before there were oceans...Before there was a sun or a moon…God already was.

Everything in this world changes. Our bodies change. Families change. Jobs change. Health changes. Circumstances change. But God never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.

That’s why, in moments like this, we don't put our hope in our own strength. We look to the God who remains faithful through every generation.

Long after every one of us has passed from this life, God’ll still be God. He remains the solid rock beneath our feet when everything else seems uncertain.

Second, we see our lives are incredibly brief.

Moses says,

"You return man to dust."

Those words remind us of Genesis.

After sin entered the world, God told Adam,

"For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Every cemetery reminds us that God's Word’s true.

Death is the great reminder that none of us’ll live forever in these bodies.

Moses compares our lives to grass that springs up in the morning and withers by evening.

James says our lives are like a mist. You see it for a moment. Then it's gone.

Think about how quickly the years pass…As children, summers seemed endless. As adults, we wonder where another year went. Birthdays come faster. Grandchildren grow up. Hair turns gray. Bodies weaken. And before long we realize just how quickly life moves.

Moses isn't trying to make us depressed. He's trying to make us wise. That's why he ends by saying,

"Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

In other words, live every day knowing that life is a gift.

Don't waste it.

Love your family.

Forgive quickly.

Serve faithfully.

Tell people you love them.

Most importantly, make peace with God. Because every one of us will one day stand before Him.

Funerals remind us that the question is never if we’ll die. The question is whether we’re ready when we do.

And then finally, we see our hope is found in Christ.

If Psalm 90 ended with death, it would be a hopeless psalm. But the rest of Scripture tells the rest of the story.

Death entered because of sin. But God refused to leave us without hope. He sent His Son into the world. Jesus Christ lived the life we could never live. He died the death sinners deserve. He was buried. And on the third day He rose again.

That changes everything.

Jesus stood outside the tomb of His friend Lazarus and said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."

Notice He didn't merely say He could give resurrection. He said He is the resurrection.

The empty tomb means death doesn’t have the final word. For those who belong to Christ, the grave isn’t the end. It’s the doorway into the presence of the Lord.

That doesn't remove grief. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Christians cry. Christians mourn. Christians miss those they love. But Christians grieve differently because we know the grave is temporary. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that death will one day be swallowed up forever. That’s why the Apostle Paul could write, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

Death still hurts. But it no longer wins.

…

Today, we commit Larry's body to the earth. But today’s also an invitation for every one of us to consider our own lives.

Are you trusting in yourself? Or are you trusting in Christ?

Have you prepared only for this life? Or have you prepared for eternity?

Life passes quickly.

None of us knows how many days remain. But today, the Lord graciously gives us another opportunity to turn to Him.

If you know Christ, let today remind you to treasure Him more than the things of this world.

Live with eternity in view.

Love people well.

Walk faithfully.

And if you've never trusted Christ, don't ignore what God may be teaching you today. The same Savior who conquered death, He invites sinners to come to Him in repentance and faith. There is forgiveness, and peace, and everlasting life in Him—not because we deserve it, but because of His grace.

Committal

Hear these words from Genesis:

"For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

And from the Apostle Paul:

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep."

We therefore commit the body of Larry McDuff to the ground: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, awaiting the day when Christ will return, the dead will be raised, and all things will be made new.

Let us pray.

Prayer

Our gracious Heavenly Father,

Today we’ve been reminded of how short and fragile life truly is. We thank You for every good gift You give, for every relationship You allow us to enjoy, for every day that You graciously sustain us.

We pray especially for Larry's family this morning. In the coming days, when the quiet moments make the loss feel even heavier, would You draw near to them? Be their refuge and strength. Give them comfort that only You can provide. Surround them with people who’ll love them, and encourage them, and bear their burdens.

Lord, help each of us take to heart the words of Psalm 90. Teach us to number our days, that we might gain hearts of wisdom. Keep us from living for temporary things while neglecting what’s eternal. Help us to seek You while You can still yet be found, to trust in Jesus Christ alone, to rest in the hope of His death and resurrection.

We thank You that because Christ has conquered the grave, death isn’t the end for those who belong to Him. We look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away, when death shall be no more, when Your people will dwell with You forever.

Until that day, keep us faithful, keep us humble, and keep our eyes fixed on Christ.

We ask these things in His precious name.

Amen.