Funeral: Johnny Childs

Introduction

Say a word of thanks to the family:

Froni, Michael, Danny. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to honor Johnny today.

There is not another Johnny on this earth, there is not even another Johnny in heaven. He is one of a kind.

I told Providence Wednesday night the fish at Eufaula is happy, they can finally repopulate a little.

When I moved in to Providence, Johnny was one of the first men who came to me and helped me get moved. He made me feel at home for sure. Not long after I moved in I got an invite to go crappie fishing then I knew I was at home. When we got back from Crappie fishing he found out that I did not have a place to clean fish up at the house, and he said chief we going to fix that. For next three or four weeks Johnny was at my house at 7:00 in the morning building me a place to clean fish.

Johnny thought he could do everything in the world right by himself. I think the only time I got on his nerves was about 6 months ago. I was at my office at church and I saw Jackie Brown and Ted Brunson standing outside looking and pointing up in the sky. I walked out the door and Johnny was wrapped around the steeple on top of the church trying to fix a leak. I scolded him a little and tried to make him get down, and I learned a lesson that day Johnny and Tony are a lot alike. If Johnny sets his mind to something HE IS GOING TO DO IT and no one will tell him otherwise.

Message

Johnny taught me a lot and left me with the challenge of Christlike servant hood.

Johnny loved God and therefore out of his love for God he was able to love and serve others.

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Johnny loved God and that enabled him to love and serve others.

The first time Johnny took me fishing he brought up this day on the way home. Johnny called me chief. He said chief, I have had a good life. If God took me today, I am prepared. I am ready to see him.

From that day forward, I was led to .

Philippians 1:19–26 ESV

19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Johnny was hard pressed between the two. I saw someone who had a longing to see God. Someone whose faith was ready to be sight. But I saw someone who loved to serve the Lord. Either of those was a gain for Johnny.

For Johnny to live meant he would continue to serve the Lord. For God to take Johnny meant he his faith would be sight. Johnny said I cannot lose in this one.

Johnny served the young to the old.

He greeted children at the door with a chirst like smile on Sunday morning and he helped and served those who can not help or serve themselves.

Christ was on display in Johnny’s life. You see Johnny’s Joy came his relationship with Jesus Christ and Jesus using Johnny in his perfect plan.

The challenge for you today is not leaving here trying to be like Johnny. The challenge is to leave here and understand Jesus desires to use your life just like he used Johnny’s life and there is no greater joy than to be used by the creator of this universe and the beautiful truth is, He desires to use you in His Plan and For His Glory.

I leave the family with this encouragement.

Hebrews 4:

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

No one in this world knows how you feel in the hurt that is in your heart but God who created you. Praise God he is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. His Son Jesus Christ walked this earth just like you and I but yet without sin. Therefore I leave you with this encouraging word from heaven.

Jesus is man enough to feel what you feel, but God enough to fix what you feel. Seek the Life God has in store for you and then your joy will be made complete.