Bob Pickard Funeral

Bob was Blessed

Every Sunday morning, Bob and I arrived at church around the same time. He parked in one parking lot, and I parked in another. But, somehow, we always managed to cross paths at about the same place in the lobby. And, as often as we did, our conversation went the same way. I’d ask Bob how he was, and without fail, Bob would always respond with ‘blessed.’ Sometimes, he’d add that because he had Jesus, no matter what, he was blessed. Once and only once, I made the mistake of saying back to him in one of these conversations, “Any day above ground is a blessed day.” And, Bob kindly, but quickly corrected me. He held up that big Bible that he always walked with and said, “To be with Jesus is even more blessed.” Bob was a blessed man, and he knew it. And today, Bob is even more blessed. That’s what Paul is explaining to the church at Corinth in .

English Standard Version Chapter 4

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

So, he says, we have this of immeasurable value in these clay jars. We’re carrying around these diamonds in tiny, cardboard boxes. For Paul, comparing himself, and in fact all Christians, to ‘jars of clay’ is not a particularly flattering comparison. First of all, clay jars were cheap. This was a lowly comparison. This wasn’t exactly fine china that he was comparing himself too. When we excavate ruins today, much of what we find are old clay shards that are lying around because everyone had them. Every peasant could afford or at least make themselves some clay jars. So, Paul is, in essence saying, I’m no better than any other messenger or any other container of this treasure. Every messenger, every container of the gospel is equally unworthy of the magnificent treasure that it contains.

Not only do ‘jars of clay’ show lowliness, but they also show how fragile Paul is. Clay jars were very prone to get cracks or to break, and this is at the forefront Paul’s mind here. He is very much saying that he is always cracking, always leaking, always coming apart. He seems to always need to be replaced.

Not only do ‘jars of clay’ show lowliness, but they also show how fragile Paul is. Clay jars were very prone to get cracks or to break, and this is at the forefront of Paul’s mind here. He is very much saying that he is always cracking, always leaking, always coming apart. He seems to always need to be replaced.

Cracked Jars Showcase God’s Power

“to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” But, there’s a powerful why behind all of this that Paul wants them to see. There’s a reason that God put his treasure in clay pots. There’s a reason that we carry this diamond in a cardboard box. He says in verse one that ‘we have this in ‘jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.’ That is, the weakness of the container, the weakness of the messenger puts on showcase the power of the Treasure. Paul is afflicted, but Paul is not crushed! Why? Because God is with him, and God’s power surpasses all these things. Paul is perplexed and Paul is stressed, but Paul is not overcome. How is Paul not overcome? How is Paul able to keep on going? How is Paul so strong? Paul isn’t strong at all! It is the surpassing power of God holding him together! Paul is being persecuted, Paul is being struck down, but he is not forsaken and he will not be destroyed! How can we be so sure? How can we know? Because the surpassing power of God is being made apparent through this cracking pot named Paul who would come apart were not for the surpassing power of God! You see, it’s not the pot keeping the Treasure safe; it’s the Treasure that’s holding the pot together.

Bob loved to serve. He loved to serve his family. He loved to serve Rosa over their 55 years together. And, he loved to serve his church. Bob wasn’t much of a talker; he was a doer. He especially loved to serve in our security ministry. We were in need of someone to head up our security team, and Bob was asked if he’d be willing. Without fanfare and without hesitation, he accepted. And, I’ll never forget the Sunday back in October when Bob came to me in the same lobby that he and I have talked all of those times. This time, there were tears streaming down his face. He told me that he’d just been diagnosed with dementia and that he needed to turn in his keys. On that day, more than perhaps any other, Bob knew that he was fragile. He knew that his clay pot was cracking. And, he knew that the Treasure inside. The Treasure that had kept him all of these years. The Treasure that allowed him to say with boldness, whether I live or die, I am blessed, was holding him together.

The Cross is Giving Way

“always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” At the end of verse 10 and verse 11, he states basically the same thing, but in a different way. He says, “We’re always carrying Jesus’ death in the body on one hand, but we’re doing that so that the life of Jesus’ resurrection might be made clear on the other.” You see, the reason that the baby came to Bethlehem, the reason that virgin gave birth to a child was because we were ‘afflicted in every way.’ There’s dementia, difficulty, and death. And, we were going to be crushed. We were perplexed and headed for despair. Do you understand that? But, Christ came! And for now, we still face the realities of his cross. We still walk in the likeness of his death. We will still know cross realities — hardships. But, we never face hardship, never face the realities of the cross without the light of resurrection and life. In the list that Paul gives, he lists both cross realities and resurrection realities, but, brothers and sisters, the glory is that the cross is giving way to the resurrection because Christ has come. Death is beating us down, but life is in us. Death is breaking us down, but life is holding us up. Our temporary dying is working to prove Jesus’ eternal power to uphold life. That is, satan’s greatest weapon and man’s greatest curse is being manipulated as Christ’s greatest demonstration of power and glory.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Bob is Gloriously Blessed

“So we do not lose heart” Paul says: The weight of our afflictions is a matter of perspective. So, I want to make Paul’s point my point. “Do not lose heart.” Today is difficult. It’s a day in which your heart is pierced and stomach is knotted. But, don’t lose heart. This momentary affliction feels heavy but is actually light. How can such a seemingly impossible burden be considered light? This pain is ‘momentary’ and ‘transient’ but the glory that Bob has received is eternal. It’s forever. He’s blessed FOREVER! The glory available in Christ does not end. Secondly, they are tiny when placed beside the glory Bob has received, and you will receive if you repent of your sin and follow Jesus. They look big until you see how much bigger the glory is. Dementia is devastating. Death is heartbreaking. But, they are small in comparison to the reward Bob has! They are small in comparison to the crown of unfading glory that he has now received! Bob was blessed, but now, he is gloriously blessed!