Untitled Sermon

MESSAGE

Now teachers play an important role in our lives. All people for better or worse are affected by teachers. Some of these are parents, some of these are siblings, some of these are in the school system, and some of them are found in the church. There is one teacher we don’t like to listen to. This teacher raises our awareness of one of life’s most important mystery and reality. That teacher’s name is death. The death of a loved one becomes a teachable moment. God’s Word says this about death in “It is appointed for people to die once-and after this, judgment.

It is our human nature to want to understand everything now, but TRUST requires that we lean and rely heavily on God even when things seem unclear.

Life is short. We get one chance at this. No one is promised tomorrow.

*Rope illustration*

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

It’s like this rope. Let’s imagine it goes on forever. Now imagine this rope is a timeline of your existance. You just exist forever. You see this white part. This would represent your time on earth. You have a few short years on earth. Then you spend eternity somewhere else. So many people focus on the white part of the rope without any perspective on what happens after death.

It is our human nature to want to understand everything now, but TRUST requires that we lean and rely heavily on God even when things seem unclear.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I’m not going to tell you not to cry or not to experience emotions. Emotions are God-given. They are a part of who we are.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Jesus Himself said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." ( )

Tears are the safety-valve that God built into us to help us at times like these. It’s OK to cry.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I’m not going to tell you today that you’ll never have questions come to you. But I will tell you this: There is something wonderful that you can focus on. Choose to focus on the things you know… things the Word of God declares.

I’m not going to tell you not to cry or not to experience emotions. Emotions are God-given. They are a part of who we are.

Jesus Himself said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." ( )

We declare with Job…

Tears are the safety-valve that God built into us to help us at times like these. It’s OK to cry.

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

I’m not going to tell you today that you’ll never have questions come to you. But I will tell you this: There is something wonderful that you can focus on. Choose to focus on the things you know… things the Word of God declares.

We declare with Jesus…

We declare with Job…

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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

We declare with Paul…

We declare with Jesus…

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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

6 …We are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

We declare with Paul…

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6 …We are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

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23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We are going to move beyond the tears. We are going to move beyond our questions… because the Holy Spirit is here today to comfort and strengthen each and every heart! And he will continue to be with us as we continue to live for God.

An individual made the following statement: “The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation.”

When we think of Billy’s donation… what he contributed… what he invested… we have much to be thankful for!!!

Consider the investments of love and devotion that he made in his marriage with Julie. Consider the investments of godliness and nurturing that Billy made with into the lives of his children Heather, Hayley, Justin Jacob, and John. Consider the service he made to our great country by serving in the Marines. Consider the impact he made into the lives of so many people… that he poured his life into.

When we think of Billy’s donation… what he contributed… what he invested… we have much to be thankful for!!!

Let me say again that “The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation!”

Consider the investments of love and devotion that he made in his marriage with Julie.Consider the investments of godliness and nurturing that Billy made with into the lives of his children Heather, Hayley, Justin Jacob, and John. Consider the service he made to our great country by serving in the Marines. Consider the impact he made into the lives of so many people… that he poured his life into.

Later this day, after all the words have been spoken, after all the songs have been sung, and after everyone has left the funeral home, it still won’t be the end of Billy’s story because the memory of his life and the influence of his life remains.

Let me say again that “The measure of a life is not in its duration but in its donation!”

We all have a story to tell and a donation to be made. What will it be for you? What kind of legacy will you leave for your family and friends to remember you for?

Later this day, after all the words have been spoken, after all the songs have been sung, and after everyone has left the funeral home, it still won’t be the end of Billy’s story because the memory of his life and the influence of his life remains.