Pauline Braak Memorial Service

I’m grateful for the family members who have helped me get to know Pauline a wee bit. John, and Betty, in particular have helped me the most. Betty provided almost all the information I needed, I say almost, because while she provided the order of service, the scripture text, the sermon title, alas, she did not provide me with the sermon.

John, and Betty, in particular have helped me the most. Betty provided almost all the information I needed, I say almost, because while she provided the order of service, the scripture text, the sermon title, alas, she did not provide me with the sermon.

Memorial services are an opportunity to honour the beloved, give praise to God for the gift the person was, and to speak to the family. For someone like Pauline, it’s an opportunity for her to have one last word, one last message.

This morning, we laid her ashes to rest. On their memorial stone are the words, “Our trust is in God.” A perfectly fitting statement.

I sense that If Pauline were to be able to speak to each of us today, she’d ask, “Where is your trust?” Or in other words, “What you set your hope on for the future, changes how you live today.”

Consider that. What you set your hope on for the future, changes how you live today. What’s your hope for the future? For some, it’s tomorrow. I can barely get through today, I can sort of think about tomorrow, but that’s it. Others, might place their hope a bit farther out. Still others, have thier hope placed on their retirment: I’ll live off my pension, RRSP’s and my investments, and I’ll have a very lovely place to grow old, while travelling and visiting family.

But are any of those hopes placed far enough into the future? Pauline would say, “No.” Pauline would encourage everyone to place their farther out, to the end of days, to the return of Christ, to the life he promises, the life everlasting.

When we consider the words of , when we consider Pauline’s life, we see, we witness that she lived with her hope in Christ, in the future he will bring. And because she had that as her focus, which calls to mind Paul’s words in &4 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Because she had that as her hope, her focus, it impacted how she lived. She lived for Jesus. She loved studying God’s word, attending worship services, discussing the Bible with others. She gave her life to the service of the Lord, blessing those around her with her gifts, and the things done in the name of the Lord.

The question for all of us is: where is our hope? Where is our focus? If it is in gaining wealth, status, or social media impact, then we will only set our focus on immediate and temporary things. At the end of such a life, there might not be much to show. Will the number of Facebook friends or Instagram followers be worth anything then?

So,

But if we focus on Christ, and place our hope in him, it will change the way we live our lives today. Instead of being focussed on ourselves and what we can get out of life. Our focus will be on others and on God, on what we can give. That’s the difference that’s described in . Those who have their hope on the right thing, they are the ones who are generous, gracious, loving and faithful.

described Pauline. Does it describe you? Does it describe me? If not, maybe our hope, our focus needs redirection. Let’s change our focus, change our hope. It will change our focus today. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Receive the gift of salvation he freely offers. Belong to Christ. That will make you wholeheartedly willing and ready, from now on, to live for him. Amen.