Chuck Smith Homily

Will Rogers said that “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I dIe I want to go where they went.” I have always felt that human beings that do not love animals as God’s creation are missing out. I have a feeling Chuck would feel the same way. He loved his pets especially his Neo, a rather large boxer. Boxers can be summed up as ,"muscular, square-headed dogs who look imposing--that is, until you look into their eyes and see the mischief and joy of life reflected there. Because of their playful nature and boundless energy, they are sometimes called the "Peter Pan" of the dog breeds.”

I think this is a lot like Chuck. No, I don’t think he was a Peter Pan. He definitely was not an eternal child. He was an adult. But he always was able to make Donna laugh. So the mischief and joy of life was definitely Chuck and that is where he connected with Neo, probably. It certainly was one of the areas where he connected with Donna.

High school sweethearts that married at 18 (Donna said she got what she wanted and I bet he did too!) then went off to adventure in the Air Force at Seymour Johnson Air Force base where Chuck was a jet mechanic. Donna told me that Chuck was her best friend first and her lover second. Married 44 years. What a witness of what a strong marriage can be. More to be said of that in a minute.

When they returned to Gainesville Chuck went into law enforcement as his career.

When I started on research for this eulogy I went to the internet to see some eulogies about police officers. I found it interesting that the eulogies online are only for officers killed in the line of duty. Yes, this is a dangerous job and unfortunately the world we live in officers put their lives on the line every day. We know this all too well from the tragedies of this year. in our community.

These heartrending events strike home to each of us in dramatic ways to remind us that life is fragile and fleeting. In one brief moment, all of the work and effort and expense of these men and women throughout their lives could be gone.

This is one reason I chose this text from Matthew. For all of us Life it is going to come to an end. That conclusion may be sooner than we think, so we need to be prepared. Someone wrote about this: Live as though Jesus is coming back today; plan as though he is not coming back for a hundred years.  

Live as though Jesus is coming back today;

The sheep we read about here are compassionate. They give their lives for those in need. They are not being welcomed into the Kingdom of God by their deeds. They are being welcomed by their fruits. That is their faith in Jesus is being lived out in their thought s and behaviors. Yet they do not realize it! They ask Jesus , “when did we see you?” They knew there acts were not to secure a future, but a response to the love that Jesus had shown them. it was compassion for their fellow human beings.

plan as though he is not coming back for a hundred years.  

Chuck was compassionate man. It showed in his love for animals. It showed in his love for family. It showed in his marriage. It showed in his career. He had respect for man and women, he treated all people as God’s children no one better than another. He truly saw into the hearts of people, appearances were not as important as heart!

Donna told me of the time he held a young man dying in a car wreck in his arms. Reassuring the young man that all would be all right. As most police officers do, he saw a lot of things he did not want to see. It is hard not to let these thing haunt you from time to time.

My grandfather told me that we never have more true friends than we can count on one hand. A lot of folks like to collect acquaintances like stamps. Not so with Chuck. He had a few close friends that he cherished and loved. It wasn’t about numbers or popularity, it was about love.

To be in the service of others takes a special person. Donna mentioned to me that Chuck had no idea how many people loved him. She told me the story about she and Chuck going out to eat. She said a lot of folks knew him and were alway coming up to speak to them when they were out in public. Anyway, this man comes up to him and begins to speak to him like they were best friends. The man turned to her and said, “Chuck is tough, but he is fair!” Turns out Chuck had arrested him at one time!

1 The New Revised Standard Version The Judgment of the Nations

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Chuck had no idea. It was who he was. It was foundational, deep down inside, this willingness to serve his fellow human beings.

Jesus has said to Chuck:

1 The New Revised Standard Version The Judgment of the Nations

Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

1 The New Revised Standard Version The Judgment of the Nations

Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

Dabo Swinney coach of the Clemson Tigers commented:

“There's a lot of good police officers. There's thousands of perfect traffic stops. Lot of good men. Lot of good women. But those don't get the stories.”

Well today this good police officer get’s the story. Jesus teaches us in these verses, and in fact in all Chapter 25 that self giving care for others is the heart of the revealed will of God. The evidence of our faith is not on the knowledge we have amassed, or the fame we have acquired, or the fortune we have gained, but on the help we have given.

It is necessary, but too bad, that we only hear about the self sacrifice of our law enforcement professionals when their life is given in service. We need to hear the stories of these officers before tragedy strikes. We need and should show our appreciation and now not later. may those that have given their life in service and to natural causes not be forgotten. Jesus surely knows and remembers.

It was a retired police officer who yesterday risked his life to save a church full of people in Texas.

Thank you Chuck Smith for you self giving service to your family and your community.

Matthew 25:34–36 NRSV

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Matthew 25:

Chuck has inherited the kingdom.