Funeral for Ray Fern
Today we’re here to formally say good-by to RAY FERN, not good-by forever, we will see him again, but it may be a long time before we join him in Glory. But we’re also here to honor him, and to show our respects, but we can also be here to celebration Ray’s Home Coming. Ray is in a far better place, free from all sickness and pain. He is now walking on streets of glory with the Lord Jesus Christ, full of joy.
With those thoughts in mind I would like to read to you 2 portions of scripture both from the book of JOHN.
1st In (John 11:25-26) Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
And in (John 14:1-6) Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
PRAYER:
SONG: ???
OBITUARY:
Born: 1909 in Colorado.
Died: 8/? /98
Ray was married in 1929 to Mrs. Fern and was happily married for 62 years. Ray had three children Bill, Richard, and Annette. And is survived by his loving son and daughter Richard and Annette.
4 grandchildren: Joann, Debbie, Elmae, and Bill.
10 great-grandchildren also survive Ray, if you count the one on the way.
EULOGY:
Ray (as we already said) was born in 1909 in Colorado, where he met his wife, Mrs. Fern, and wed in 1929.
In approximately 1934 he moved to California where he built his own house.
Ray was a loving Father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Ray was a very intelligent man.
He worked at Lockheed as a supervisor and retired at the age of 62.
He was very faithful to the Lord, which brings me to the greatest thing and the most important thing that he ever did, and that was to accept Jesus Christ into his heart.
Ray made Jesus Christ his personal Lord and Savior. Because of that we have the assurance that he is in heaven.
SONG:
MESSAGE:
I. I think that one of the hardest things that we have to face with the death of a loved one, who really knew the Lord, is the loss that we feel. It’s sad and hard to say goodbye to someone that we love. But as I said earlier, we will see them again. But it’s also very common, when someone goes home to be with the Lord that we feel guilt. We think that you could have done more for them, or you could have been nicer to them, reaching out to them more.
But we should not feel any sorrow for them or any guilt because they’re in a far better place.
A. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “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.”
1. Paul says in these Vs that we do not have to have sorrow.
a. Why does he say that?
b. 1st of all we will be with the Lord forever.
i. We don’t need to feel sorrow for any one that has died knowing the Lord. They are with the Lord now and forever.
2. The 2nd reason why we should feel no sorrow is that we will be with them again.
a. Paul said in this same V together we will be with the Lord.
b. For all those that know the Lord will be reunited.
B. Not everyone will go to heaven.
1. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith (through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
a. And in Romans 10:9-10 Paul said, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
i. Salvation only comes by accepting Jesus into your heart, and making Him your personal Lord and Saviour.
ii. This is something that Ray did.
b. Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
i. Those that have died in the Lord are blessed. They rest from all the trials and tribulation that we have on earth and they enter into the joy of the Lord.
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul said. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
a. For the Christian when the spirit leaves the body, they are present with the Lord.
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. Paul said something about death, which is very comforting.
a. Paul said in Philippians 1 (V 21) “to die is gain.” And in (V 23) he said, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”
b. Paul says that heaven is FAR better.
4. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
a. In (Revelation 14:13) It says that those that have died in the Lord are blessed.
SONG:
In conclusion I want to read to you a few different passages of scripture.
In (Matthew 25:14-23) Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Jude 24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Prayer: