Jerry Kiers' Graveside Service

We are living in extraordinarily strange times. What used to affect a few people, is not affecting everyone. What used to be the exception, now seems to be the rule. What we used to have in plenty, we now have need.

Jerry, throughout his life, from moving to Canada from the Netherlands, working faithfully, working hard, working well, providing for his family, providing for his church, providing for his community, in all this, Jerry experienced the Lord’s provision, the Lord’s care. The Lord was a shepherd to Jerry.

Today, it is easy for us to say, to think, to believe that we are in want, in need. We want for the presence of our loved one. We want for the security of life we had just a few months ago. We want for the way things used to be.

How could King David, who experienced loss, who experienced hardship, who suffered even at the hands of his own children, write this psalm? The key to answering that question is in the first part.

Because the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. That is to say, no matter what I may lose in this life I will truly lack nothing because I have the Lord. The Lord leads and guides, the Lord provides.

The Lord invites us to lie down, to rest in him. Jesus, who is the great shepherd, says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavily burdened, I will give you rest.” Jesus bids us rest in Him, in the presence he himself gives. He brings us to still waters, quiet waters, he is the water of life, who nourishes, strengthens, and restores us, even now. Even amidst all this craziness, our grief, our loss, Jesus restores our souls.

Jesus leads us where we need to go, in paths of righteousness. Jesus faithfully led Jerry. Jerry sought the Lord and knew that it was the Lord who was faithful, the Lord who provided, the Lord who was with him, always. For the Lord works for us, not merely for us, but for his name’s sake.

The Lord won’t let his name suffer shame. So, he works on behalf of all who bear his name, all who confess their faith in Christ, who are Christian. He promises His presence, and He provides it.

Nettie, you shared with me last week that Jerry was at peace. You sensed that he was ready to go home to be with Jesus. Jerry was prepared to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, because he had the confidence that death, for all in Christ, is but a shadow, a passing from life to true life, that for us, Jerry has passed away, but for him, Jerry is really truly alive.

And at the moment of our darkest day, Jesus our ever watchful shepherd protects us, thwarting, stopping, hindering, destroying our enemy with his rod and his staff. The devil prowls around, seeking someone to devour, but Jesus uses his shepherd’s staff to keep him away. All who are in Christ are safe.

What is being in Christ, being with the Good Shepherd like? It is like being in an oasis in the midst of a massive desert. Though heat, and harm, and difficulties might press in all around, in the presence of all, Jesus prepares a table for us. His presence, is an anointing that covers us, that protects us, that assures us we are his, no matter what.

His bounteous love washes over us, so that we overflow. Receive God’s goodness, even in the midst of your grief. Allow his goodness and mercy, his goodness and steadfast love envelop you. Know that God’s love follows after you, no matter what wrongs you’ve done, in Christ, they are forgiven, replaced with his love. His love is with you all the days of your life, as His love was with Jerry all the days of his.

Today, and forever, Jerry is in the true house of the Lord. One day, we who have faith in Christ will go to be with Jesus also. This promise is made real for Jerry. It will be made real for all who believe, who trust in Jesus. We too will go to be with Jerry, and together we will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.

Today we are able to tend to our grief, our sorrow, without Jerry’s presence, our lives will never be the same. This is the way it has been since the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned and brought the curse of death on us all. But because the Lord is our Shepherd, but because Jesus himself is with us, we are comforted, cared for, and at rest. Amen.