Larry Pope? Funeral

There is a lot of good reminders in this passage, but maybe one of the most fitting is the one word that we probably don’t even recognize. Several times in this Psalm we read the word “Selah”. And “Selah” doesn’t really translate into English because it is not really part of what is being said, but how it is being said. It is a technical instruction that calls the reader to stop, to pause, and to reflect on what was just read. “Selah”

That is really what opportunities like this are for us. To “Selah” To Stop, pause and reflect…especially on how the life of ________________ has impacted us. God was the one who thought up the idea of family. He was the one who thought up the idea of Friendship. And it is woven into all the good things that we have in this life, and _______________________ was a part of that for all of you here today.

Would you pray with me this afternoon and then we will sing together the familiar Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace”

One of the things that so many of us are grappling with now is how in so many areas of our life we have been reminded of how LIFE IS UNCERTAIN. We don’t really like to think about this, and we often busy ourselves with many things to keep form thinking about it, but when someone passes on from this life to the next we cannot help but be reminded of it once again.

And God has given us in His Word both permission and instruction to take time to “Selah” or pause to consider such things. Another place where we find such instructions is in Psalm 39:4-5 where it says

Psalm 39:4–5 ESV

4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! 5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

or in

James 4:13–14 ESV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

So what is the benefit of considering how uncertain this life is? Well the benefit is that it helps us to cherish the days that we have and make the best use of them. To dedicate our time to important and lasting endeavors. l

Psalm 90:12 ESV

12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

We can and should plan ahead, but remembering the uncertainty in life will help us to make the best use of our time whatever might come our way.

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

But even though the uncertainty of our lives and the eventuality of our death, God still has made victory possible

Because God saw how our life here had become only a twisted version of the good that he created it to be, he sent his son Jesus. Jesus has power over death. He demonstrated this while he walked the earth.

In one event Jesus came into town he saw a burial processional and the considerable crowd from town that had formed, but then he saw the mother of the young man who was being buried. Perceiving that this woman was a widow and this was her only son the text says:

Luke 7:13–15 ESV

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Another time a leader of a local Jewish synagogue was desperate to get help for his sick daughter. It was not a popular choice for any Religious leader to consort with this new “Rabbi” Jesus - but Jairus didn’t care. His little girl was sick and dying and so he pleaded with Jesus to come to his home to heal his little girl. Any father would do no less…but...

Luke 8:49–55 ESV

49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.

And probable the best known story is of Jesus’ good friend Lazarus. This time it was Jesus who received a messenger who shared the news that Lazarus was sick and sure to die soon. But despite his great love for Lazarus, Jesus stayed where he was for two more days before setting out to meet him. During that time Lazarus had died. When he got there he encouraged Lazaurus’ sisters and told them to have faith. Then he set out to where Lazarus was buried. On the way there Jesus was overcome with the grief that surrounded the experience and that is where we find one of the shortest and yet most impactful verses in the entire Bible. If you have never memorized a Bible Verse, here is your chance. For John 11:35 says that Jesus Wept. That is the whole verse. In his humanity, Jesus the God-man grieved over the lost of his friend, just as we are grieving today over the loss of ________________________________.

But the story doesn’t end there because Jesus goes to Lazarus’ tomb, has them roll away the stone and He calls out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out” and the formerly dead man does. Proving once again that Jesus has power over death.

And of course the most important resurrection from the dead was not the widows son, the church leaders son, or one of Jesus best friends, but Jesus himself. You see all of these other people died again. They were raised from the dead, only to grow old and die again. But Jesus’ death and resurrection was different. His death and resurrection defeated death for all time.

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

And this is what Jesus accomplished for us through his death and resurection. He proved his power over death by raising others from the dead, but in His own resurrection he gave all mankind a way to be raised from the dead. Now that we all have John 11:35 memorized (Jesus wept -right) a good next step would be to memorize John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is where we can have hope, even in uncertain times like this.

Let’s pray together and then at the end of the prayer I invite you to say the Lord’s Prayer with me which is printed on your program for reference. Let’s Pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.