Wed Night Service Following Passing of Addison

Intro:

Tonight I had originally planned on speaking on 1 John. I though I should change that given the recent events that have transpired. I will pick up that study later - but for now I need comfort. I need to draw from God’s Word that this life isn’t all in vain. That this isn’t all there is. That there is something more that is to come.

That our suffering, grieving, pain, heartache, sorrow, and loss is not for nothing.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

That death isn’t the end - that there is hope beyond the grave and this veil of tears.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 KJV 1900

13 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.

1 Corinthians 15:51–55 KJV 1900

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

In Revelation 21:3 it talks about how “The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

With the passing of Brother Addison, I’ve thought about those who have gone on from our church here since I have been here: there’s quite a list of those waiting for us I wouldn’t dare mean to miss anyone - but these are the one’s that came to my mind...

Sister Turner

Sister Filsinger

Brother & Sister Cook

Brother Wayne Laird

Bro. Robert Davolt

Brother Turner

Brother Addison

It’s hard to let go - it’s hard to say good bye -

that must have been how the poet felt when they wrote:

I am standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. And then I hear someone at my side saying, “There, She’s gone.”

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she’s gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

(Actual author unknown. Quoted by Randy Alcorn Heaven page 462)

I don’t know how well I can sing tonight but I would like to close with this song -

It’s an older song that stays with the metaphor of us being ships and how we eventually make our landing somewhere - listen to these words.