Jeremiah Allen’s Funeral

John 16:31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?

John 16:32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

INTRODUCTION

The reason for our gathering here this afternoon is clear. We are here to give thanks for a life and to praise God, the Creator of life.

We come because our faith demands it. Even though we gather in a spirit of worship, our hearts are so very heavy with the grief of losing Jeremiah at such a young age and a horrible circumstance.

There is a voice within us which continues to say, “This just is not happening. Why? There is no reason to this.

The “Why”? comes because our minds are usually more logical than the world in which we live.

We have this tendency to believe that there’s a reason for everything.

And that belief gives us some defense against the helplessness of our existence.

We seek a cause for all things, something we can comprehend and possible control.

But I find that one of life’s most difficult challenges is to live in the midst of unanswered questions.

There’s two passages in the Bible that I believe can help us in a helpless situation.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Paul is reminding us that we don’t see everything clearly, the world that we live in today we only see partial and incomplete.

In others words, there is much that we just do not understand. Our grasp of reality is, at best limited.

So, to find ourselves in the midst of circumstances we don’t understand is part of our human condition.

But when we see Him (being God ) we will understand the “Why”, the unanswered questions in our lives.

And Apostle Paul goes on to say “Just as God now knows me completely.”

So this tells me that God see clearly in my life and He know what we need, He knows your confusion, He knows your hurt.

In the Word of God,

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Then the second passage is:

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

The Psalmist give thanks for God’s endures mercy, His faithful love for God is good.

The Word of God gives us comfort and hope as God points us to His mercy, His faithful love which last forever.

Psalm 136:23 He remembered us in our weakness.His faithful love endures forever.

Because of God’s mercy, His faithful love, in our weakness today, we are able to reach out to God and find strength and comfort.

Our challenge at this point is to turn to our Savior, Jesus Christ for comfort and assurance.

When Jesus was walking on this earth, He was facing what appeared to be certain death He said,

John 16:32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

I bring this to your attention because I believe that Jesus is saying now to you whose shock has turned to bewilderment and grief,

You are not alone, for the Father is with You.

So the real question for us today is not { “Why” but “How”.

Now that this has happened, how can we face this?

How can we find strength to face our pain and grief and still go on living life.

This is what I want you to understand, We are not protected from life’s pain. God does not prevent our suffering and God does not cause it.

But, God will meet us in the midst of life, even here today as He has always met us, with a love that goes to a cross.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

If you notice that Jesus is telling us, that peace is in Him.

That’s this world offers trails, sorrows, tears and unanswered questions.

But in those moments of loneliness and confusion Jesus said in me there’s peace.

So take heart, in other words take assurance because I overcame the world.

These are comforting words.

Let’s me end with this:

2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

Let me leave you with this one thought:

The Words of Jesus: I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Christ found comfort in this truth. In this same truth, your comfort is to be found.

Let’s us pray: