A Quality Kind of Guy

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Lois, Brandon, Zack and Becky, Family and Friends may the Peace of Christ be with you this day.

Yesterday when I was visiting with Lois and Zack in preparation for the service today, I asked them to describe Tom and without hesitation, Lois responded, “He was a quality kind of guy.” That thought stuck with me and I want to share a few minutes with you today about what it means to be a Quality kind of guy.

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines quality as=

1     a      : peculiar and essential character : nature

     b      : an inherent feature : property

2     a      : degree of excellence : grade

     b      : superiority in kind 

4     a      : a distinguishing attribute : characteristic

     b      : an acquired skill : accomplishment

While Webster’s defines the term quality, they have not caught the essence of a quality guy. The text that Lois, Brandon, and Zack chose for today is a better description of a Quality guy. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Tom was certainly one who fought the good fight. The Emphasis is on the good fight. He knew what battles were worth fighting for and most of the ones to let pass.

            The first expression of this quality as one who fights the good fight came as a sophomore in high school when this faithful committed Catholic boy fell for the daughter of the Lutheran preacher in Latin class. He knew this was a good fight worth fighting for and throughout their dating and courtship he knew that you were worth fighting for Lois.

            He fought the good fight for his boys. He set high expectations for you and worked to help you achieve them; whether it as a bad grade in school or a post move on the basketball court. He fought boredom driving across Iowa and Nebraska to attend Brandon’s Basketball games. He fought for the time to just sit and enjoy a game on TV. He fought exhaustion and pain to go on one last trip to Washington DC with you.

            In his work he fought the good fight for those who could not fight for themselves the inmates with metal illness and addictions. He fought to get their unique needs recognized and addressed. He fought for separate facilities for women; a reality that finally came to fruition after his retirement.

            He fought the good fight when it came to what some people might call the less important things, like spending time with friends in card club or listening to his country music or washing the cars

            He fought the good fight in so many aspects of his life. In His family, his work, his church and his friendships.

            Fighting the good fight doesn’t mean you always win. Tom fought for the New York Yankees, and the Iowa Hawkeye’s but we won’t hold that against him. More seriously he also fought against his cancer and death itself. He was at war with his own sinful nature; the struggles against the demons in the world and the demons that live in each of us. These were fights that Tom knew he was overmatched and could never possibly win on his own.  From his baptism, where he was given a new birth, right through his last breath, he knew that the fight against sin and death was in the hands of his Lord and savior Jesus of Nazareth.

            Tom acknowledged his constant need for the forgiveness that is offered in the Word and Sacraments. He confessed that He was a sinner, redeemed by the holy innocent blood of the Lamb of God; the Lamb that was crucified on behalf of Tom and all people.

                        The first time I visited him after his diagnoses of cancer, he knew that he was in a fight for this earthly life, and he also knew that his eternal life was secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” is also appropriate verses for Tom because even though he was a good fighter, he knew that not all battles were for him to fight. He trusted in God even when things didn’t make sense and when the outcome seemed bleak.

Tom has finished the race of life, he has kept the faith; he has fought the good fight and now he has received the reward of God’s beloved children. He has come to the banquet prepared in his honor. He now stands face to face with the pierced one who loved him more than He loved himself. In the end his heart was not troubled, he trusted in Jesus, he believed in God and he has been given a place of honor in God’s eternal kingdom.

For those of us left behind; Lois, Brandon, Zack, Beck and baby, family and friends, we are thankful for having shared our time on earth with a Quality Guy who fought the good fight side by side with us and sometimes against us. But more importantly someone who knew that the ultimate fight was not against flesh and blood but against death and the devil. And this fight was won 2000 years ago and a hill called Golgotha. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Light. He is the One Quality Kind of Guy we all rejoice in knowing.

Amen