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Hope!
The Father’s Will for Us
*John 6:37-40*
Harold Paul Wilson Funeral
November 1, 1999
Mary Lou, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ wants you, your family, and friends, to have hope.
Not the kind of hope that dissolves in the mist of wishful thinking, but hope that is certain and sure.
When Jesus speaks the words recorded in our text, He is pointing out the source of this hope.
I have seen life get ever more difficult for you and your family these past two years, as Harold’s health declined.
I have witnessed your emotions reach the heights of hopefulness as his health sometimes improved.
And I sat with you in times of utter despair as things got worse.
Even so, you, Harold, and I, shared moments when hope filled our hearts with joy.
The joy of knowing what lay ahead.
It isn’t as though we had solved all the worlds problems or could foresee what lay ahead as far as this world is concerned.
But God gave us insight and knowledge of His will for Harold, and for you, and for me, and for all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
Through His Word He opened the door for us to know what lay ahead in eternity.
Regarding the source of our hope, the words of the prophet Isaiah say it well.
*/“This is what the Lord says—He who created you, . . .
He who formed you, . . .
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
/ *
What a wonderful thing to be called to the side of the Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the source and certainty of hope.
Are there difficult times for God’s children to go through on this earth?
Yes.
But never alone.
Isaiah continues to declare the Word of God saying: */“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”/*
When I shared this scripture with you and Harold, I remember Harold’s response quite well.
He sat back in his chair not saying a word, just contemplating what he had just heard.
I considered that a little unusual because Harold always seemed to have something to offer in response to just about anything that was said.
Could it be that he was contemplating the hope that filled his heart at that moment?
I’m quite sure he wasn’t working on one of his crossword puzzles at that instant.
God, ceasing the moment, touched him with the reality of His Truth.
How wonderful!
God has called us by name.
We are His.
His presence makes all the difference in the world as we go through life’s difficult times.
Why?
Because Jesus brings it right home to our hearts that we are God’s own people.
*/“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me /*(Jesus says) */I will never drive away.”/*
To be cast away from God is indeed a frightening prospect.
There is no second chance after death.
When we die, judgment is upon us.
What judgment will we receive?
You see, that is the issue.
This is what makes us sad when a person we love passes from this life.
It is the fear of everlasting punishment.
God has both the will and the authority to make it happen.
But His foremost will is to offer us hope.
If each one of us would consider ourselves against the measuring rod of God’s perfect standard, we all stand doomed and condemned by our sin.
For God says, */“Be ye therefore perfect, for I, the Lord your God am perfect.”/*
Ah, nobody’s perfect, you say.
This is certainly true if you point to yourself.
But if you mean nothing is perfect, not even God, then it is not true.
For God does not call anything good that does not meet His righteous standard.
Harold, like each one of us, did not meet that standard.
But Harold’s hope and ours is not in ourselves.
It is in God who has given us this truth to consider.
*/“God made Him /*(Jesus) */who had no sin to be sin for us, /*(Why did God do that?)
*/so that in Him /*(Jesus) */we might become the righteousness of God.”/*
This is the certainty of our hope, Jesus Christ.
He is the perfect standard of God that became our servant to save us.
On the cross, He suffered the penalty for our sins.
In His Resurrection, He issues us a new life that has already been judged.
It is a perfect life, free from any spot, or wrinkle, or sin.
This is true not because we suddenly become perfect, but because the one to whom we are connected is perfect.
The promise that connects us is this: */“all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”/*
Hope, that is certain, is never based upon us, or what happens to us.
It is always based upon Jesus Christ and what happened to Him. He, Himself bears our flesh into glory with the Father.
And He Himself has said this: */“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”/*
The point of all of this is hope.
Therefore, we need not speculate on whether Harold was good enough to get into God’s eternal Glory.
We know he was not.
We need not speculate whether Harold will be given a second change.
He will not.
But, we need not speculate whether God has taken him home to His heavenly glory.
We know that God has called Harold His own.
We know that God calls us His own.
We know what God wills for all.
So, in spite of everything that we might consider, let us also consider the truth of Jesus Christ, who says very matter-of-factly: */“I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”/*
Do you realize what this means to us.
It means there will be a reunion with those we love.
It means we will always be able to rejoice in the Lord our God who has called us by name in our baptism and given us the life of His own Son, Jesus Christ.
It means there is hope, and Hope Is The Father’s Will for Us.
Amen.
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