Living for Christ
Living for Christ
Maurice Hanson
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Grace and Peace be to you, Ruby, Valerie and Vicki, as well as the family and friends of Maurice, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
You have lost a member of your family and a beloved friend. The church has lost a faithful servant and worker in the kingdom. You can find comfort in the thought that Maurice was also dear to our heavenly Father. And, God has now called him to receive the great reward that He promised to all His Children.
This Promise is solidified for us in our baptism, where Jesus says, “Except a man be born of the water and the Spirit, he can not enter the Kingdom of God.” This promise was given to Maurice on Sept 4, 1932. It was in this miracle that God first called Maurice, “Child of God.”
What does it mean to be called child of God? Martin Luther, taught us to think of our Father in heaven and say, “God tenderly encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father and that we are truly his children, so that we boldly and confidently come to Him in prayer, even as children come to their dear father.” Maurice was indeed a child of his heavenly Father and has now been called to the place that was prepared for Him from the foundations of time.
Maurice believed that God had given him his family and friends as a blessing and a responsibility. He was the husband of Ruby and dear father of Valerie and Vicki. He was not a man to boast about his accomplishments or to show off his feats. Maurice was comfortable with being the best father and husband he could, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
He first met Ruby while attending Walther league meetings and in choir practices. After 2 ½ years of dating at church activities, they were joined in marriage. Together God blessed them with two wonderful, if not perfect, daughters. He felt it was his responsibility to help them to grow up and when necessary to discipline. Like when Valerie was playing young Isaac Newton in the church balcony. Or the times he needed to refer to Vicki as Vicki Jo, or worse yet; Vicki Jo Hanson. These times of discipline were never anything but an expression of his love. A love that was seen in the way he provided for them and supported their endeavors.
Maurice loved his family he also loved his ice Cream and cookies and yes even Pee-air-Bear. And above all he was a man of God. He loved his Lord and savior and desired to live for Him.
All of us, Maurice included, are sinners undeserving of God’s grace and mercy. All of us have fallen short of God’s lofty expectations, perfection. Based on our own merit or worthiness, we would be lost and forever separated from His Love.
It was this understanding that made Maurice’s love of his Lord so great. For He knew that Jesus became man and took upon himself the wrath and punishment for our sins. Jesus lived the perfect life on our behalf. Jesus, the sinless one, then freely and willingly put himself upon the cross to suffer our death. Jesus, after three days, left the tomb empty, and declared that the sting of death had been defeated. He then ascended to heaven to prepare a place for all those who confess their sins and receive the forgiveness that He had won for them. This was the faith of Maurice Hanson and is the faith of every believer.
This was his confidence and it was this belief that motivated him to live out his confirmation verse and our text; “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
It was this belief that Ruby and Maurice shared that led them to choose our opening hymn as their wedding hymn “Let us ever walk with Jesus.”
It was a lofty goal to “walk with Jesus.” This side of heaven walking with the Lord can seem lonely and make you wonder if you’re walking alone. Ruby, Valerie and Vicki, in the coming weeks and months, there will be times when you will wonder if your walking alone. But rest assured, that Jesus does keep his promise to “be with you always.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Maurice walked with Jesus face to face and he received the room prepared for him. So too, all who believe and trust in Jesus will one day be gathered home and walk with Him be reunited with our loved ones and to live forever in our eternal salvation. We no longer live or ourselves, because we Live for Christ.