Funeral: Robert Jones (Gpa Jones)

Remembering Grandpa Jones

I knew him as Grandpa Jones along with lots of others, many of whom were just adopted into him family.

Some of you knew him as Robert or ??. While others called him Uncle Rob.

4 people here called him Daddy and he was a really good daddy too.

Hard working, adventurous and quite industrious as well.

There was one lady that called him Husband and today we can find peace knowing that the one he had missed for so long he is now reunited with.

I don’t have as many memories of Grandpa as many of you have, but I have heard A LOT of stories.

He loved to tell stories and had a lot of really good ones to tell.

And when you traveled as much as he did, you make a lot of memories.

Pam and I walked into his house Monday night and the reality sunk in, his house is empty, his overly loud TV is off, and the home at 1 Juniper Pass Trail is just not the same anymore.

As we sit here today there is a reality that someone is missing and that just hurts.

A Generous and Loving Man

As I was preparing this week the words of Jesus from Matt 7 came to mind.

Matthew 7:7–11 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

This passage is not talking about Robert Jones Sr., but I can’t help but think about him.

1) He was a welcoming and generous man

“Knock and the door will be open to you.” We don’t get to Florida much, and when we do we try to pack way too much into a short trip.

So our trip to Ocala to see Grandpa wasn’t always well planned and often meant a phone call as we were driving out of Jacksonville seeing if he was available in 2 hours.

We were always met with a big smile.

“ask and it will be given to you”. those words were so true of grandpa Jones. If he knew you liked something you didn’t even have to ask.

Countless people have talked about the meals and memories they shared with Robert.

It is a testament to his generous and sacrificial nature.

2) He was a proud and loving father/grandfather.

Jesus points to worldly fathers in this passage, “What kind of dad would give his son a stone if he asks for bread.”

It is a ridiculous thought, but Jesus is making the point that a loving dad shows his love in how he cares for his kids.

Robert Jones wasn’t a wealthy man, but his love for his kids and grand kids showed up in how he gave.

not just of his money or stuff, but is attention, his pride in who they were and what they accomplished, and his deep love for each one of them, even the ones that were adopted into the family.

Every time we visited and every phone call I overheard with Pam was full of questions about her life (an genuine desire to know what was going on) and lots of updates of all the other kids he was so proud to call his.

I am sure this is said about many, but there was not prouder Daddy and Grandpa that Robert Jones Sr.

If you ever doubted just walk into his living room and look as ALL the PICTURES.

An Even Greater Father

But Jesus’ point in the passage wasn’t for us to be better dads or to focus our attention on our own dads as being super great.

Jesus was making the point “If worldly daddies are so good and so loving, than imagine how much greater our daddy in heaven is to those He love.”

1) He is an abundantly generous daddy.

The needs of His kids are never ignored or never shunned.

He is never too busy or too never to distracted to listen and receive His children.

He loves abundantly, receives without prejudice, and gives generously to all He calls His own.

2) He is a lavish giver of good gifts.

Grandpa Jones was not an evil man, but Jesus makes the claim that compared to our father in Heaven, worldly daddies come up short.

God is the giver of all good gifts.

James 1:17 NIV

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

All the good we have in life comes from our father in heaven.

Even the gifts of people we have been blessed to know.

Robert Jones, as good a father, grandfather, friend, brother, or husband he was, his goodness was only a glimmer of the goodness of our God in heaven.

This passage isn’t telling us that God always give us the things we want, or always does the things we think He should.

It is saying that God’s love for us is so big that His care, His acceptance, and His generosity knows no bounds.

3) His greatest gift is salvation

Pam called Robert last year to ask him some questions that were burning in her heart.

She wanted to know if the man she loved so much and the man who loved her so very much knew the Father in Heaven who loved him enough to send His Son Jesus to die for him.

After a sweet and honest conversation, Pam had peace and joy knowing that the man who was such a gift to so many, would one day experience the love of His father in heaven.

It doesn’t matter when, it doesn’t matter what words he used, or how much he really understood about the intricacies of faith in God, what matters is the Robert knew the father, trusted Him, and received, by faith, the gift of salvation through Jesus.

Believe on the Lord Jesus

Robert Jones was a great gift to many people that are present here today. But if I can leave you with any message today it is this:

Though your earthly father, father-in-law, grandpa, brother, friend, or whatever he was to you is gone, there is one even greater.

And to know Him, to receive Him, and to be welcomed by Him into His family is simple.

Romans 10:8–10 NIV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Graveside

As we gather here around Robert’s final resting place, the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians is a wonderful reminder.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of Christ and Robert’t faith in Him, though he has left his earthly home, we can be confident and find great hope and peace in knowing that Christ has defeated death and Robert will one day rise again from this place.

Until then we will miss him and we will mourn, but we do not have to mourn without hope.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Come to Christ and find comfort, come to Christ and find peace.