Murphy Mapes Graveside 10/14/21

We gather today to mourn the loss and also to celebrate the life of Murphy Mapes. We also want to gain an eternal perspective.

It was Jesus who promised,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Let’s pray together,

Gracious Lord, your ways are mysterious to us. We come to you in our pain and our numbness. We ask You to wrap your arms around us so we may sense your presence and your love. Grant us the strength that only You can give. Stir up good memories within us and rekindle our confidence in your promises. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Murphy Mapes was only 46 years old, yet he encountered a lifetime of challenges. Some of those challenges were because of his own choices, some were not.

When Murphy was born Brenda cared for him a great deal because Bette June was working. Murphy looked up to his brothers and especially craved all the John Deere toys his brother Mike had. The problem was, Mike ALWAYS knew when Murphy had played with his stuff.

He loved to do BMX racing with his brother. At the beginning, his dad told him if he could win a race on his old and heavy bicycle, Danny would buy him a BMX bike. Murphy was not to be denied, and Danny’s wallet became a good deal lighter.

The boys competed all over and won lots of trophies. At that time, they camped almost every weekend at 7 ponds in Sperry IA. Murphy and Michael both enjoyed riding the track there.

Even as an adult, Murphy liked riding his bicycle around town. He also enjoyed his motorized scooter. He and Michael were always figuring out ways to make something go faster or fly farther.

Murphy became an insulin dependent Diabetic at only 13 years old.

As Murphy got older, he came to enjoy driving. He would jump the railroad tracks with his Nissan truck at 16 years old. I guess you can take the boy out of BMX but can’t take the BMX out of the boy!

Once Murphy took his dad’s 64 convertible for a drive over in Burlington. He had Emma in the car with him. Suddenly at an intersection Murphy intended to turn but the steering wheel fell off in his hands! Nothing bad happened, just another of the moments that only seemed to happen to Murphy.

Murphy loved being a dad. He loved going fishing with Emma or watching her play the violin. The last couple of times Emma went out with her dad she had to do the driving and had to get his wheelchair in and out of the car. He loved watching Haydn and Hendricks in their activities. I am sure his greatest regret was he wasn’t going to be around to cheer on and guide his kids.

Murphy had his problems. At times he didn’t hang out with people who were necessarily good for him. But Murphy was a survivor. He endured the diabetes, he suffered through a tragic loss of his daughter, Addy; had to go through all the rigors of dialysis; suffered with kidney stones; and then faced the amputations.

Still, Murphy remained positive (most of the time). When Brenda came by after he lost the bottom of his leg, he waved to her with his stump!

Murphy was looking forward to getting his new leg and learning how to do things with it. He was just as determined to walk again as he was to get that first BMX bike. He was positive and hopeful when he died.

Murphy had a hard life and yet he wasn’t looking for charity. On the contrary, he looked for ways to give to others. He was the one with the positive word. He was the one sharing with others. And even at his death he had made arrangements to be a donor so others might benefit.

Murphy was grateful to his parents who were such a huge support for him his entire life. He was a man who was likely ready to die (he had certainly looked death in the eye enough times) yet still eager to live.

. In the Bible, the Apostle Paul said he did not want us to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.

The message of Jesus was simple: anyone who will acknowledge their failure to live up to God’s standards, anyone who knows they do not deserve Heaven and turns to Jesus as their Rescuer, will live beyond the grave.

Most people hope they are “good enough” to go to Heaven. The Bible says clearly, “No one is righteous, not even one.” In other words, there is not a single one of us who has lived or can live a life that is good enough to earn Heaven

This is why Jesus came. He came as God in human form. He lived a perfect life and then traded His life for the punishment of our sin. The value of the life of our Lord is so great . . . His death can pay for the sin of everyone who turns to Him. Our sin is forgiven, and God puts a measure of His Spirit in us to guide and lead us.

It all sounds a little far-fetched until you look at the actual evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus. It becomes clear that Jesus is who He said He was and can deliver what He promised to deliver.

Murphy knew what Christianity was about. I believe he understood what God promised. What I don’t know is: if He ever embraced Christ as His Savior and the leader of his life.

This much I know, God is a just Judge. He is also merciful. He sent Jesus to earth to make a way for sinful people to be forgiven and made new. Jesus died as a payment for our sinful choices and rebellious actions.

Of course, anyone can say this is what they are doing. What made the actions of Jesus stand out was the fact of His rising from the dead!

You grieve today because a powerful influence in your life has been taken away. You grieve because you have been blessed. That blessing is what we should celebrate and thank God for.

I hope Murphy trusted in Christ because I would love to see him again. I like the picture of Murphy being healthy, whole, and enjoying every sacred moment. I imagine him dancing with Addy.

We don’t have all the answers. However, we do know that God is in control, He loves us, and He never ever makes a mistake. This world is not truly our home. Our real home, our eternal home, is with Him. May this truth comfort you in this time of loss.

These are but the ashes of Murphy Mapes. These are the remains of his body. His life, his personality, His person is no longer here. The Murphy we loved is with Jesus and I know the Judge of all the Earth will do what is right.

Let’s pray,

Father, we are filled with a mixture of emotion. There is the sadness of saying good-bye to someone who has been such a significant part of our life. There is a relief that Murphy did not have suffer for any longer. There is gratitude for the wonderful blessing Murphy gave to our lives. And there is hope that this is not the end but merely a transition for Murphy Mapes.

Lord, comfort this family and these friends. Help us to remember his spirit and the generosity of his heart. Lead each one here to a clear awareness of where they stand with you. Thank for you for sending Jesus to rescue us.

Fill this family with wonderful memories and a solid hope. I ask in Jesus name. Amen.