Linda Waldvogle

Ephesians 2:1-10 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of …”

Ephesians 2:1-3 describe Linda before she put her trust in Jesus. Like all people she was dead in her trespasses and sins, living according to her selfish desires, just as everyone else does to.

Linda lived an amazing life and so the temptation for us is to think that Linda earned her way into heaven. She loved and served but that’s not why we celebrate today.

We celebrate what God has done in Linda’s life. We celebrate that God is rich in mercy. We celebrate that God made Linda alive in Christ and saved her by his grace.

Those that knew her best, and I’m sure Linda would agree, know that Linda wasn’t perfect.

After Linda placed her trust in Jesus God raised her up. While on this earth she walked with God started receiving all the immeasurable riches of his Grace.

In death she has received an even greater measure of God’s grace but God’s still not done yet. Her physical body still awaits resurrection.

What happens at death?

The Linda I knew was not a very boastful person. But if she had been the last six years made it painfully obvious to her and the rest of us that we are not saved by works but by grace.

Linda is Christ’s workmanship.