Words Spoken at the Funeral of Shirley Hardwick
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Camelot
Camelot
I have learned that on Mrs. Shirley loved musicals such as The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Camelot. We all can relate in some way. As humans, we love a good story and a good song. They often touch us at the core of our being with love, joy, happiness and even sorry. Some of the best take us to the ideal place where everything is perfect. That is what the song entitled, Camelot and the Wedding Ceremony sung by Richard Burton does for us. Let me read the lyrics, so you can hear what I am talking about.
It's true, it's true, the crown has made it clear;
The climate must be perfect all the year
A law was made a distant moon ago here, July and August cannot be too hot;
And there's a legal limit to the snow here in Camelot
The winter is forbidden till December
And exits March the second on the dot By order,
summer lingers through September in Camelot
Camelot: Camelot
I know it sounds a bit bizarre
But in Camelot: Camelot
That's how conditions are
The rain may never fall till after sundown
By eight, the morning fog must disappear
In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot
For happily ever after in than here in Camelot
Camelot: Camelot
I know it gives a person pause
But in Camelot: Camelot
Those are the legal laws
The snow may never slush upon the hillside
By nine p.m. the moonlight must appear
In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot
For happily ever after in than here in Camelot
Better than Camelot
Better than Camelot
There’s only one problem with the song Camelot. It is an imaginary place. It is a place that doe not literally exist, except in the imagination of the story teller and the story hearer. This is where I would like to interject and declare that there is something that is better than Camelot.
The Scriptures, which are the singular, perfect word of God are the source of our information about this place that is better than Camelot. I want to read a few passage from Scripture that give description for our encouragement today.
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
From this passage we learn a few things about the place better than Camelot. 1. It is being prepared by Jesus. 2. It is being prepared by Jesus for those that trust in him. 3. The trust that one must have in Jesus is to be exclusive. 4. Knowing this is to allow trusting one to not be troubled or worried in this life about this life and the future.
Here’s another passage that tells us a bit more.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
1. The best reality about heaven is Christ, the Lamb. 2. He is worthy of worship. 3. He will tenderly care for his people in the place that this better than Camelot.
Considerations
Considerations
Do not worry for Mrs. Shirley. Why?
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Seek your comfort from the living God:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Live trusting in Christ
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
PRAYER