Reflections of a Man of God

TEXT: James 5:16

TOPIC: Reflections of a Man of God (Eulogy for Al King)

Pastor Bobby Earls, March 28, 2012, Jefferson Funeral Home, Trussville, Alabama

First of all, let me acknowledge what a tremendous privilege I have been given by the family of brother Al King to stand before you today and share in his eulogy. I consider this moment of special honor since I served as Al’s pastor at First Baptist Center Point over the past 6 ½ ten years.

I want you, the family to know that I do not take this privilege lightly. I have have lain awake the past several nights thinking of this moment and all the wonderful things I might say about brother Al or Alvin as some of you called him. Certainly time does not afford us the opportunity to adequately describe the life of one who lived so well. Al got it right.

What I’ve done is to jot down some of the things that come to mind when I think of Al King.

· First, Al was a loving man. He was a sweet, gracious Christian gentleman. He demonstrated that love in so many ways. He loved the Lord. He loved his Lord Jesus Christ and he loved others. Jesus said, If you love me, keep my commandments. And, He also said, By this shall all men know that you are my disciples—that you love one another.

I found this in Al’s older bible. It reads, “I am living for the moment when the Savior’s face I see. Oh, the thrill of that first meeting when His glory shines on me!”

Al told a number of us recently that he wanted to go have breakfast with Jesus.

· Al was a friendly man. The bible says, If a man would have friends he must show himself friendly. Al had many friends. He was well-known among his peers and well liked.

Pastors cannot say this about all their members, but Al King was my friend. I was his pastor, and he never tired of telling me how much he appreciated our relationship. He was an encourager. He loved a good fiery sermon. The spicier the better. Al in these last few years would sit in our vestibule directly under one of the speakers so he could hear the sermon. When Al thought I had done a particular good job of preaching God’s word, he would be the first one to greet me and tell me so when I came through the vestibule doors to shake hands with our congregation.

Al was my friend but he was also your friend. How many of us have been recipients of Al’s love for tomatoes? He didn’t just give a few tomatoes but whole boxes filled with tomatoes. Al took me one day, up on the mountain to get some tomatoes. It is without question one of my favorite memories.

We ate together. When his health improved about a year ago we went to the Mexican restaurant in Springville and shared beef fajitas together. That too is one of my favorite memories. I never enjoyed the opportunity that many of you did to go fishing with Al. I know he loved to fish and has spent many a long and lazy hour with a hook in some lake somewhere around Center Point.

Al was a friend to many of us. We have shared tomatoes and fajitas with Al because he was our friend. Al had many friends but he would be the first to tell you that he had no better friend than Jesus.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer.

· Al was a committed Christian and Churchman! Al joined First Baptist Center Point along with his wife Margaret on January 10, 1960. He was saved sometime before coming to FBC from Lake Highland Baptist Church. Debbie shared with me the other day that she believes her dad had a life-changing experience when she was four years old and facing a life threatening health issue. Al learned then the value of getting on his knees and crying out to God.

Certainly Al was a deep man of prayer. God is still answering today prayers Al had lifted up. James 5:16 (NKJV) tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

In our church, as we read in his obituary, Al was a deacon in our church which is the highest office a layman can obtain in the Baptist church. But he was better known in days gone by as a tireless and committed worker in our student ministry. Al called them young people. He loved young people. He told me numerous times of the day when he accepted the responsibility of teaching a young boys class in Sunday School and thus began his long and loving ministry to the youth of our church. Even the youth in our church today loved and respected Mr. Alvin.

But Al was most recently one of our church greeters. Al would arrive early on Sunday mornings and slowly make his way into the church to take up his position inside to greet with a warm smile and firm handshake each of our worshippers as they arrived.

· Al was a faithful husband and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved his family and his family loved him. Of all the things in life Al had been given, of all the things Al owned, none were more important or more valuable than his family. Love was not only spoken in this house, but it was felt. It was clearly seen, expressed and practiced by Al and his family. I don’t think I will soon forget the sweet, loving smile had for each of you last week before he came home from the hospital. It was a smile that communicated many things. It said, “I’m okay. I’m ready. I’m at peace.” But most of all it said, “I love you.”

I am out of time and there is so much more that could be said about Al. In closing let me say one last thing: Al had a concern for and a love for lost souls. Al wanted everyone to know his Jesus.

Ms. Margaret asked me to share the Gospel, a message of salvation in today’s eulogy but to not necessarily preach. So this is what I am going to do. I’m going to let Al share the gospel with you.

Remembering Al’s love and concern for those of you who are not yet a Christian, listen to this brief outline of the good news, the gospel truth of God’s love for you. I also found this in Al’s bible and thought it appropriate to share.

(Share The Gospel outline and close in prayer for salvation)