Eileen Elkins

Introduction:

Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy. Grief and loss are negative emotional experiences that can be difficult to navigate.

There is no simple answer to the time it takes for a person to get through a season of grief. Each person and situation is unique. However, there is a simple answer to how one can journey through grief and his name is Jesus.

In John 14:1-6, Jesus comforts his disciples before his own death. The words of comfort that he gave just before his death will also bring comfort this morning considering Eileen’s death.

Listen to the words of comfort in John 14:1-6

John 14:1–6 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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? 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. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We can have peace in the midst of death

John 14:1 ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Peace is possible when you have faith in Jesus. We find the reason for such peace in the assurance of heaven.

The Assurance of Heaven

John 14:2 “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?”

It’s Real

It’s Prepared: Eileen spent her life as a homemaker for the Elkins family. Jesus is a homemaker too!

It’s perfect

No Sin

No Suffering

No Death

The Availability of Salvation

John 14:4-6 “And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The assurance of heaven can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We have such assurance for Eileen because she came to understand her need for salvation from sin.

FAITH

The Anticipation of Return

John 14:3 “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.”

United with Jesus

Reunited with Saints

Next to the unutterable joy of seeing our Savior, Heaven is going to include the happy reunion with loved ones and friends who have gone before us. “Friends will be there I have loved long ago; Joy like a river around me will flow; Yet, just a smile from my Savior, I know, .Will through the ages be glory for me. O that will be glory for me, Glory for me, glory for me: When by His grace I shall look on His face, That will be glory, be glory for me.”

The gospels record two funerals that Jesus attended. Jesus disrupted both funerals. At both funerals, the deceased came back to life. I want to suggest to you that Eileen is alive.

The light of heaven is the face of Jesus; the joy of heaven, the presence of Jesus; the melody of heaven, the name of Jesus; the harmony of heaven, the praise of Jesus; the theme of heaven, the work of Jesus; the employment of heaven, the service of Jesus; the fullness of heaven, the Person of Jesus Himself.

2. Amplify Edwin Adams suggests that heaven will mean full salvation for us and full satisfaction for Christ. Heaven is the believer’s present spiritual life continued and expanded and exalted, and delivered from all the limitations and infirmities of the time-state.