What Do We Know?

Let me begin first, on behalf of the family, by saying “thank you,” for your presence with us this afternoon. Of course, we have come together to pay our respects to the life of our dear loved one, Ella Sue Byars and to remember her life. And we certainly want to give thanks to our Sovereign God for His gift of life and His divine Providence.

In the Old Testament Book of Job, Job said, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 (KJV)

Job also said, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. Job 19:25 (KJV)

As I thought about this afternoon, as I thought about Ella and her life and as I thought about what I might share with my family here in the Upstate, this passage of Scripture came to mind.

Listen to it again. Job said, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. Job 19:25 (KJV)

I want to share a message this evening in Ella’s memory that I have entitled, “What Do We Know?” What do we know?

INVOCATION PRAYER

The Bible tells us, None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For if we live, we live unto the Lord. and if we die, we die unto the Lord. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:7, (KJV)

What do we know? What do we know about Ella Sue, about Ella Sue Byars?

We know she was the last of the children born to Roy and Artie Mae Byars. She was one of seven kids from the Byars’ clan. (Was she the youngest? Or, was that Robbie?)

She may not have been the youngest of the family, but we know she was the most spoiled of the family as the baby girl!

Ella (or Eller, as we in our Southern slang say her name) always had a way about her. She could convince an Eskimo to stock up on ice if she had believed in Global warming. (And I don’t think she did!)

I loved Ella. She was one of the smallest in stature of all our cousins. She might have been small, but I promise you she was feisty!!

Seriously, Ella was a fighter. She had to be to make it in this life. I mean, you all knew her. We know Ella, like many of us, had a challenging life. But Ella had a good heart, and a stubborn faith that helped her make it through most of life’s hardships.

FAITH by Clara L. Childers

Sometimes the way seems rough and steep,

And we find no where to place our feet;

But with our hand in His, and a faith sublime,

We’re always able the hill to climb.

If there are Gethsemanes we must pass through,

We ask ourselves, “What did Jesus do?”

He knelt and prayed, “Not my will but thine.”

Now help us Lord to place our hand in thine.

What do we know? As Job reminds us, we know that death will eventually come to us all. But we also know that physical death does not have to be the end of it all. It can really be just the beginning.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25 (KJV)

In John 5:24 (NKJV) Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

We also know that God loved Ella Sue, and God loves each of you as well.

As a preacher of the Gospel now for over 40 years, I have often reminded people, it does not matter who you are, where you come from or what you’ve done, God loves you!

Do you remember John 3:16? If you remember it, say it with me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Finally, what do we know? We know God has prepared a special place for all those He loves and for those who love Him in return.

John 14:3, (KJV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

SONG – AMAZING GRACE

READING OF 23RD PSALM AND CLOSING PRAYER

Psalm 23 King James Version The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Let us pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

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