Funeral: Granddaddy

isaiah 25:8-9 “When he has swallowed up death once and for all, the Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove his people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said, “Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation.””

Thankfulness

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Granddaddy’s first words in heaven were “How old do you think I am?”

He used to ask people that all the time, and always loved to tell them his real age when they would guess WAY too low.

I have heard his voice in my ears all week.

Telling granny he was the boss and giggling because he knew it wasn’t true.

Talking about how computers are going to be the ruination of the world.

Declaring he was going to “shoot the moon” in the card game he was playing.

Or telling some farfetched tale like “I am so fast I can flip the light switch and be in the bed before the light goes out.”

I really had to hypothesized the potentiality if that when I was younger. Realizing he would have to be faster than light to accomplish that. Took be a sec...

I can’t help but smile and giggle, even through the tears, because I can’t help but remember how goofy, joyful, and fun Granddaddy was.

He loved to laugh and loved to make people laugh.

The thing I continue to go back to all week is THANKFULNESS:

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians that thankfulness is God’s will for us who are in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB

18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

And I deeply understand what Paul is saying in the passage.

He is not saying to force on a smile, act like everything is okay, and say a bunch of empty words about what your thankful for.

He is saying that mixed in with all the pain and sadness are reason to be thankful.

Reasons to smile through our tears and find peace in our grief.

And by God grace I continually find reason I am thankful.

I am thankful for the image I have in my mind of my Granddaddy, the image of him smiling, laughing, and entertaining.

I am thankful for God’s graciousness in giving my mom and aunt such a wonderful daddy and momma, and for giving us such incredible grandparents.

I am thankful that I have 38 years of memories of all the things granddaddy said and did, all the examples I can point to of how much he loved me, the example he was as a husband in the way he loved my granny.

I am thankful that Granddaddy showed all of us that happiness doesn’t come from having lots of money and really nice things, but from it flows from a simple, but having deep faith in Jesus and loving others well.

I am thankful for the confidence I have the Granddaddy is at home with the Lord and all those he loved that have gone before him.

The first image that came to mind when I found out he was gone was of Granny smiling really big, hold out her hands to welcome Granddaddy into the presence of the Lord.

And I am thankful that one day, because of my faith in Jesus, I will hear his voice and see his smile again.

Today is Good Friday

A few hours from now I will preach about the death of Jesus to my congregation in Hartford.

There was another man hanging on a cross that day, next to Jesus.

He wasn’t a good man

He had likely made a lot of bad decisions, done some bad things, and hurt a lot of people.

There weren’t many, if anyone, that day who had much sympathy for him since his sins had brought him the hill, hanging from a cross.

But as he hung there next to Jesus, his eyes and his heart opened to the reality of who it was that was hanging next to him.

Luke 23:42 CSB

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Can you imagine the scene when the Thief showed up in heaven.

99.9% of his life he had lived in rebellion against God, and yet in these final moments, as he hangs condemned for the pain and suffering he had caused through his own, selfish, evil pursuits he calls out IN FAITH for mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

He didn’t have it all figured out.

He didn’t have perfect Sunday School attendance.

He was a criminal, but now He was a Christian.

My granddaddy was a really great man, who loved his family, worked hard, went to church, paid his taxes, and was a good friend to many.

He was so much better than that thief on the cross, but the confidence we have that Granddaddy is in paradise with Jesus isn’t because he was good enough, or funny enough, or wealthy enough, or worked hard enough.

Just like the thief, Granddaddy’s hope and confidence was found only in trusting in Jesus.

I am thankful that God loved my Granddaddy enough to send His one and only Son to live a perfect life that he could never live, die a death that he deserved, and rise from the grave to make it possible that he might be saved.

I am thankful that Granddaddy put his faith in Jesus.

He didn’t understand it all.

He wasn’t perfect.

But he believed.

So on Tuesday morning Granddaddy took his last deep breath in his 92 year old body, and the very next moment he was with the Lord in Paradise.

I know many of you share the same confidence he had your eternal home, but if you don’t I want you to know it is not too late.

Romans 10:13 CSB

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

It is God’s will for you to be thankful, and He offers us all a source of peace and hope that provides a constant source of thankfulness.

Pray

Graveside

Granddaddy wanted to go home for the last 3 years.

He asked almost everyday, often through tears.

But the home he longed for wasn’t on Smith Court.

Listen to Jesus’s words:

John 14:1–3 CSB

1 “Don’t let your heart 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 am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

Don’t let you hearts be trouble...

This is a promise that we look forward to in anticipation

But, as we stand here this afternoon, this is a promise Granddaddy has realized.

His heart is not troubled. He has found his TRUE home.

This place is a place of tears, where we remember those whom we have lost, but it is not a reflection of heaven.

Heaven is a place of rejoicing and celebration.

And though it is hard to see it right now, we who are in Christ will also celebrate one day.

E.E. Hewitt captured this perfectly in his hymn “When We all Get to Heaven”

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He'll prepare for us a place.

While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav'ling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.

Sing this with me if you know it.

When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory!

When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory!