Funeral Service of Lance Connolly

Lance

I still remember meeting Lance some time shortly after I started at this church back in 2013. It was clear from early on that this was someone who loved Jesus, and was shaped by Jesus. That’s not always obvious with everyone I meet, but for Lance, you could almost describe it as the simple child-like faith that Jesus asked us to have.

I think by the time I met him, he had lost some of his sharpness of mind, but yet that love for Jesus never diminished. He was just someone who always wanted to share the love that he himself had experienced.

Now, by the time I knew Lance, he had sufficient reason to complain to God. Things in his life didn’t always go exactly smoothly. And perhaps privately he did have his moments of complaining to God. But what I believe is quite evident with Lance, is that he was well aware that there was something far better than the temporary struggles of this world.

Lances mind deteriorated significantly in the time I knew him. Clearly, his body was not what it once was. But yet, I’m certain that Lance knew that this was only temporary.

Psalm 23

Earlier we had read for us Psalm 23. This is one of those beautiful parts of the Bible - it would certainly rate as one of the most famous parts of the Bible. It’s well known because of it’s beautiful imagery

This imagery points to something truly amazing. You see, for the person who counts the Lord as their shepherd, their whole perspective on life changes.

I’m not talking about the absence of suffering. Ask any believer you like, having the Lord as your shepherd does not make you immune from suffering.

This Psalm is written by David, and we actually have quite a lot of his life story recorded for us in the Bible. I won’t go through that story now, suffice to say that his life was not exactly easy. There were significant periods of his life when he was on the run, not knowing where he would sleep, or where he’d get his next feed.

And yet the very first line of the Psalm starts: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing”.

You see, this is the perspective you gain when you count the Lord as your shepherd.

This is the perspective that Lance evidently had throughout his life.

Slowing down

It’s interesting as we move through the Psalm how the imagery invokes this idea of slowing down.

He describes lying down in green pastures. His led beside quiet waters.

Lives can get busy, but yet there is something beautiful we find when we slow down.

I never knew Lance in his younger years. Maybe someone can correct me, but I suspect he was like most young men and was very busy.

By the time I knew him, it certainly seemed that his pace of life had certainly slowed, and while I don’t presume to know why God does what he does, but I wonder whether God was figuratively making Lance lie down in those green pastures - and allowing him to refresh his soul.

Jesus

Now I could continue reflecting our way through this Psalm, but I want to pause for a moment so we can see what is actually happening here.

You see, while many people find comfort in these words, there’s actually a power that much of society are unaware - although Lance was certainly aware of this power.

You see, the comfort, peace and security that David speaks about - it’s not just this warm fuzzy feeling. Rather he speaks of the power of God.

Now, David came, roughly speaking, about a thousand years before Jesus. But yet the power implicit in these words anticipate the blessing that was to come with the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We now know the power of Jesus because we have it written down for us in the scriptures. We know that God came to earth in the form of a man, that is Jesus. That he lived and experienced the struggles of this earth.

But unlike us, and every other person who has lived on this earth, he was not a part of the sinful world in the sense that he was the only sinless person.

This Jesus established a new kingdom here on earth - one where the blessings described in this Psalm can be known.

But that’s not all. Just as it says in verse 5 of this Psalm, Jesus very literally set a table inviting the one who would betray him to his death. But he invites us to that table - because at that table we can have true fellowship with Jesus.

Jesus then did the most remarkable thing in history. In fact, he did something that would change the real problem that plagues this world - that is sin.

Jesus submitted himself to death. He became the one perfect sinless sacrifice, and thereby took the punishment that I deserved.... that you deserved… that all humanity deserved.

But of course, the story gets even better. Not only did Jesus make that sacrifice on the cross, but he didn’t stay dead. On the third day following the crucifixion, he broke through the bonds of death into a glorious resurrection.

And this my friends, is why when we read Psalm 23, it takes on a new dimension.

Lance knew this power.

He knew he didn’t have to fear evil, not because of some thought that evil isn’t there. But because when Jesus conquered death, evil lost its sting.

It has no real power because of Jesus. Jesus is the shepherd that this Psalm talks about.

Eternity

Now, not only does this Psalm give us hope for the struggles we face now - but the last verse points to something even more. Let me just read it again. It says: Psalm 23:6 “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

You see, when Jesus rose from the dead, he gave us a foretaste of the resurrection that is to come. A resurrection that for all believers will be entry into the dwelling place of the Lord.

Lance believed, and so Lance will now spend eternity with God. For Lance all of the struggles he has faced, including all of the loss of function in later life, will be gone. And he gets to be with Jesus.

The Call

The question I want to leave with you this morning is: can you know that you will join Lance spending eternity with Jesus?

Can you join with Lance and know that Psalm 23 is not just some warm fuzzy words to get through tough times, but that there is real power in them? Power to transform your life now?

Because if you can’t, there is an invitation for you.

The Bible tells us that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Because Lance had such a desire to reach people for Jesus, I’m going to allow you an opportunity to respond to this right now.

So if you’ve been feeling the Spirit say that now is the time to take that step to go from a point of doubt, to a point where you can stand next to Lance and say, yes, Jesus is Lord, and to know the comfort described in this Psalm, I’m going to ask something of you.

In just a moment, I’m going to pray. And I’m going to ask everyone to bow their heads. And when I do, I’m just simply going to ask that you raise your hand. And if you do, to then talk to someone after the service. Whether it’s me or another strong Christian you know. Because I can guarantee that this will be the greatest decision of your life.

Jesus has done amazing things for you. Will you now accept him?

So, let me ask everyone to bow your heads now… and I’ll just give a short moment to allow you to raise your hand if you feel led...

…if you did raise your hand, perhaps you would like to pray this prayer with me now...

Dear Lord Jesus...

Thank you that you came to Earth. Thank you that you died for me. I want to accept you as my Lord and Saviour. I’m sorry that I have not lived as I should. I want to now accept the forgiveness that you have offered me. Come into my life and change me.

In Jesus name I pray… Amen!

If that was the first time you’ve prayed that prayer - then you can have confidence that you will meet Lance again and spend eternity with him. How amazing is that!

Let me pray...

Heavenly Father,

Your love is the greatest thing we could ever know. We thank you for the example of Lance, who personally knew that love, and was able to share it with others. We thank you for his enthusiasm to let others know that they are loved.

While today is a sad day, because we will not see him again in this age, but we thank you that we have been able to be challenged to see that you are a good God who always helps us through the tough times, and who can give us the assurance of new life in you.

As we continue our journey of grief, guide us in each step of the way, knowing that you are always with us.

We pray this in the previous name of Jesus.

Amen.