William Luther Johnson

Our days are Short, Mercy is Not!

Job 14:1 (NET)

1 “Man, born of woman,

lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.

This may seem... like an odd passage to start with today,.... but there is something here I felt God wanted us to consider..... and If nothing else, ....I want this day to be authentic... to Junior ....and to God.

if I’m being honest I was little nervous about this when Kathie asked me do this

But I knew Junior would have hated ....having some man who didn’t know him..... stand in front of his family And speak s

I want to honor Junior in a way that I think.... he would appreciate......... and I want to comfort a family.... that I can honestly say....... I love.

Job’s argument here is that Life is Short

It seems like yesterday my daughter Mallorie was a baby and now she’s a grown woman.

Whew, That happened too fast.

According to a... RECENT study.. the life expectancy for folks living in U.S. in 2022 is 78.99 years.

That’s roughly about 28,835 days

7,300 of those days .....for most Americans..... are spent as dependents, .........living out our childhood..... going to school ............and getting ready to launch their own lives.

The average American.... will work 16,425 days .....looking forward to the days....... when they don’t need to work any longer ..............which leaves us a whopping 5,110 days............... to enjoy as we please.

Maybe I’m missing something,......... but it seems to me .....that the overarching plan.... that today’s culture wants us to buy into....... is to work hard for the best years of our one life ..........save as much money as we can…..so we can coast the last 5,110 days of our existence..... on our way to the here,.......the funeral home.

Somewhere in the middle of those days hopefully,....... we build a life,.......... have a family,.........raise kids,........... work a 10 year plan perhaps,.............. see a decent level of success,............. pile up for ourselves and those we love some nice things, ........savings, ........a healthy 401K,....... houses,..... toys,....... build a business, .......the sky is the limit it seems ....................................................and on day 28, 834.... it’s often discovered......... how little most of that really mattered.

There are a great many tales....... of those who saw great success in the eyes of the world,................... who on their last day left with more regrets than they did joy.

I think it safe to say that life as we perceive it is indeed short.

Even the writers of Scripture, ......men like Solomon and.... Jesus’ own brother James............. attests to the fact that life is much like a puff of smoke.................. or grass in the field that is green and beautiful one day......... and dry and dead the next.

Maybe though.... we are only seeing a part of the whole story.

Because while life in this body............ may be an average of 28, 835 days................ there is a ton of evidence ...both from scripture and the medical community............... that supports the idea that life and consciousness continues even after the heart stops.............. and the brain is completely dead.

Did you know....... that there is an entire institution ....devoted to the study.... of what we call NDE’s............... or Near Death Experiences?

Across the world.... thousands and thousands of cases have been documented....... of people being clinically dead.... and yet themselves being completely conscious .....and aware of what is going on around them.

When they are revived .....their stories....... regardless of who they are ...........or where they are in the world..... shares tremendous similarities that simply can’t be ignored.

There is more to this life than meets the eye!

Jesus himself teaches many times that Life continues long after.... our days in this body........ and he had some radical ideas .....about what life REALLY IS

There are two fairly well know instances recorded in The Apostle John’s account.

In John Chapter 3 we see a discussion between Jesus..... and a well-known religious leader …named Nicodemus.

This is Perhaps so famous a passage..... that has been shared so many times....... that we have all but lost.... our ability to actually hear it.

So I pray, that Holy Spirit opens our ears today to hear again, fresh and new

John 3:16 ESV

“For God.... so loved the world, that he gave his unique, one of a kind Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish.... but ....have ...eternal life!

Again,... In John Chapter 11 .......we are shown.. the story of the death.... and miraculous resurrection..... of a man.. named.. Lazarus.

Martha,.... Lazarus’ sister..... had complained earlier in the story...... that her brother... had been dead now for 4 days...... and...... IF Jesus ...had be in Town at the time,.......... her brother would not have died.

Jesus’ response to her.. is LOADED... and challenges what Martha really believes.

“Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life......... Anyone who believes in me... will live, ......even after dying.

Everyone who lives in me ....and believes in me.... will never ...ever die.

Do you.... believe this, Martha?””

Jesus goes on to teach..... that Life beyond the 28, 835.... not only exists..... but that how we spend those days.......... has a huge affect...... on what the life beyond will be like.

While we are here trying to lay out the perfect 10 year plan and set ourselves up for a 5, 110 day Joyride to the funeral home,

Jesus is telling us we need to be thinking more along the lines of a 10,000 year plan.

Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus teaches....

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,.... where moth and rust destroy......... and where thieves break in and steal,......... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,.......... where neither moth nor rust destroys ..........and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,...... there your heart will be also.

Apparently,.... we have the power inside these 28,835 days to send treasure .....that cannot be destroyed... into the next season of our existence.

SO LIFE ISN’T SHORT AT ALL!

This season is short, but this is.... just a season,....... it doesn't constitute the fullness of life.

Life, regardless of your state and position with Jesus.... is Ongoing & Eternal in nature.

So I’ll ask you the same question Jesus posed to Martha,

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

I’m convinced that while most god-fearing folk today would say “of course I believe this” with their words,...... their daily lives bear out a “ Life is Short, YOLO “ worldview instead.

You Don’t Live Once-------You exist beyond the 28, 835.

Whether you truly enjoy life beyond those days is another matter.

Junior,... like most of us here,..... was no stranger to troubled days, ....but as he matured and grew older I think he began to understand a bit clearer what really mattered.

Some of the conversations he had with Kathie and the things that were found in his possession when he passed would be strong evidence to support that idea.

Junior loved his family..... and if he could leave each and every one of you with one piece of advise,........ I feel certain it would be............... that you pay close attention to the season you are in today.......... and know that this...... is just a short season........ and how you spend each of your days truly matters.

He would want you...to honor him ....by honoring and loving each other and caring for those he loved..... in his absence.

If we truly believe that our lives are never ending,..... then Jesus’ council to not lay-up treasure here on Earth becomes a lot more important to take to heart.

How we spend and invest each part of our lives;..... our talents,... love, time & possessions... becomes a matter of everlasting importance,..... because how we live and love....... in this short season.... of Everlasting Life..... sets the stage..... for the life ......we will enjoy in the next season.

In my life, through the pain and many sins I’ve lived through and be forgiven of,...I have learned that God,... truly is a Father of Extraordinary Mercy, .....the likes of which the human mind cannot even fathom..... because it makes no sense to us.

Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

So great is that mercy,..... that even on the day that Jesus gave his life for the sins of Mankind,....... one of those men hanging next to him,........... who was deserving of his punishment and death,...... in those last moments found out ....just how deep the waters of God’s mercy really was....

all the days ...leading up to that day…all the sins....all the pain he may have caused.....all the damage he may have done....washed completely away... in a brief moment of mercy... that took place ....here in this world …and that will echo for eternity... in his next season.

Later that day....that man found himself in paradise with Jesus.

In a brief moment of clarity the man simply said, “Jesus, you are undeserving of death, but I am getting what I deserve, please remember me when you come into your Kingdom”

And that simple recognition of Jesus as the true King,.... washed away the stains that the troubles of that man’s life had left on him.... and he found true,... everlasting mercy.

Carl Jung.. the famous Swiss Psychiatrist is quoted as saying

“You are what you do, not what you say you will do”

All we are asked to do.... is believe that Jesus is indeed the Unique, One of a Kind Son of God ...the Father has given for us,..... trust the work he has done to reconcile us to God the Father...... and offer him our loyalty for the remainder of our 28, 835 days…be they... 10,000 or just 1 more.

Saying goodbye to someone we love is hard and the Father know this.

The Psalmist says in

Psalm 34:18 (CSB)

18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

he saves those crushed in spirit.

I have found this to be true.

I pray that my King,... who is merciful beyond all measure....comforts each of your hearts today..... and that ....in those moments of his tender touch,..... if you have not yet tasted his mercy and accepted his offer,.... you would do so.... and from this forward.... you would spend the remainder of your days here....Investing them wisely,..... loving Him with all your heart,... soul and strength... and loving each other as.... yourselves.

I’ll simply close with this. It’s a blessing that God told Aaron and Moses to say often over God’s people

May the Lord bless you

and protect you.

May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

May the Lord show you his favor

and give you his peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

In the name of Jesus