Cooter Williams Funeral

James 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Psalm 39:5 KJV 1900

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; And mine age is as nothing before thee: Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Introduction

I didn’t know Cooter James Williams.

As far as I can tell, our paths never crossed.

This doesn’t mean I don’t feel a connection with Mr. Williams.

We were both born in 1988.

Which means, I can assume, we probably experienced a lot of things around the same time.

We probably walked and talked as little toddlers about the same time.

We were probably starting school and learning to read in the early 90’s.

I wonder, Bro. and Mrs. Williams, if Cooter and I watched the same cartoons.

Did we play with the same toys?

Power Rangers

Nintendos

Baseball Cards

Legos

GI Joes

We grew up in a really fun time to be a kid.

We were both 11 years old when Y2K came around.

Little did we know that the new millenium would hit us both hard with that wonderful gift called puberty.

I wonder what it was like for CJ going through that awkward phase all boys have to go through.

Did it feel like he was constantly growing out of all his clothes?

I bet we were both learning to drive around the same time.

I bet we were both planning out our future as young men.

Thinking of all the things that we were going to do.

Where we would go to college.

What our careers would be.

What our family would look like.

Where would we live.

I bet neither of us were thinking that our life would be over before we reached the age of 34...

That wasn’t in my plans.

I doubt it was in Mr. William’s plan either.

Life is a fragile thing.

It is often much shorter than we had thought.

Proverbs 27:1 clearly tells us to “1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

We do not know what the future holds, nor what Lord may allow into our lives.

Last week I did a funeral for a man in our church that was 87 years old.

I know it sounds cliche, but I think the fact that we are all here right now should remind us, that we need to live our lives with a greater appreciation for life’s brevity.

Reconcile with the people that you are at odds with.

In Matthew 5:25, Jesus said, “25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.”

There is a short window of time for us to make things right with people.

The passage is talking about the danger of being brought to court and not getting a chance to come to an agreement.

When we consider the shortness and uncertainty of life, then we apply this same principle.

I say to you this afternoon, if any of you have offense against someone, make it right.

Don’t put it off until tomorrow.

You may not get a chance tomorrow.

Love the people that God has put in your life.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Most of you probably are familiar with the great love chapter of the Bible 1 Corinthians 13.

What you may not realize is that the Bible’s most in-depth look at love has less to do with marriage and more to do with how God expects us to treat each other.

Love is patient

Love doesn’t try to make itself look bigger.

Love things the best of others.

love hopes for the best.

Love endures all things.

Love is so much more than what our society has made it.

God is adamant about us showing love to each other for two reasons.

Life is precious.

We are made in the image of God.

You are valuable.

I don’t have to know you in order to show you love.

We may be as different as two people can be, but I am to show you love because you are a living soul.

You don’t know what that other person is going through.

Make preparations for what will come when this life is over.

Hebrews 9:27 tells us that “27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

The judgment that awaits us is in regards to our sins.

Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

You see, you can either go into the next life and face the judgment yourself, or you can lawyer up.

If you try to face the judgment yourself, hoping that your good will outweigh the bad then you should know...

Romans 3:10 “10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

Isaiah 64:6 “6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

This is not a good tact to take, so who is this advocate that will stand up for us?

It’s Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1 John 2:2 “2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

All that is necessary to let Jesus handle the judgment of sins is to admit that you need Him to.

He’s actually already paid your debt; and now He offers you His services pro bono.

A lot of people talk about the “unpardonable sin”

I’ve heard that God can’t forgive people who are homosexual.

I’ve heard that God can’t forgive people who get divorced.

I’ve heard that God can’t forgive a person who says a bad word about the Holy Spirit.

These ideas are all ridiculous.

The only sin that God can’t forgive you for is if you leave this life without accepting His offer of forgiveness.

Have you delayed in accepting His offer of representation?

Jesus wants to save you from the judgment of your guilt.

He’s already paid your debt.

You don’t know when the day will come that your time on this earth ends.

Don’t leave here unprepared.

Conclusion

Cooter James and I never met, but his life should have an impact on me and anyone else that is here.

The tragic brevity of his time on earth must put the rest of us on notice.

Things need to be returned to a proper perspective.

If you have offense with someone; reconcile.

If you see someone in need of love; show it to them.

If you are unprepared to leave this earth; get ready.