Funeral for John Swindler

Psalm 46:1–11 NASB95

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

We are here to celebrate the life of John Swindler, and to mourn his passing

This passage is one that I read every time I go into a hospital. It’s a helpful reminder that God is in control, even when it doesn’t feel like it. It reminds me to hope.

We live in a world that feels hopeless. If you turn on the news, read a paper, or talk to anyone about what’s going on, the state of the world feels chaotic and uncertain. However, the Bible shows us a different story. It tells us of a God who is in control, even when it doesn’t look like it; it tells of a God who has a plan for us. And that’s the very same God that died on a cross for us.

I didn’t know John personally, but, in working with the Fords to make this happen, hearing stories of John, and seeing some of the pictures we’ve shown, he seems like a man who deserves to be celebrated, and mourned.

But, we all do this in different ways. Some go to alcohol or drugs to numb the pain of losing someone, some be with loved ones to remember him well, and others go to helping other people to do some good in the world. We all can celebrate and mourn in different ways.

But, Christians mourn differently.

Christians might do some of the the things mentioned earlier, but we do all things in hope. Not just a hope for something after this, but a hope that comes from knowing that God loves us.

Romans 5:6–8 NASB95

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

And so, in celebrating the life of a good man, we also look in hope to the perfect man, Jesus, who is God, yet He loved us enough to have become human, and die for us. And we have this hope because Jesus sacrificed Himself so that we might be with Him, because of His love.

Gospel presentation