Jerry Dubois Celebration of Life.

I. Introduction.

Money, wealth, properties, power and influence.

All these come and they go.

You can lose it all in a matter of hours! Gone.

And so today we turn our attention to what matters more than anything: Life!

The bravest of us all, fight to defend and preserve life!

Because nothing is more precious.

We are here today to celebrate a life and a man who has touched each of us in a special way.

You’ll notice, I’m not wearing a black suit today, a long face and hunched shoulders.

Yes, I miss him. We all miss Jerry and this is as it should be.

We have to process all of this, and it does take time. But we are not miserable.

We are not despondant!

We are assured, without any doubt that Jerry is not gone!

Jerry lives! And one day, if each of us get right with God, stay right with God, we will be together again, in a realm higher than this world of men.

I’ve gotta be straight with you:

When people pass from this life, there are funerals and memorial services where family and friends gather.

Some such gatherings are very large, others small and sad.

And sometimes a minister or officiant will talk about that one who has passed and it sounds like a different person.

Sometimes, they will say very pleasant things.

Kind gracious words that do not reflect the reality of a life lived.

For example, I’ve known people pass who were selfish, thoughtless and abusive.

Like a bull in a China shop, they only break and ruin things. Relationships and the joys of others.

Still the preacher says good and disingenuous things that we all know are not true!

And just to be polite, we all talk them into heaven, but in our heart, we know that even a God of mercy cannot save one who rejects help!

I can’t wait to leave that kind of funeral! And in the counsel of our own mind, we just want to get if over with!

That is one end of the spectrum.

This is the other!

This is a celebration of life!

I know without any doubt in my mind, that Jerry Dubois is with Jesus!

I do not say this as a vague cultural reference, or as a social nicety, I say it because I know it!

A few months ago, Jerry and I were sitting on the tailgate of my truck, eating from a box of fried chicken.

He was very open with me, cause Jerry didn’t beat around the bush.

He told me how much he loved some of you that are here today, family and friends.

I think Jerry had already begun to process the real possibility that he would not live very much longer.

We talked about it, and then not long ago, I recognized that he had come to terms with it.

What a man.

Stoic, brave and considerate.

Not once did I ever hear him complain or speak of himself

His concern was for you Gwen, for his family and friends.

He knew that if the worst did happen, he was going to be with the Lord.

And He wanted us, those of us he cared about to go there also.

Not long ago, he asked me to talk about this.

And I honor his wishes.

The Truth.

How did I know that He is in a better place?

How do I know that He is in heaven?

I know, because he obeyed the Bible, the Word of God.

I will not tell you that Jerry was a perfect man.

There has only ever been one perfect man and He was hung on a cross!

All have sinned and come short of God’s glory!

Not a one of us can hold our head up in pride.

People make mistakes. We have regrets. But God has a process of dealing with those!

It’s called repentance.

1 John 1:5–7 KJV 1900

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

God gives an opportunity to all men, to say “I’m sorry.” and repent.

He invites us come out of the shadows of shame and into marvellous light!

How?

How can I access all this?

How can I be in right standing before God?

Jerry asked me to tell you!!

Cause guess what? None of us are promised tomorrow!

It’s what you do in this life that determines your eternity!

So the first thing is to come clean before God.

I mean, He knows it all anyway! Unpack the dirt in front of God and ask him for forgivness.

Now Jerry and I are both. practical men. “Give it to me straight.” “Don’t overcomplicate it.”

We were working out one night, or rather, He was working out and I was trying to not throw up in the yard!

He was explaining certain exercises and he taught me how, by showing me.

Well, that’s how God teaches too!

He shows us!

For example, Jesus told a man that the only way to enter the Kingdom of heaven is through birth of water and Spirit.

Great! But show me how!

I saw Jerry do really cool things with kettlebells, but he didn’t stop there, he showed me how!

Jesus did not stop with a statement, he made sure we’d have an object lesson to see and hear ourselves!

Thats why we read in the book of Acts things like this:

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Jerry had been baptized years ago, but he realized that it was not exactly the way that the Bible instructs.

So again, being a man who did not do things by halves, Jerry said “I want to be batized in Jesus Name.”

What a special day! I’ll never forget the smile on his face as he came up out of that water!

He obeyed The Bible!

I remember how natural and beautiful it was to see and hear him worship God, speaking in tongues, just like the Bible says!

So friends, I know that Jerry is with Jesus!

I’ve buried others that I knew were not.

But Jerry is with God right now!

No more suffering and no more pain!

He lives and will live forever!

By obeying the Gospel, The Grace of God the blood of Jesus was applied to Jerry’s life.

He met the legal requirements, before the courts of heaven!

And so friend, He asked me to share it with you and invite you to do the same.

Done deal Jerry!

God has so much good in store for each of us!

II. Conclusion.

As we remember Jerry, and as you look at some of these pictures that show us a man who knew how to live, it’s ok to cry.

It’s ok to laugh.

Jerry lived and He still lives!

A few days before Jerry passed, He was sitting up in bed and Gwen, Sam Jazz and I were sitting with him.

Even then, he could crack a joke and was good company!

Towards the end of the evening, they were playing worship music, Sam singing along so beautifully.

And I will never forget what I saw!

Jerry used to carry a lot of lean muscle you know, By now, his arms were so thin and frail.

But that night, sitting in a hospice bed, Jerry lifted his hands, arms high, and he praised his God!

With all his heart, Jerry worshipped God!!!

“Since I have come back to God he said, I have known such peace.”

1 Corinthians 15:51–55 KJV 1900

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?