Memorial Service for "Mac" McBee

Introduction

Good evening, my name is Pastor Dan Norman and I have the privilege of serving as the Pastor of Friendship Church here in Mondovi. This is how I got to know Mac and Julia as they attended for quite some time as Mac’s health allowed. It was always great to see him and even when we couldn’t see them in person, they were always some of our most faithful participants online.

All that is just to say that it is a privilege to have been invited to be a part of this Memorial for my friend Mac. Would you bow your heads with me in prayer.

Prayer

God of all grace, we lift up thanksgiving for the provision of your Son, Jesus, our only hope and Savior who has been raised from the dead as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Your Word teaches us that just as in Adam, all die, so all in Christ will be made alive. For death itself has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Help us to remember to be steadfast and immovable in our faith, not fearing death, but rejoicing in Christ’s victory over it.

We thank you for that hope, for Mac and all who trust in you. And now, as we celebrate the life of our loved one, we celebrate the eternal life that is our confident expectation. Amen.

Obituary Reading

Message

Song “No More Night” - David Phelps (Gaither Band)

The message of this song is taken from the hope that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus Christ has, that every trial and struggle that we have encountered in this life will be put right again when Jesus returns.

One of Jesus’ closest friends, the Apostle named John wrote the last book of the Bible called Revelation. It is called “revelation” because God revealed to John the things that are and the things that are to come. John wrote them down for us, to increase our hope and add to our confidence that God will do all that he promised. He wrote to tell us that...

Those who die in Christ are blessed

Revelation 14:13 (ESV)

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Then later in the book, at Chapter 21 he gives us the picture that is so beautifully displayed in the words of the song. He says:

Revelation 21:1–4 (ESV)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

This is a picture of how God will follow through on His promises and how those who die in Christ are blessed. It is also teaches us that...

Those who die in Christ enter His rest

This is what Jesus wants for every one of us. He knows the pain and weariness that this life can bring. He felt it as he walked among us and experienced it in its fullness when he died for us. So now when out time in this life is over, we can rest in the peace that only He can offer us. Not just an emotional feeling of peace, but a secured promise purchased by Jesus Christ himself and prepared for us.

Hear these words of Jesus from John chapter 14. He says to us all...

John 14:1–6 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There is no greater gift that Mac could have given me than to allow me to share that message with Him... and today...in his memory...I am privelaged to share it with all of you. There is no other way to eternal life except through Jesus Christ and no greater honor than to get to share that good news with others.

Song “Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis

This song is a great reminder of how the rest that Jesus promises is not just something to look forward to after we die, Jesus invites us to live and move in that rest right now. He says:

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Lastly, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind us that...

Those who live in Christ leave a legacy which follows them through life and into eternity.

From the Gospel of Matthew we read Jesus saying:

Matthew 25:31–40 (ESV)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Mac was a soldier…and there are others here today that can do a much better job describing what that means than I can. From what I do know…a soldier follows orders. A soldier is faithful to his men and faithful to his country.

But sometimes when I hear the words “faithful to his country” I mistakenly forget that this is not talking about it in a collective sense only…as in all these United States of America…and while that is true in one sense, in another sense…one that is just as true…it is helpful to remember that we are this country.

Our country, while vast, is made up of individuals and Mac and others like him who have served in our many different branches of the armed forces have served their country…and that means that they have served us.

And with that in mind, let me read for you again the last verse in the previous reading:

Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Thank you mac for your service, for surely we are not worthy of it.

Those who die in Christ are blessed

Those who die in Christ enter rest and

Those who live in Christ leave a legacy which follows them through life and into eternity.

Song - “In My Life / If we ever meet again” by Selah

Closing Prayer

Let me close with the words of the chorus of our last song this evening...

If we never meet again this side of heaven As we struggle through this world and its strife There's another meeting place somewhere in heaven By the side of the river of life