We are gathered here today to pay our respects to ___________________ (read obit). Today, for comfort and hope, let us turn our thoughts to the love of God. He cares for us even when we do not deserve it. In the midst of such sorrow may we turn to the words of God for strength. God is adequate for each situation and circumstance of life.
Psalm 121:1, "I look up to the mountains-- does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth! 3 He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. 5 The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. 8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."
At such a time as this we need to trust in the Lord God. He is a God of sympathy and understanding. He knows our hurt and loneliness. He knows how we feel. The Bible tells us that He knows our sorrow and records our tears. That all our thoughts, our ways and our words are known to Him. And that a book of remembrance is written before Him for those that fear the Lord and think upon His name.
Today we come to a time when we are face to face with the two greatest mysteries of the universe, Life and Death. Death is a certainty.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 tells us There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of his death; and there is no discharge in that war.
Job 14:1-2 Man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble. He comes forth with a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continues not.
Psalm 39:4-5 Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.
Hebrews 9:27, It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Let us look to God in prayer: Eternal God, and Heavenly Father, from whom we have come, and to whom our souls return. Help us to wait before you with reverent and submissive hearts, that as we listen to the scriptures beautifully written and meaningfully read, we may be lifted above our darkness and distress into the comfort and peace of your presence, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song -
When we have done everything we know to do and have said everything we know to say. We realize it isn't enough. Death forces us to trust in the Almighty's boundless love. At death we come to the end of human knowledge, human power and human comfort. We are left to the mercy of God. Comforting it is, therefore, to have a God to trust in, and one who has perfect love, absolute knowledge, boundless forgiveness and infinite patience. God is love, this is a glorious fact to lean upon now.
When Jesus faced what He knew was certain death, He said, I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Jesus is saying now to this family and these friends who are grieved and bewildered, You are not alone for the heavenly Father is with you. God's promise is to never leave us nor forsake us.
What a difference that assurance made to Jesus in dark Gethsemane and what a difference it can make to us today. Can there be any more comforting words for this family than, God is with you, His hand is upon you?
If there were no God, we might despair today. If there were not Jesus, there would be nothing to give us consolation or to give us strength or hope for such an hour. We need not fear, we need just trust in God. Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me(John 14:1-6).
Jesus taught us not to fear that which destroys the body only. Rather, He said fear him who can destroy both the soul and the body. We assume that the body is ultimate, all our values are reversed in this life. Man is primarily a soul - his spirit is his real self. That is what makes him different from other animals, this is the mark of sonship. These bodies are mere houses for our spirits (I John 2:17).
Finally, Jesus taught by demonstration that human life exists beyond the grave, and death is the doorway to the future. Without the experience of death, we could never know the future.
Death is not an unforseen accident, not something left out of the scheme of our Creator. Rather it is something well planned and necessary in the sight of God. It is an appointed event that will come to each of us.
James tells us, Life is a vapor that appeareth for a time and then vanishes away, like a cloud floating through the air, which finally changes to a different form of liquid.
We assume death to be the worst thing that could possible happen to any person. How very wrong this idea is. Who of us would really want to remain here on earth with it's never ending struggles? ________ had a long life. Life wasn't easy, but knowing Jesus puts purpose and meaning into life. _______ had been sick for quite some time. Death is a natural step. Death is leaving a dilapidated worn-out house and moving into a beautiful mansion, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Where eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.
We are quite naturally saddened by death because of our fears, our uncertainty, the personal loneliness that it brings, and by our lack of faith. God knows best. His ways are higher and nobler than our loftiest thoughts. We are, however, reluctant for death to invade our circle of friends and loved ones.
Paul said in I Thessalonians 4:15 not to sorrow over the departed loved ones. But Paul did not intend to prohibit that natural sorrow which believers feel at the death of a loved one, but he did prohibit that sorrow which mourns in hopelessness. For our hope is in Jesus Christ.
We weep over ________________ because of the fond memories. Such memories are a blessing. No one can take those memories from you. They brings tears now, but in the years to come they will bring joy.
We need to make sure that we are prepared to go. These scriptures have been comforting to those that are Christians. And it is a wonderful thing to rest in the assurance of Jesus. The primary question is not When shall death come to me? But, Am I prepared for death, am I ready to meet my Creator and stand before Jesus? We are promise eternal life if we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior. (I John 2:25)
John 11:25-26, I (Jesus) am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (John 3:15-16). So those whom we call death, are alive with God ever more.
John tells us, Peace Christ leaves with you, His peace He gives you, not as the world giveth. Let not your heart he troubled, neither let it be afraid. This peace is the peace that passeth understanding that one has when he or she knows that they are in the hands of Jesus Christ. Do you have that peace today?
God loves you and sees your needs, let Him meet those needs, lean on Him today and everyday. Let Him help you.
Let us pray: Dear Father, we bow reverently before you, We know in our deepest thoughts, beneath our doubts and fears, that thou are great. Give us the confidence and the strength and comfort we need in this hour, help us to lean upon you.
We lift our hearts in gratitude for the life of _______________ our (brother/sister) now gone from among us; for all that _______________ was to those who loved him/her, and for everything in _______________'s life that reflected you goodness and love. We thank you for the privilege of knowing him/her and sharing in his/her life. Help each one to lean upon you as ________________ did. May almighty God, the Father; the Son; and the Holy Spirit bless you and keep you, now and forever more. Amen.
Trust in God and let Him turn your fears into faith, your sorrows into joy, your doubts into certainties, and your loneliness into divine companionship.
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