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It is Not Death To Die Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:6-8; 20-21 March 26th, 2009
INTRODUCTION My relationship with Howie – friend, nephew, brother, sheep. Last night at the funeral home, I approached the casket in which Howie lay—decked in bow hunting apparel. I begin to quietly weep with memories of my good friend. Also standing next to the casket was a little girl, Howie’s granddaughter – Christina, who was stroking his forehead. With tears flowing down, I kneeled and said to her. “He was your grandfather, right?” “Yes” was her reply. I look her in the eyes and said to her with conviction – “your grandfather was a dear man.” She nodded her head with agreement and said – “yes, and he also had a pet deer.” It surely transformed the emotional tension to laughter and joy as I thought about the reality that he was both a dear man and a deer man. Thoughts and Memories of Howie:
In the final six months we spent a lot of time together – much of it was prayer together for God to do a great work in our hearts and in the hearts of others (including many of you). We prayed for people by name. I am teeter toting on the two ends of grief, on one end, and joy, on the other end. You and I grieve, because we lost something last Saturday night. But in reality, for many we really didn’t lose a dear friend – we lost contact with him. I want to talk to you about something this evening that is of great joy – for Howie – IT IS NOT DEATH TO DIE. This is the title of a song that we sang last Sunday morning.
It is not death to die 1. IT IS NOT DEATH TO DIE – instead…IT IS FREEDOM FROM PAIN AND SORROW.
It is not death to close We are all glad that Howie is no longer suffering. The Word of God makes this reality more than a hopeful sentiment. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (17) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (18) as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Romans 8:18 says that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to compare to the glory that is coming. This is the reality for Howie. His pain is done. He is resting from the pain and sorrow. His wife, Marie, gave me his pocketbook. It has many appointments in it – including many pain treatments for his body. NO LONGER NECESSARY. For Howie – it is not death to die, instead it is freedom from pain and sorrow. 2. IT IS NOT DEATH TO DIE – instead…IT IS JOY AND PLEASURE IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Philippians 1:21-23 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Howie is with Jesus and Psalm 16 says – in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures evermore. I know that Howie’s soul was ready for this great day. He was made a new creation – he had a changed heart. - He was a worshipper of God from the heart - He was an evangelist with a message – (see pocket Bible that he got last year and spread the faith)/ WHY? HOW? It is not death to die for Howie because he had something that not everyone has (including in this room). HOWIE RECEIVED THE GOSPEL WITH SINCERE TRUST AND REPENTANCE. His Bible has this passages marked: John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Revelation 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (21) The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" God’s Invitation and His Provision in Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (21) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Song:
O Jesus, conquering the grave I beg of you – trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and give your life to him by faith and turn from your sinful way. Forgiveness, grace, joy and eternal if promised. The Bible says that some in this room (those who don’t know Jesus and haven’t had their hearts transformed) are more dead than Howie is today. That need not be the case. He is calling you to accept him by making a decision to fully trust in him for forgiveness, and eternal life in Jesus as you turn from your old self-decided way. John 3:16. CONCLUSION Yesterday when I was kneeling next to Christina talking about her grandfather, I said something else to her that I want to say with great love and I know that dear Howie wants met to say it – “your grandfather is with Jesus in heaven. He is there because he trusted in Jesus to forgive him from his sins and to give him new life. He wants you to know, love and trust this Jesus just like he did.”
I make that appeal to you as well. |
