A Believer's Enduring Faith and Love
A Believer's Enduring Faith and Love
Funeral Sermon
SUMMARY: A FUNERAL SERMON FOR A BELIEVER WHO HAD ALZHEIMER’S. THREE THINGS THE DISEASE COULDN’T STEAL - FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506. There is a monument in that city that commemorates the great explorer.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion at the base of it where the Spanish National Motto is engraved.
The lion is reaching out with its paw and is destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries.
Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Because of that, their motto was "No More Beyond."
The word being torn away by the lion is "NO”, making it read "More Beyond."
For Spain, Columbus had proven that there really was "more beyond."
You know, the same is true for those that have discovered Jesus Christ. There really is “more beyond.”
The word of God says in Psalms 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Godly ones."
This means that something happened that the Lord thought was very precious. On that day, God sent his angels to bring another one of his children home.
In two weeks from today, I will be giving the Baccalaureate Address to the graduating class from Lakeside Central High School. Each one of those young men and women will be receiving a diploma that states that they have finished their courses and are ready to move on to the next stage of life. On that day, _______ graduated from this life and moved into the next. In God’s eyes, _______ had finished the course and was prepared to move into the next stage of life.
For several years now, _______ had been suffering from a terrible disease. Alzheimer’s had begun to destroy _______’s mind. On that day, Pneumonia had gotten into _______’s lungs and _______ was in desperate agony. Finally, God decided to end the suffering that _______ was enduring and asked his messengers to go bring _______ to Him.
Alzheimer’s is an insidious disease. It is a thief. It is a disease that steals. Alzheimer’s steals memory. In _______’s case, family members shared with me that there were times when _______ couldn’t even remember who they were. _______’s memory was being taken from _______ slowly. Alzheimer’s steals time. In _______’s case, it stole years from _______’s life, and it stole precious time with _______’s children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.
Alzheimer’s steals happiness. The pleasures of simple things were stolen from _______. _______ loved to crochet and do patch work quilting. But because of _______’s illness, those things were taken away from _______.
There were many other things that this disease stole from _______ in the final years of _______’s life, but, let me tell you what it couldn’t steal. It couldn’t steal _______’s faith. It couldn’t steal _______’s hope. And it couldn’t steal _______’s love.
Scripture is very clear on this point. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that three things will abide forever . . . faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
First, _______’s illness couldn’t steal _______’s faith.
It couldn’t steal _______’s relationship with Jesus Christ. It couldn’t steal eternity. Family members shared with me about a very special day that they had with _______ about 4 or 5 years ago. They were concerned about _______’s spiritual condition. They were unsure of _______’s relationship with God. They wanted to know if _______ had a relationship with Jesus Christ.
And so one day, while they were visiting, they got the opportunity to ask _______ the most important question a person will ever hear or answer; Do you know for certain that you will go to heaven when you die?
During that time, they shared with _______ four simple truths that changed _______’s life forever; truths that come from the Bible.
First, they shared that God loved _______. Most of us are familiar with the passage from John 3:16 – it is a wonderful truth – That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life. That love was for each one of us. He loves you and me just as much as He loves _______.
But there was a second truth that they shared. It was that _______ – like all of us was sinful and was separated from God because of that sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” You see, we were all created to have fellowship with God, but because of sin, that fellowship is broken. We can try as hard as possible to work our way back into favor with God – but because of our sin – it is impossible.
The third truth that they shared explained the only way to repair that broken fellowship was through Jesus Christ; that through Him, every one of us can experience God’s love in our lives.
Scripture tells us that “God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Christ died for our sins . . . He was buried . . . He was raised on the third day . . . all for us. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
You see, God has bridged the gap that separated us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place and to pay the penalty for our sins.
The fourth truth that they shared with _______ was that _______ could know the promise of eternal life in heaven with God if _______ would place _______’s faith in Jesus Christ and receive Him as _______ Lord and Savior.
The Bible tells us; “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
That day, _______ did exactly that. _______ heard the truth and _______ bowed _______’s head and in faith, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as _______ Lord and Savior.
_______’s faith in God’s grace is why many can be here this morning, mourning _______’s death, but at the same time rejoicing that _______ is in heaven.
You see, even though _______ was losing _______’s cognitive abilities to Alzheimer’s, _______’s faith couldn’t be stolen. Today, _______ has recovered all of _______’s faculties. Today, _______ knows the joy of the Lord as _______ has never known it before. Today, _______ walks the golden streets of heaven with friends and family who went before _______. Today is a wonderful day for _______ because God tells us that faith will abide forever. Once _______ committed _______’s life to Jesus Christ, nothing could separate _______ from his love.
But faith is only the first of three things that _______ had that will abide forever. The second is “Hope.”
By “hope,” I’m not talking about a strong desire – Like; “I hope I get a new car for my birthday.” For those who have faith – “hope” is the promise of things to come. You see, even while _______ was in the nursing home, even while _______’s memory was slipping, there was a hope in _______’s life; the belief in a promise of something greater. _______ knew the assurance of eternal life in heaven. _______ knew that there was a day coming when _______ would be ushered into the presence of God and He would take _______ to _______’s new home.
I love the promise that Jesus made to his disciples shortly before he died: In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
For everyone who knows the promise of God, this is their hope – one day, I will be with the Lord forever.
You can take comfort in knowing that _______’s hope was not in vain, that God has fulfilled his promise in _______’s life and that _______ has received _______’s commendation; “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Listen to these words of hope found in 1 Corinthians:
50Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
We can find comfort in these words. I am reminded of Martha, sitting at her brother’s tomb, four days after he had died. When Jesus came to visit her, he gave her words of hope, words of promise. The promise that Jesus made to Martha at the time of her brother’s death is the same promise he makes to us today; Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The same comfort that Jesus offered to Martha that morning, he offers to us this morning. "Your sister . . . (your mother, your mother-in-law, your grandmother, your aunt, your friend) . . . shall rise again!" Do you realize ... keep reading with free account
A Believer's Enduring Faith and Love
Funeral Sermon
SUMMARY: A FUNERAL SERMON FOR A BELIEVER WHO HAD ALZHEIMER’S. THREE THINGS THE DISEASE COULDN’T STEAL - FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506. There is a monument in that city that commemorates the great explorer.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion at the base of it where the Spanish National Motto is engraved.
The lion is reaching out with its paw and is destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries.
Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Because of that, their motto was "No More Beyond."
The word being torn away by the lion is "NO”, making it read "More Beyond."
For Spain, Columbus had proven that there really was "more beyond."
You know, the same is true for those that have discovered Jesus Christ. There really is “more beyond.”
The word of God says in Psalms 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Godly ones."
This means that something happened that the Lord thought was very precious. On that day, God sent his angels to bring another one of his children home.
In two weeks from today, I will be giving the Baccalaureate Address to the graduating class from Lakeside Central High School. Each one of those young men and women will be receiving a diploma that states that they have finished their courses and are ready to move on to the next stage of life. On that day, _______ graduated from this life and moved into the next. In God’s eyes, _______ had finished the course and was prepared to move into the next stage of life.
For several years now, _______ had been suffering from a terrible disease. Alzheimer’s had begun to destroy _______’s mind. On that day, Pneumonia had gotten into _______’s lungs and _______ was in desperate agony. Finally, God decided to end the suffering that _______ was enduring and asked his messengers to go bring _______ to Him.
Alzheimer’s is an insidious disease. It is a thief. It is a disease that steals. Alzheimer’s steals memory. In _______’s case, family members shared with me that there were times when _______ couldn’t even remember who they were. _______’s memory was being taken from _______ slowly. Alzheimer’s steals time. In _______’s case, it stole years from _______’s life, and it stole precious time with _______’s children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.
Alzheimer’s steals happiness. The pleasures of simple things were stolen from _______. _______ loved to crochet and do patch work quilting. But because of _______’s illness, those things were taken away from _______.
There were many other things that this disease stole from _______ in the final years of _______’s life, but, let me tell you what it couldn’t steal. It couldn’t steal _______’s faith. It couldn’t steal _______’s hope. And it couldn’t steal _______’s love.
Scripture is very clear on this point. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that three things will abide forever . . . faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
First, _______’s illness couldn’t steal _______’s faith.
It couldn’t steal _______’s relationship with Jesus Christ. It couldn’t steal eternity. Family members shared with me about a very special day that they had with _______ about 4 or 5 years ago. They were concerned about _______’s spiritual condition. They were unsure of _______’s relationship with God. They wanted to know if _______ had a relationship with Jesus Christ.
And so one day, while they were visiting, they got the opportunity to ask _______ the most important question a person will ever hear or answer; Do you know for certain that you will go to heaven when you die?
During that time, they shared with _______ four simple truths that changed _______’s life forever; truths that come from the Bible.
First, they shared that God loved _______. Most of us are familiar with the passage from John 3:16 – it is a wonderful truth – That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life. That love was for each one of us. He loves you and me just as much as He loves _______.
But there was a second truth that they shared. It was that _______ – like all of us was sinful and was separated from God because of that sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” You see, we were all created to have fellowship with God, but because of sin, that fellowship is broken. We can try as hard as possible to work our way back into favor with God – but because of our sin – it is impossible.
The third truth that they shared explained the only way to repair that broken fellowship was through Jesus Christ; that through Him, every one of us can experience God’s love in our lives.
Scripture tells us that “God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Christ died for our sins . . . He was buried . . . He was raised on the third day . . . all for us. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
You see, God has bridged the gap that separated us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place and to pay the penalty for our sins.
The fourth truth that they shared with _______ was that _______ could know the promise of eternal life in heaven with God if _______ would place _______’s faith in Jesus Christ and receive Him as _______ Lord and Savior.
The Bible tells us; “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
That day, _______ did exactly that. _______ heard the truth and _______ bowed _______’s head and in faith, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as _______ Lord and Savior.
_______’s faith in God’s grace is why many can be here this morning, mourning _______’s death, but at the same time rejoicing that _______ is in heaven.
You see, even though _______ was losing _______’s cognitive abilities to Alzheimer’s, _______’s faith couldn’t be stolen. Today, _______ has recovered all of _______’s faculties. Today, _______ knows the joy of the Lord as _______ has never known it before. Today, _______ walks the golden streets of heaven with friends and family who went before _______. Today is a wonderful day for _______ because God tells us that faith will abide forever. Once _______ committed _______’s life to Jesus Christ, nothing could separate _______ from his love.
But faith is only the first of three things that _______ had that will abide forever. The second is “Hope.”
By “hope,” I’m not talking about a strong desire – Like; “I hope I get a new car for my birthday.” For those who have faith – “hope” is the promise of things to come. You see, even while _______ was in the nursing home, even while _______’s memory was slipping, there was a hope in _______’s life; the belief in a promise of something greater. _______ knew the assurance of eternal life in heaven. _______ knew that there was a day coming when _______ would be ushered into the presence of God and He would take _______ to _______’s new home.
I love the promise that Jesus made to his disciples shortly before he died: In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
For everyone who knows the promise of God, this is their hope – one day, I will be with the Lord forever.
You can take comfort in knowing that _______’s hope was not in vain, that God has fulfilled his promise in _______’s life and that _______ has received _______’s commendation; “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Listen to these words of hope found in 1 Corinthians:
50Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
We can find comfort in these words. I am reminded of Martha, sitting at her brother’s tomb, four days after he had died. When Jesus came to visit her, he gave her words of hope, words of promise. The promise that Jesus made to Martha at the time of her brother’s death is the same promise he makes to us today; Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The same comfort that Jesus offered to Martha that morning, he offers to us this morning. "Your sister . . . (your mother, your mother-in-law, your grandmother, your aunt, your friend) . . . shall rise again!" Do you realize that there is a day coming, when the trumpet will sound, and the heavens will part, and the graves will be opened and those who are dead in Christ Jesus will rise again to live forever? That is the promise of the Bible. That is the promise of God. That is the promise that _______ believed. That was _______’s hope. And today, _______ has seen that hope fulfilled.
The third aspect of _______’s life that couldn’t be stolen from _______ was _______’s love. You are here this morning, because _______ was a person of love. _______ loved people, _______ loved the Lord – _______ loved you. God’s word tells us that the love that _______ carried is eternal. It will live on in your life and in _______’s life for all of eternity.
This morning, as we think about _______’s life, let’s also take a moment to consider our own lives. I would encourage you to ask yourself a very simple question; “Do I have the assurance that when I die, I too will go to heaven?” The Bible tells us that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. _______ made that commitment – _______ accepted Jesus’ death as payment for _______’s sins. _______ knew that _______ had been forgiven and that one day, _______ would step from this life into an everlasting life of joy.
I wonder this morning, if we can imagine what that was like
- What must it have been like to step up on a shore and discover it was heaven
- What must it have been like to reach out and take a hand and discover it was God’s
- What must it have been like to take a deep breath of cool refreshing air and discover the smell of paradise
- What must it have been like to feel invigorated and discover it was immortality
- What must it have been like to rise from the pain and the turmoil of earth into an unbroken calmness and discover it was glory
- What must it have been like to look into those deep loving eyes and discover it was Jesus Christ.
I believe that if _______ could be here and speak to us today, _______ would tell us that _______’s life has just begun – and _______’s desire would be that each one of us would give our lives and our hearts to Jesus Christ. _______ would also tell us not to mourn. _______ might say; "I am with the Lord. If you mourn, don’t mourn for me – I am at home where I belong. If you are sad because I am gone, then look for me in the love you have for each other. Be comforted, look to Jesus, and I will see you again."
And that is what you must do today. You must find your comfort in the love you shared with _______ and with one another. You must find your comfort from God – who is, as the Psalmist says; "our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble."
You see, God – through Jesus Christ is our comfort and help in our times of distress. So often, we think of Jesus as our Lord and Savior – which he is. But, we must also remember that Jesus said "no longer do I call you my servants – I have called you my friends." The writer of Proverbs tells us that he is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Today, tomorrow, next week, next month – you may find yourself alone. Your friends, your family may not be around. You may find yourself missing _______ – longing to hear _______’s voice, see _______’s smile and know _______’s laugh. It is at these times that knowing Jesus Christ as a friend will truly help. It is at these times that you can turn to Him. It was Jesus, himself, who said; “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” So, it is in these times that we can go to Jesus in prayer and know that he hears and that he cares. And Christ doesn’t offer a temporary comfort, a calming for the here and now – it goes far beyond that. When we turn to him in our times of mourning and distress, He will bring a peace that passes understanding. He offers an eternal peace, an eternal comfort. Today, as we go from here, may we go in peace, knowing that _______ celebrates, even as we mourn _______’s loss . . . knowing that _______ is home with the Lord.
May we also go in peace, knowing that Jesus Christ himself has offered us the same eternal hope of salvation and that we too, will one day know the joy of eternity in His presence.
May God Bless Each and Every one of you today.