To The Father's House
Sermon
The Word Is Life
An Anthology Of Funeral Meditations
The first scripture reading we heard today was written by Paul and sent, in the form of a letter, to the people who lived in Corinth, Greece. Paul says our lives on this earth are similar to living in a tent.
The gospel was written later, by the apostle John. He describes life beyond this earth, as living in the Father's house - quoting the words of Jesus. I think these two brief readings give a graphic picture of how we human beings are to view life in its entirety.
Here, on this earth, we are the tent people. A tent is not built but pitched, because it is meant to be only temporary. In these tent--days of our lives we stay but a brief time and then journey on. We are called pilgrim people rather than settlers. If we conceive of earthly life as being anything other than temporary, we deceive ourselves.
The number of days allotted to the travelers of earth differs with each individual. For our brother ____________, his days totalled ______ years. As we grieve and lament his passing, we realize his ______ years exceeded the average life span for men. Even if he could have lived for 87 years or more, his leaving would have been just as difficult to accept, for we are never ready to say goodbye to a dear person who is close to us. So we remember Paul's words that we are the tent--people and when we come upon the scene, in birth, we know before long we will be leaving.
The real spiritual dimension, which is the happy side of life, now comes with the gospel message. Here John says there is a kingdom where we can dwell securely forever. No more tent living. We have moved into the Father's house. He quotes the words of Jesus, stating in the Father's house ''there are many dwelling places.'' The old translation was ''many mansions,'' i.e. there is room for all. Jesus must have known this concept would not be easily grasped, so he adds if it were not true he would never have said it. Besides there being a place prepared for us, the Lord furthermore promises he will come, receive us and take us to our eternal dwelling place. At the time of a funeral, these eternal truths become more clearly focused in our minds. We can so easily be absorbed in the cares of this temporary, tent life existence that we forget about the promise of eternal life.
The author, Charles Kettering, said: ''We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.'' ____________ was aware of and often talked about the next life. The hardships and trials he faced convinced him that here we have but a nebulous stability.
Not only is this brief but it is filled with inconsistencies and contradictions. So much happens around us over which we have no control. Thus the only choice we have is how we decide to accept it. There is an area, however, where we have complete control and that is our faith response and relationship to the One who promises us a place in the Father's house.
We offer our prayers for ____________ today, mindful of the many times we prayed together in church. I also extend my love and understanding to his dear wife of ______ years.
The famous 20th century poet, T.S. Eliot, once wrote: ''In the end is my beginning.'' That too is the teaching of our faith, as we reflect on the words of Jesus.
We commend our brother, ____________, to God's eternal home. There may he find that everlasting peace and security which the Lord has promised to all of us.
The gospel was written later, by the apostle John. He describes life beyond this earth, as living in the Father's house - quoting the words of Jesus. I think these two brief readings give a graphic picture of how we human beings are to view life in its entirety.
Here, on this earth, we are the tent people. A tent is not built but pitched, because it is meant to be only temporary. In these tent--days of our lives we stay but a brief time and then journey on. We are called pilgrim people rather than settlers. If we conceive of earthly life as being anything other than temporary, we deceive ourselves.
The number of days allotted to the travelers of earth differs with each individual. For our brother ____________, his days totalled ______ years. As we grieve and lament his passing, we realize his ______ years exceeded the average life span for men. Even if he could have lived for 87 years or more, his leaving would have been just as difficult to accept, for we are never ready to say goodbye to a dear person who is close to us. So we remember Paul's words that we are the tent--people and when we come upon the scene, in birth, we know before long we will be leaving.
The real spiritual dimension, which is the happy side of life, now comes with the gospel message. Here John says there is a kingdom where we can dwell securely forever. No more tent living. We have moved into the Father's house. He quotes the words of Jesus, stating in the Father's house ''there are many dwelling places.'' The old translation was ''many mansions,'' i.e. there is room for all. Jesus must have known this concept would not be easily grasped, so he adds if it were not true he would never have said it. Besides there being a place prepared for us, the Lord furthermore promises he will come, receive us and take us to our eternal dwelling place. At the time of a funeral, these eternal truths become more clearly focused in our minds. We can so easily be absorbed in the cares of this temporary, tent life existence that we forget about the promise of eternal life.
The author, Charles Kettering, said: ''We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.'' ____________ was aware of and often talked about the next life. The hardships and trials he faced convinced him that here we have but a nebulous stability.
Not only is this brief but it is filled with inconsistencies and contradictions. So much happens around us over which we have no control. Thus the only choice we have is how we decide to accept it. There is an area, however, where we have complete control and that is our faith response and relationship to the One who promises us a place in the Father's house.
We offer our prayers for ____________ today, mindful of the many times we prayed together in church. I also extend my love and understanding to his dear wife of ______ years.
The famous 20th century poet, T.S. Eliot, once wrote: ''In the end is my beginning.'' That too is the teaching of our faith, as we reflect on the words of Jesus.
We commend our brother, ____________, to God's eternal home. There may he find that everlasting peace and security which the Lord has promised to all of us.
