Intro I didn’t get to meet George (or Bud, as he liked to be called) until last year. For whatever reason, he had quit coming to church long before I had become pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. When His son, Ed, died last year, we met for the first time, and that began a series of conversations for us.
Bud was close to finishing his 7th decade of life. Marilyn, his wife, had recovered from brain-tumor surgery years earlier but was, and still is, battling the onslaught of Alzheimer’s. Like many, Bud was baptized; and like all-too many parents, they weren’t faithful in bringing him to church. It was in the Church where he was to be taught and fed God’s Word. He was like many, perhaps like some of you, where faith is something that exists only on the fringes of your life, even if it’s there at all. But Bud met Marilyn and they fell in love, and wanted to get married. So at 20 he was confirmed in the Christian faith, in the Lutheran Church, back in California, where some of you grew up. Bud served in the Korean War, where he saw combat in all its brutality. Yet, despite the horrors of war he experienced, Bud did not lose his compassion and heart. He loved Marilyn as much as a fallen human being, with all its ups and downs, can love another. Fast forward to 2010. Bud turns 80, still struggling to care for Marilyn. It was an overwhelming task, considering the poor health he was experiencing. On Sunday evening, September 12th, this fallen world in its fallen ways finally had its last word with Bud. Bud died. Yet, it is God who has the last word, not this fallen world with its sinful ways. Main Body The loss of someone you love is never an easy event to endure. No matter what the age or circumstance, it rarely seems as if we are ready for death to occur. For us, it’s rarely ever the “right” time, and yet, it does happen. So I ask you to consider the words of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. Isaiah wrote, “The grass withers, the flowers fade.” Isaiah is declaring that people are like grass. All humanity is like grass. Indeed, all of our earthy life is like the grass that withers and dies. That is what Bud is telling us today. Amid such a sorry state of our mortality, God, in His infinite mercy, intervened. Just as we are not merely spectators in life, but also participants; so also God did not remain a spectator. He came in the flesh to save us from something much worse than physical death--eternal death. That’s what Christmas is all about, with Christ in the cradle. From Christmas to His journey to the cross 33 years later, Jesus was a participant. He was the Participant who came to save us. He was the Participant who took our place under the wrath of God’s withering breath. This all took place according to God’s Promise. Bud didn’t get into the nuances and subtleties of God’s promises. Bud He knew that Jesus died and rose from the grave to save him. In a small way, we saw Bud live out the giving, sacrificial nature of God by the he way served Marilyn and cared for her. Now Bud was a sinner just like you and me with all our flaws. But in Bud’s love, sacrifice, and care for Marilyn, we see a shadow of God’s perfect love and His sacrifice to save us. At life’s end, health, wealth, house, and earthly security fade away from us all. But the Word of God’s Promise to you in Christ will never fail. God has declared it, and so it is true. He wants His Church, His people--He wants you--to hear it. That’s why He states, “‘Comfort! Yes, comfort my people,’ says your God. ‘Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her warfare is ended, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.’” You, who are grieving the loss of Bud, know this: the Lord has called Bud to Himself for a life in eternal paradise. In Jesus Christ, the warfare between God and humanity is ended. God has pardoned His people because of Jesus paying for the sins of the world by His death on the cross. It’s a double payment for your sins, as Isaiah wrote. Indeed, the Church “has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” Yes, God’s forgiveness in Christ is greater than the sinfulness of you, me, and Bud. That Word of truth stands forever. What comfort! Believe and live it! Years ago, Bud heard that Word, which brought the Lord’s forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation to him. In his Baptism, God called him, brought him into His Kingdom, and said, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). Of course, some can walk away from their baptismal promises and fall away from the faith. And that was true for part of Bud’s life. But God, in His grace, called Bud back, and he heard the voice of his shepherd. Now Bud is in God’s eternal and glorious presence, where there is no disease, pain, or heartache, only inexpressible joy. It is true that “all humanity is grass, and all its beauty is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers, the flowers fade when the breath of the LORD blows upon them.” If that were the end, then there would be no comfort to speak. But thank God for His Word. Yes, “the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God endures forever.” Indeed, the Word of our God--that is, Jesus Christ--endures forever. What does this mean? It means that Jesus is eternal. It means that His promise to you is eternal. It means that, for those who trust in Christ, death will have no dominion over them. Indeed, “the Word of our God endures forever.” Conclusion I ask you, “Why do we even have funerals?” It’s more than a way to grieve for someone we love. Funerals are more than simply to remember someone who has died. A funeral is also a worship service where God’s people gather to praise God for what He has done in the life of the one who has died. Yes, Bud has died, but we thank and praise God for what Bud is now experiencing in eternity. Even at a day like today we can praise God. Praise God because Bud’s not actually gone. Bud has gone ahead where we too will follow, if we have faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. And this is only so because “the Word of our God endures forever.” Amen. -- Rich Futrell, Pastor Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Kimberling City, MO Where we are to receive and confess the faith of the Church (in and with the Augsburg Confession): The faith once delivered to the saints, the faith of Christ Jesus, His Word of the Gospel, His full forgiveness of sins, His flesh and blood given and poured out for us, and His gracious gift of life for body, soul, and spirit. ___________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author (as long as no charge is made for the work and it is not made part of a compilation), as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. 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