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Sermon:
Celebration
by Chris Cumming
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We are sobered this day in the presence of
death. It is especially sobering for the families left behind, because
death leaves a vacuum that cannot be replaced, at least for now.
We all think about death at times—but since death is repulsive to our
human minds, we try to thrust it out of our thoughts. And for most, it
is far into our lives before we realize that death is imminent.
So perhaps; as we pause to pay our last respects to Barb Sprague, Denise
Copp and Lee Cline, we take some time to reflect upon this thing we call
death and put it in its proper perspective.
What is death? Why do we fear it?
I ask this for those of us remaining behind. Because death has a certain
fear, even for us who believe in the promise of eternal life.
However, for most of us, before we can achieve eternal life, we must
come to grips with “physical death”.
And each one of us will have to face it…individually. We can become
callused with death as we watch it on TV and in the movies and read
about it in our newspapers. But what does the Word of God tell us about
death?
The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:26 “DEATH IS REVEALED AS AN
ENEMY”. The last enemy to be destroyed by Christ in God’s plan of
salvation.
Hebrews 9:27 tells us “IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN TO DIE----BUT AFTER THIS
THE RESURRECTION”. (when?)
And this is thought provoking, as it is through the resurrection that
God will destroy death. Throughout the ages, mankind has been concerned
about the age old question.
Even the patriarch’s pondered this. Job asked the question, “If a man
die, shall he live again? God reveals this answer through the same man,
Job.
After asking the question, Job in Job chapter 14 states, “All the days
of my appointed time, will I wait till my change come. You shall call,
and I will answer you.
Is there something in death that even religious people don’t understand?
What did Job mean? “You shall call and I will answer you?” Can the dead
hear? Especially in the light of Eccl. 9:5-6 where Solomon stated “For
the living know that they shall die! But the dead know not anything.” (how
long?)
What did Job and Solomon know? What did Paul know that perhaps some of
us sitting here do not know?
In John 5:28 Jesus said: marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in
the which ALL that are in the graves, shall hear His voice, and shall
come forth.
The scriptures reveal the truth of the resurrection for all who die.
Death is the last enemy to finally be destroyed in God’s great plan of
salvation, there is no place for death in the Kingdom of God. In 1
Corinthians 15:22 we read “As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be
made alive.”
What comforting words …..ALL shall be made alive.
For many have wondered “By what means can we obtain eternal life?” I
have wondered this, I’m sure you have.
God, the author of life, tells us again in John 5:26, “For as the Father
has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself,
and through Him, the Son, we may receive the gift of life eternal.”
Again, in 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the record, that God has given to
us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the son, has
life.
Lee, Barb and Denise had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal
Saviour.
These three had the Son [Capitol “S” on
Son], and have eternal life.
Now, I would like to continue to let God’s Word provide the peace of
mind we all seek at this time of need and sorrow.
The Apostle Paul seemed to be able to say it best. His hope was always
in Christ and the resurrection. That hope is as secure and alive today
as it was 2000 years ago.
Back in those days, there were people who did not believe Christ or
Paul. They did not believe in the resurrection. Paul set the record
straight. Notice as I read in 1 Corinthians 15, which is the
Resurrection Chapter of the Bible…
I will be reading from the Living Bible which will make this easier to
understand
1 Corinthians 15 beginning in verse 12:
1 Corinthians 15:12-23
12 But tell me this! Since you believe what we preach, that Christ rose
from the dead, why are some of you saying that dead people will never
come back to life again?
13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ must still
be dead.
14 And if he is still dead, then all our preaching is useless and your
trust in God is empty, worthless, hopeless;
15 and we apostles are all liars because we have said that God raised
Christ from the grave, and of course that isn't true if the dead do not
come back to life again.
16 If they don't, then Christ is still dead,
17 and you are very foolish to keep on trusting God to save you, and you
are still under condemnation for your sins;
18 in that case, all Christians who have died are lost!
19 And if being a Christian is of value to us only now in this life, we
are the most miserable of creatures.
But Paul knew better, and this is what he says…v 20
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and is the firstfruits of them
who have died
21 By one man (Adam) came
death into the world. By one other man (Jesus)
came the resurrection of the dead.
22 Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of
a sinful world, and wherever there is sin, death results. But if we are
in Christ, all (in Christ)
will be made alive into eternal life.
23 Each person will, in a specific order receive resurrection to eternal
life. First Christ, then all those who are in Christ and have His Holy
Spirit in them at His return.
Note: It is important to
understand that it is God’s Plan that everyone who has ever lived will
have their opportunity for eternal life. No one will be left out of this
plan. Most everyone will chose to accept this eternal life.
Some will receive eternal life at the return of Jesus Christ. Most
everyone else will receive it after the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
(Barb, Denise and Lee will receive it at
the return of Jesus Christ)
That means that everyone in this room will see Denise, Barb and Lee
again. All three will be risen into eternal life with a Spiritual body.
Each knew this!!
The Word of God gives us this promise.
Notice as I read from 1 Corinthians 15 and beginning in verse 50
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.
Note: this verse means that we
must give up our physical bodies for Spiritual ones.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
There will be no more death. There is no death in the Kingdom of God.
Paul also gives us hope in the letter he wrote to the church in
Thessalonica (Thes-so-li-ni-ca).
In 1 Thessalonians 4 and beginning in verse 13 he says…
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep (dead in
the grave), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no
hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
These verses are stating that when Christ returns, the dead, in Christ,
are the first to rise up out of the graves and those alive will not be
able to hinder their rising up to meet Christ as He descends from the
clouds toward earth.
Paul believed these words with all his heart and because he did, he no
longer feared death.
We now know what Paul knew, that death lasts only 1 second. We, if we
have God’s Holy Spirit, close our eyes in death and in our next
conscious thought we are waking up to eternal life.
(Let me share
with you how this works and what it means for us still alive)
I doubt that Lee, Barb and Denise even know they have died. In their
next moment of consciousness they will, if it were so possible, be
looking around, wondering where their morning tea or coffee is. In
actuality, they will rise up to meet Christ and Joan, Wendy and Rob/Liz/Roni
will be there. Therefore, let us not grieve as those who have no hope
but let us be comforted.
Let us remember “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“Oh death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The grave has no power over these three we speak of today. They are in
God’s hands. The day is coming when they will rise up out of that grave
to eternal life.
In this there is great hope.
I want to finish now with the words from Constance Jenkins. These are
words Lee, Barb and Denise would surely have wanted to have uttered at
this time.
As I read them, imagine each one of them saying these words to each of
you, especially you Rob, Liz, Roni, Joan and Wendy.
Weep not for me
Weep not for me
though I have gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul’s sweet flight
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years
There is no pain, I
suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory, I live on
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life
So go now; continue to celebrate these three lives. |
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