Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for a special awareness of your presence as we gather here today to remember the life of this loved one. Please, we pray for your comfort and strength as we reflect. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

_____ was born on June 5, 1928 in Banner, Arkansas, the daughter of _____ and ___________. She lived in Banner throughout her childhood where she also attended school. She married __________________ in Banner on May 18, 1946. She moved to ___________ in 1962 where she resided until her death.

She is survived by: (Names deleted)

Speaking from personal experience, ________ was a very easy person to get to know. She was warm and hospitable. She didn't complain about her difficulties, even in the advanced stages of her illness. She was a Christian lady, baptized when she was young, and was a frequent attender of this congregation, when her health allowed.

________'s family described her as open and supportive to all, ready to make others happy whenever she could. Her own countenance was happy and upbeat. One family member said she was "strong willed but humble," and related for an example the time she took her driver's test at the DMV (she learned to drive late in life) during her chemotherapy treatments. She was apparently just fine with sitting there in her bandanna that covered her hair loss, among the teenagers who were also taking the test.

_______ loved camping, fishing, traveling, and going to garage sales. She collected angel figurines and was an avid gardener who loved to grow flowers.

Her son related the story of the good-natured flower-growing contest she had with him in which he apparently cheated just a little by adding nearly a cup of fertilizer to his flowers, which resulted in some abnormally large specimens.

Several other stories were related to me including one that took place in high waves on Green Peter Reservoir where she made _______ take the boat to shore and refused to get back in until the wind died down. (That must have been the strong-willed side.)

Another involved a Band-Aid box full of blue-bellied lizards collected by ________, which somehow came open and sent _______ up into a nearby chair.

________ enjoyed her family and they enjoyed her. Several mentioned her good-natured "scuffling" with them and wrestling for the upper hand.

These things were mingled with her gentle, humble, loving, willing-to-forgive nature.

Also conveyed to me was ___________'s involvement in canning and cooking and the trips to Dairy Queen for Coney Dogs and Dilly Bars. Apparently she liked the kids' meals best - not for the size of the meal but for the toy.

___________ kept track of the places the family traveled by marking yellow lines on the family atlas. If I'm not mistaken, that is on display among the personal items you viewed as you came in.

A trait she had that came up several times as I spoke with family members was her punctuality. When it was time to go, she was ready and waiting. She was never tardy. This had a spiritual dimension as well as she often said during her illness, "I'm ready to go when the Lord wants me to." And apparently she was.

(Reading of material submitted by family and friends)

_______ will surely be missed.

Most of us have probably heard or used the common statement, "Where there's life, there's hope."

What we usually mean when we say that is that if a person has gone through a particularly difficult time and survived, there is always hope that things might improve. I'm sure the statement has helped many get through hard times. "Where there's life, there's hope."

On an occasion like we have today however, the statement is meaningless. Death has entered the picture. The spark of physical life has gone out. And the hope that life offered went away with it. We're left to flounder in our grief for something else that might impart hope. And in many cases, we come up short.

I'd like to suggest a radical statement that goes far beyond the proverb, "Where there's life, there's hope." As a Christian, knowing and believing the message of Jesus Christ, I can say something that gives me optimism even in the face of loss of a loved one. You can, too, if you're a Christian. We can say with confidence, "Where there's death, there's hope." In fact, in death is where the Christian hope really begins to shine. Let me tell you a little bit about the Christian hope.

The Bible speaks of several aspects of this hope. For instance, there's:

The Apostle Paul was once hauled in before the highest council in Israel to give an account of his preaching. During the hearing he made this statement as recorded in Acts 23:6: "I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

For the Christian, where there is death, there is hope of the resurrection. The Bible teaches that these bodies we live in will one day be raised up from the places where we lay them in death.

Jesus said: "…an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment."(1)

As a Christian, I live with the hope that this body I reside in, even when it dies, will one day live again. You can bury it, burn it, or feed it to the fish.(2) It won't matter on that day. It will live again.

As the Apostle Paul has said, "…the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable…."(3)

For those who die in Christ, as Norene did, where there is death, there is hope of the resurrection.

Another aspect of the Christian hope is:

The Apostle Paul says, "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… and we exult in hope of the glory of God."(4)

I don't know about you but I would someday like to see my Creator. I'd like to lay my eyes on the God who knew me before I was conceived and spoke the universe into existence. I'd like to know more about Him. I'd like to understand this One who has sought me out to be His child, even at the expense of the suffering of His beloved Son.

The passage of the New Testament known as the Sermon on the Mount holds a promise that is precious to every Christian. It says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."(5)

If I read my Bible correctly, Norene has accomplished this. According to Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:8, to be "absent from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord."

Most of us know of the suffering Norene experienced in her last days with us here. The cancer she had made her very uncomfortable. While I in no way want to minimize what she went through, I can tell you that what she is seeing right now makes that suffering seem like nothing.

The Apostle Paul, speaking under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."(6) I'm confident that Paul knew what he was talking about. I also know that the God who has promised to "wipe away every tear from their eyes"(7) will do just as He says.

Christians, even when they die, have the hope of the Glory of God.

A third aspect of the Christian hope in death is:

You and I live in a beautiful part of the world. We can drive an hour in any direction and find tall, snow capped mountains, beautiful trees, and lush valleys. All of these are testimonies to God's handiwork. But not everything around us is perfect. Fires are raging right now across our state. On the east side of the mountains, beetles are infesting the trees. Mt. Hood has been rumbling again (and most of us still remember Mt. St. Helens!) Just a few weeks ago a kayaker was killed in a nearby river. While the world around is beautiful, it is also dangerous. In fact, whenever there is what we call a "natural disaster" in which people lose their lives, we wonder how a perfect God could allow such things to happen.

I don't have the answer to every question that could be asked on that score, but I do know this much…

The reason things aren't perfect is explained in the 8^th chapter of Romans. I won't take time to read it. Basically, what it says is that when sin entered the world the creation was put under a curse. It was "subjected to futility."(8) But that condition won't be permanent. There is coming a time when, in Paul's words, "… the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

I believe He is speaking of the "new heavens and new earth"(9) that await God's children once the "subjection to futility" in this world is complete. It will be a place where righteousness dwells.(10) There will be no death, no mourning, no crying, and no pain.(11) Gone will be murders and kidnappings and natural disasters and cancer. We'll be able to enjoy the beauty without the potential for hurt. The creation will be what God intended for it to be.

This is all a part of the Christian hope that is not dimmed in the slightest way by death. In fact, death puts us just that much closer to its fulfillment - the hope of a world set free from corruption.

The Christian hope also includes:

Ephesians 1:18 says, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…."

Colossians 1:12 tells Christians that we should be "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints…."

I don't have any relatives that I know of who might leave me a bunch of money when they die. I come from common stock and common people. Most of us will consider ourselves blessed to finish up life without leaving any debt behind. But I also know that I am an heir to the largest fortune man could ever imagined. So is every other Christian. So is Norene.

Death does not take that away. In fact, flesh and blood as we know it here cannot inherit these things. It's not for this life. It's for God's people in the next life.

The Christian hope carries the hope of inheritance. It also includes:

Many people are terrified of the prospect of God's judgment, as well they should be.

2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that "…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

We can ignore it. We can deny it. We can scoff at it. But it will come and the only way to prepare for it is to be a part of God's family.

Writing to Christians in the ancient city of Thessalonica, Paul says,

Norene was a part of those destined to obtain salvation. That's where she placed her hope every time she told one of you that she was ready to go when the Lord called her.

Finally, no description of the Christian hope would be complete without:

Colossians 1:3-5 says, "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… because of the hope laid up for you in heaven…."

So you see, after we exhausted the proverb that says, "Where there is life, there is hope," we know another hope that takes us beyond the grave: "Where there is death, there is (for the Christian) great hope." There is hope of resurrection, hope of the glory of God, hope of a new world set free from corruption. There is hope of inheritance, hope of salvation, and hope of heaven. Death, though it will come upon all of us, cannot take these things away.

May God richly bless you as you continue to remember Norene and the various ways her life touched yours. Consider here example and the trust she placed in God through Christ. It's worth careful thought and if you haven't already done so, it's also worth following.

Musical Selection:

Heavenly father, thank you for the hope we have through Christ. Thank you that you reached out to Norene, because of her faith, and called her to Yourself. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thank you all for coming. The family has invited all of us to join them at the cemetery as soon as we can make our way there for a short committal service. (Directions)

Food provided by members of the church will be available afterward her at the church building to all who wish to return.

God bless.

Organ Postlude:

Footnotes: Use your "back" button to return to your place

1. John 5:28-29
2. See Revelation 20:13 where the Apostle John make it clear that even those who died at sea will be raised.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:52
4. Romans 5:1-2
5. Matthew 5:8
6. Romans 8:18
7. Revelation 7:17; 21:4
8. Romans 8:20
9. 2 Peter 3:13
10. Ibid.
11. Revelation 21:4

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

[Archive]    [Home]   [Comments]   [Search]