Finding Comfort Amidst Loss

This is a copy of my sermon from a funeral service I recently conducted. It addresses why we grieve, the origin of death, where God is amidst our loss and suffering, what death is, where our hope lies, and it concludes with an appeal. It is my prayer that this may provide comfort, greater confidence in the unfailing love of our Father in heaven, and more of the freedom that Jesus promised.  

Welcome & Opening Prayer:

I want to welcome you to this memorial in honor of Dorothy Clark. Thank you for coming. My name is Ben Kramlich and my wife Marié Kramlich is here with me. We are friends of Wayne and Connie and I run a Christian Ministry called, Father of Love Fellowship. We want to express our deepest sympathies and prayers for: Wayne, Stacy, Benny and the rest of the family and friends.

May the fond memories of the love, laughter, and joy that she brought into your lives be kept at the forefront of your hearts and minds at this time of loss. May gratitude to God for the blessings that you have received through her ascend up to heaven.

Let’s pray:

Thank you for grieving with us Father. We know our aching hearts and suffering are felt by you and Jesus and that you feel the infirmities of your children. We thank you for your compassion toward us and your comfort in our times of distress. Please draw close to the family now and help them with their loss and draw close to all of us here as we study your word. Teach us of your unfailing love. In Jesus name we pray.

Sermon:

We moved to the area last July and we have become close friends of Wayne and his wife Connie over the last six months. We enjoy spending time with them at their home studying the Bible on a weekly basis every Sabbath and sometimes during the week. Wayne asked me if I would share a message from the Bible in light of his mother’s passing to encourage us in the truth, for we know the truth shall make us free, that Jesus is the truth, and if the Son shall make us free we shall be free indeed.

Amidst this time of loss we may we find solace in the following verses. In the indelible, or unforgettable Sermon on the Mount Jesus says:

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 KJV

Paul offers words of hope and comfort in times of grief:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; [4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV

Many of us don’t give much thought to our own mortality until we start to have children, reach retirement, or when there is a death in the family and we are abruptly confronted with our own finiteness

Those who work in healthcare are frequently confronted with the reality of the mortality of humanity but eventually they can become accustomed to this fact and it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t always like this

Death has become a normal part of life, but it wasn’t this way from the beginning. We were ordained by God not to die but to live. There is one reason why there is death in the world. Sin….

Origin of Death:

Jesus identifies the originator of death. He said an enemy hath done this:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning..... John 8:44 (KJV)

God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death. Psalm 68:20 (ASV)

Paul tells us in Hebrews who has the power of death:

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil… Heb 2:14 NKJV

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 KJV

Who is the thief?

Wisdom of Solomon 1:13 For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.14 For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:

Here is a short quote from one of my favorite books outside of the Bible, Desire of Ages:

Satan represents God's law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. DA 24.2

We weren’t meant to die and to say goodbye.

Where is God in all of this?

Jesus tells us that the cross is self denial:

Luke 9:23 KJV And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

God could have ended all of this long ago and yet He didn’t. He suffers for us enormously…..waiting…..for what?

Romans 8:22 KJV For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:19 KJV For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Isaiah 63:9 KJV In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Matthew 10:29 (NLT) What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Here is another quote from the same book:

Not a sigh is breathed, not a pain felt, not a grief pierces the soul, but the throb vibrates to the Father's heart. DA 356.2

What does the Bible say about death?

Let us look to the words of Jesus for understanding:

The context for this exchange centers around the death of Jesus friend, Lazarus

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John 11:11,13-14 KJV

Jesus says death is sleep.

What Does the Old Testament Say?

Psalm 6:5 KJV For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalm 115:17 (NLT) The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD, for they have gone into the silence of the grave.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Luke records Peter’s sermon where he tells what happened to David when he died- David asleep. This sermon resulted in the baptism of 3,000 souls.

Acts 2:29,31,34 (NLT) 29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

Our Hope is in the Resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:17-18,20 KJV  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. [20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 KJV

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep(same verse in the NLT translates the Greek root word as death) , 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. [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. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1 Corinthians 15:51 (NLT) But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!

Second Coming

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 KJV

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.

John 14:2-3 (ESV) 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Let us be comforted to know that Dorothy is not in pain. She is asleep in the grave resting in the blessed hope of the second coming of Jesus

Appeal:

Amidst the loss of Dorothy there is an opportunity for us to reflect on what really matters in life. Is it money, houses, cars, possessions, and status in the eyes of others? It’s our relationships with one another and with God that matter the most.

Let us put away bitterness, anger, unforgiveness for as Jesus says as we judge we will be judged. Let us ask God to help us surrender our will to Him who is too wise to error and too good to do us harm.

May we ask God for forgiveness toward ourselves and for the capacity to forgive those who have wronged us

God speaks to us by His Spirit and He appeals in a still small voice, let us not resist His appeals

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Are we doing this?

Our life is but a vapor. We are not promised tomorrow. Let us make sure our calling and election is sure today.

Would you like eternal life? I will tell you what it is:

Jesus says:

John 17:3 KJV And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer

Father we thank you for the strength and long suffering of your love to endure so much sin and not give up on us. We see that you are not responsible for sin, suffering, and death. You are the great restorer. Satan is the destroyer. We thank you that Dorthy is asleep in the grave free from all suffering. We thank you for the blessed hope of the resurrection and the soon return of Jesus. Let our hearts yield to your appeals and may we allow you to perfect the matchless character of your dear Son in our lives that we may know you and Jesus and have the assurance eternal life when your Son Returns. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.