Romans 8:31-39
“31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jn. 14:1-6
1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4And you know the way to where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I knew the first time I met Nancy that she had a kind and compassionate spirit. We met at the hospital when she was visiting her mother. We talked briefly about her automobile accident. She greatly loved her “big” brothers and was well-loved by all her family.
Born February 19, 1950, Nancy was part of a caring clan. Graduated from Olentangy High School in 1968. Worked for Merle-Normon, 7-Up, Shasta, and Coca-Cola before retiring in 2005. Maybe some men objected to having a woman as their boss—but she won everyone over.
Nancy possessed a character that—
• Did not complain or talk ill of others.
• Served others even when sick herself.
• Didn’t seek pity and never lost hope.
• Generous, compassionate, patient.
• Faithful and family-oriented (Hostess of a lot of family gatherings).
• She loved to laugh, had an infectious smile, and knew how to have fun in life.
• She listened because she genuinely cared.
• Deeply loved her four stepchildren.
Oh how she liked to shop. She appreciated beauty (Biltmore) and took care of her looks over the years. Yes, she was the family princess, but she could be tough and put bigger, stronger people in their place. When she was laid up for a while because of a serious auto accident, Nancy was still concerned about others before her own needs.
Growing up in Powell when Powell was country meant some lean times. She learned to sew and at times stayed up late at night to make her clothes for the next day.
Nancy was wife, mom, and “Memaw”. She was there for all her family, and will be truly missed.
Nancy and Bob celebrated thirty years of marriage in September of 2009.
On her Facebook profile Nancy wrote “there is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything you set out to do.” She maintained a positive outlook on life and endured all kinds of treatment for her cancer, but in the end, her body wore out and she passed away without doing all she would have liked to do on this earth.
The author of the book in the Bible called “Ecclesiastes” knew similar frustrations. There were things he wanted to know and do, but because he lived in a sin-cursed world, he found many of these pursuits “vanity” and “striving after the wind” (Ecc. 1:16). He learned that God’s sovereign hand controls everything.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die…” (Ecc. 3:1-2).
A life can be ended suddenly in the prime of youth, or the eventual end of years of suffering.
“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time, and then vanishes” (James 4:14).
One can die so suddenly and leave others wondering how this happened, or one can pass after years of cancer. The fact remains the same—we have an appointment to keep.
“It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
Solomon learned, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1)
No one should presume upon the future. God reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. The arrogant fool assumes that he is “the master of his fate, and the captain of his soul.” He assumes that he controls his destiny. The Christian knows that God controls the future, and that what God wills will happen. It is not, “What will be, will be,” as though no one is in control. It is not, “What I will, will be.” It is, rather, “What God wills, will be.”
When Nancy was diagnosed with cancer I was able to visit her at Mt. Carmel East for a short talk. I shared with her some truths from Ephesians 2. We didn’t get to finish the study until a few months later when she was receiving treatment at Zangmiester. As she heard what the Apostle Paul said about our spiritually lost and dead condition, Nancy blurted out, “I believe!” At that moment she stopped trusting good works and trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation.
A funeral causes all survivors to think about mortality and eternity. The departed loved one is missed and mourned. Family and friends wonder why. We try to comfort each other. Did you know that heaven rejoiced when Nancy arrived?
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Ps. 116:15)
Most people would not put “death” and “precious” in the same sentence. We say that life is precious and worth protecting.
Death reminds us that we are not in charge, but that we have an appointment—with death. A person’s view of death reflects their world view. Living in this cursed world we need redemption of body and soul. You are not only dying, but you are dead! Or were (spiritually).
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:1-3).
We want to hear that we are good and doing fine, but the fact is that we are born sinners and estranged from God. Something must be done to change our status or we remain condemned.
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Many of you witnessed changes in Nancy over the years. Maybe she wasn’t as spry as she used to be. Maybe she could not wear her favorite shoes anymore. Maybe the treatments left her sick or tired. Maybe you noticed spiritual peace the last year of her life.
“When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
God provided a remedy for the curse of death. Jesus our Savior was the perfect, sinless, Son of God. He had no sin of His own, yet He took our sins upon Himself on the cross. He died in the sinner’s place, bearing the penalty for sin, the curse of death.
But God also raised Jesus from the dead. He is now in heaven, sitting at the Father’s right hand. All those who repent of sin and put their faith and hope in Jesus as their Savior have the forgiveness of sins, and the assurance of eternal life.
None who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior need fear death. On the authority of Scripture we can claim an unshakeable confidence that we are Christ’s child and that He will guarantee our safe passage to heaven.
Those who are saved by the blood of Christ will never see hell or a made-up place called “purgatory”. The moment they die, their spirit goes to heaven, and they will be given a new and glorious eternal body. For the unsaved the picture is not good. They will know eternal suffering in a literal hell that was prepared for Satan and his demons.
Just as God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He will also raise the true believer to eternal life. Death need no longer be viewed as something we dread, but rather can be welcomed as our passage from this cursed existence to a marvelous one.
“1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor. 5:1-10)
David prayed in the Psalms, "Now, also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not." The closing words of Psalm 23 record David’s confidence—“…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
All who have put their faith in Christ are assured that they need fear no evil. Make sure your sin has been put on Christ, and you have been declared righteous by His perfect sacrifice. Live! Like Nancy, “Live joyfully” (Ecc. 9:9). The way to live joyfully is not to live for yourself, but to live for Christ! Live with the prayer on your lips “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”!
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory for ever I’ll share.”
1 Cor. 15:50-58
50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
“31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jn. 14:1-6
1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4And you know the way to where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I knew the first time I met Nancy that she had a kind and compassionate spirit. We met at the hospital when she was visiting her mother. We talked briefly about her automobile accident. She greatly loved her “big” brothers and was well-loved by all her family.
Born February 19, 1950, Nancy was part of a caring clan. Graduated from Olentangy High School in 1968. Worked for Merle-Normon, 7-Up, Shasta, and Coca-Cola before retiring in 2005. Maybe some men objected to having a woman as their boss—but she won everyone over.
Nancy possessed a character that—
• Did not complain or talk ill of others.
• Served others even when sick herself.
• Didn’t seek pity and never lost hope.
• Generous, compassionate, patient.
• Faithful and family-oriented (Hostess of a lot of family gatherings).
• She loved to laugh, had an infectious smile, and knew how to have fun in life.
• She listened because she genuinely cared.
• Deeply loved her four stepchildren.
Oh how she liked to shop. She appreciated beauty (Biltmore) and took care of her looks over the years. Yes, she was the family princess, but she could be tough and put bigger, stronger people in their place. When she was laid up for a while because of a serious auto accident, Nancy was still concerned about others before her own needs.
Growing up in Powell when Powell was country meant some lean times. She learned to sew and at times stayed up late at night to make her clothes for the next day.
Nancy was wife, mom, and “Memaw”. She was there for all her family, and will be truly missed.
Nancy and Bob celebrated thirty years of marriage in September of 2009.
On her Facebook profile Nancy wrote “there is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything you set out to do.” She maintained a positive outlook on life and endured all kinds of treatment for her cancer, but in the end, her body wore out and she passed away without doing all she would have liked to do on this earth.
The author of the book in the Bible called “Ecclesiastes” knew similar frustrations. There were things he wanted to know and do, but because he lived in a sin-cursed world, he found many of these pursuits “vanity” and “striving after the wind” (Ecc. 1:16). He learned that God’s sovereign hand controls everything.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die…” (Ecc. 3:1-2).
A life can be ended suddenly in the prime of youth, or the eventual end of years of suffering.
“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time, and then vanishes” (James 4:14).
One can die so suddenly and leave others wondering how this happened, or one can pass after years of cancer. The fact remains the same—we have an appointment to keep.
“It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
Solomon learned, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1)
No one should presume upon the future. God reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. The arrogant fool assumes that he is “the master of his fate, and the captain of his soul.” He assumes that he controls his destiny. The Christian knows that God controls the future, and that what God wills will happen. It is not, “What will be, will be,” as though no one is in control. It is not, “What I will, will be.” It is, rather, “What God wills, will be.”
When Nancy was diagnosed with cancer I was able to visit her at Mt. Carmel East for a short talk. I shared with her some truths from Ephesians 2. We didn’t get to finish the study until a few months later when she was receiving treatment at Zangmiester. As she heard what the Apostle Paul said about our spiritually lost and dead condition, Nancy blurted out, “I believe!” At that moment she stopped trusting good works and trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation.
A funeral causes all survivors to think about mortality and eternity. The departed loved one is missed and mourned. Family and friends wonder why. We try to comfort each other. Did you know that heaven rejoiced when Nancy arrived?
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Ps. 116:15)
Most people would not put “death” and “precious” in the same sentence. We say that life is precious and worth protecting.
Death reminds us that we are not in charge, but that we have an appointment—with death. A person’s view of death reflects their world view. Living in this cursed world we need redemption of body and soul. You are not only dying, but you are dead! Or were (spiritually).
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:1-3).
We want to hear that we are good and doing fine, but the fact is that we are born sinners and estranged from God. Something must be done to change our status or we remain condemned.
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Many of you witnessed changes in Nancy over the years. Maybe she wasn’t as spry as she used to be. Maybe she could not wear her favorite shoes anymore. Maybe the treatments left her sick or tired. Maybe you noticed spiritual peace the last year of her life.
“When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
God provided a remedy for the curse of death. Jesus our Savior was the perfect, sinless, Son of God. He had no sin of His own, yet He took our sins upon Himself on the cross. He died in the sinner’s place, bearing the penalty for sin, the curse of death.
But God also raised Jesus from the dead. He is now in heaven, sitting at the Father’s right hand. All those who repent of sin and put their faith and hope in Jesus as their Savior have the forgiveness of sins, and the assurance of eternal life.
None who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior need fear death. On the authority of Scripture we can claim an unshakeable confidence that we are Christ’s child and that He will guarantee our safe passage to heaven.
Those who are saved by the blood of Christ will never see hell or a made-up place called “purgatory”. The moment they die, their spirit goes to heaven, and they will be given a new and glorious eternal body. For the unsaved the picture is not good. They will know eternal suffering in a literal hell that was prepared for Satan and his demons.
Just as God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He will also raise the true believer to eternal life. Death need no longer be viewed as something we dread, but rather can be welcomed as our passage from this cursed existence to a marvelous one.
“1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor. 5:1-10)
David prayed in the Psalms, "Now, also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not." The closing words of Psalm 23 record David’s confidence—“…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
All who have put their faith in Christ are assured that they need fear no evil. Make sure your sin has been put on Christ, and you have been declared righteous by His perfect sacrifice. Live! Like Nancy, “Live joyfully” (Ecc. 9:9). The way to live joyfully is not to live for yourself, but to live for Christ! Live with the prayer on your lips “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”!
“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory for ever I’ll share.”
1 Cor. 15:50-58
50I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
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