Victory Over Evil Violent Death
Sermon
In Sure And Certain Hope
An Anthology of Exemplary Funeral Messages
Harold G. Skinner
This meditation was given at the funeral service of a thirty-seven-year-old woman who was shot by her estranged husband and before her death, lay in the intensive care unit of the hospital for nearly seven months - most of the time in a coma.
It is good to see this large crowd here. It shows your support for the family of __________ . Yet most of you, even as you reach out in support, are echoing the question of St. Paul in some form. Paul had great insight and sensitivity. He poses the question for us, "What then shall we say to this?" And we are asking with Paul: Why? What then shall we say?
Certainly none of us has all the answers. But of some things we can be sure. During the last seven months we have participated in and been witness to two things: the power of sin and evil and the triumph of love.
We are here today to worship and to receive the assurance from God Almighty of support and comfort. We hear the good news of the resurrection to eternal life. "I am the way and the truth and the life." "Death is swallowed up in victory."
But we come here also with a variety of emotions because of the nature of this death.
Relief that a long ordeal is over for ____________, her family and friends.
Anger that this death was such a waste of life.
Fear that forces are loose among us that can cause such havoc and pain.
Remorse for not being more supportive of the family.
Sorrow, even bitterness, over the loss of a life in her prime and for one who could do such a thing.
And yes, some feelings of forgiveness.
And for all of us hope.
"What then shall we say to this?" The burning question of why? I don't know why completely. There is no clear answer to many questions in life and death. Job wrestled over the question of the suffering of an innocent man.
And though I don't know why completely - I still see through a glass darkly - I do have some insights from the Word of God. This death is not God's will. It is tied in with the forces of evil. That struggle goes on all the time. Wars take the lives of thousands, even millions. Hatred and jealousy and fear destroy. Death is tied closely with evil. It is the final enemy.
I said we have been part of two things, the power of sin and evil and the triumph of love. We are not alone. We have hope. We have a Savior. He who did not spare his own son comes to us with understanding, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Yes, the power of love has been present these last seven months. It has been present especially in you who have reached out to touch the family.
____________ had a very critical night about three weeks after her hospitalization. The family was called in. My wife and I and several others spent the night with them. At one point we went into her room early in the morning. We witnessed a beautiful sunrise through the window, dawn in the East. It reminded me of the words of Isaiah 58:8. "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn." It was like the rainbow after the flood. The Lord Almighty continues to be supportive.
I can't answer all your questions or mine. When you leave this service you will still have some emotions of which you are not sure. But of some things we can be certain. God loves us. He wants the best for us. In the midst of sadness let us learn to be grateful for the happy experiences, the good memories. __________'s son showed wonderful insight when he said to his grandmother, "We must not be bitter." Bitterness destroys and blocks the good memories.
The Lord God comforts and supports. He holds out to us the hope of the resurrection and eternal life. John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet shares with us "... and love can never lose its own." What a beautiful insight to help lessen grief. Whittier surely based this truth on Romans 8, "Who can separate us from the love of Christ?"
Jesus shows us the way ahead. We have a glimpse of heaven, "In my Father's house are many rooms." it caused Paul to shout out, "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory."
Underneath are the everlasting arms. We may leave here with some unanswered questions. But we leave with the peace of God that passes all understanding. "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Love has triumphed over evil. Alleluia!
Amen.
This meditation was given at the funeral service of a thirty-seven-year-old woman who was shot by her estranged husband and before her death, lay in the intensive care unit of the hospital for nearly seven months - most of the time in a coma.
It is good to see this large crowd here. It shows your support for the family of __________ . Yet most of you, even as you reach out in support, are echoing the question of St. Paul in some form. Paul had great insight and sensitivity. He poses the question for us, "What then shall we say to this?" And we are asking with Paul: Why? What then shall we say?
Certainly none of us has all the answers. But of some things we can be sure. During the last seven months we have participated in and been witness to two things: the power of sin and evil and the triumph of love.
We are here today to worship and to receive the assurance from God Almighty of support and comfort. We hear the good news of the resurrection to eternal life. "I am the way and the truth and the life." "Death is swallowed up in victory."
But we come here also with a variety of emotions because of the nature of this death.
Relief that a long ordeal is over for ____________, her family and friends.
Anger that this death was such a waste of life.
Fear that forces are loose among us that can cause such havoc and pain.
Remorse for not being more supportive of the family.
Sorrow, even bitterness, over the loss of a life in her prime and for one who could do such a thing.
And yes, some feelings of forgiveness.
And for all of us hope.
"What then shall we say to this?" The burning question of why? I don't know why completely. There is no clear answer to many questions in life and death. Job wrestled over the question of the suffering of an innocent man.
And though I don't know why completely - I still see through a glass darkly - I do have some insights from the Word of God. This death is not God's will. It is tied in with the forces of evil. That struggle goes on all the time. Wars take the lives of thousands, even millions. Hatred and jealousy and fear destroy. Death is tied closely with evil. It is the final enemy.
I said we have been part of two things, the power of sin and evil and the triumph of love. We are not alone. We have hope. We have a Savior. He who did not spare his own son comes to us with understanding, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Yes, the power of love has been present these last seven months. It has been present especially in you who have reached out to touch the family.
____________ had a very critical night about three weeks after her hospitalization. The family was called in. My wife and I and several others spent the night with them. At one point we went into her room early in the morning. We witnessed a beautiful sunrise through the window, dawn in the East. It reminded me of the words of Isaiah 58:8. "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn." It was like the rainbow after the flood. The Lord Almighty continues to be supportive.
I can't answer all your questions or mine. When you leave this service you will still have some emotions of which you are not sure. But of some things we can be certain. God loves us. He wants the best for us. In the midst of sadness let us learn to be grateful for the happy experiences, the good memories. __________'s son showed wonderful insight when he said to his grandmother, "We must not be bitter." Bitterness destroys and blocks the good memories.
The Lord God comforts and supports. He holds out to us the hope of the resurrection and eternal life. John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet shares with us "... and love can never lose its own." What a beautiful insight to help lessen grief. Whittier surely based this truth on Romans 8, "Who can separate us from the love of Christ?"
Jesus shows us the way ahead. We have a glimpse of heaven, "In my Father's house are many rooms." it caused Paul to shout out, "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory."
Underneath are the everlasting arms. We may leave here with some unanswered questions. But we leave with the peace of God that passes all understanding. "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Love has triumphed over evil. Alleluia!
Amen.
