This past Wednesday we held a memorial service for my Uncle John Johnson. I was asked to speak and say a prayer at the service. Here is what I shared:
Times like these always seem to get me thinking.
After I had heard about what happened and the shock had went away I found myself trying to think of all the memories or traits that I would never forget about Uncle John. And in his case they were easy for me to put into words. Fishing. It is no secret that Uncle John loved fishing. I couldn’t talk about Uncle John without at least mentioning fishing. But he wasn’t only a fisherman, he was my Uncle, and I also remember my Uncle loved to joke around. I always saw him with a smile on his face. I can’t remember a family get together that he didn’t pull me off to the side to tell me a joke like it was some government secret. And no matter how many times I saw him he always had a new one to tell me, whether it was funny or not.
Uncle John was a light hearted, funny, gentle man. And I only have good memories of the time we spent together.
But I think it wise to not only remember those times of joy with John but also this present time of sadness and soberness. I couldn’t only think of the old days and how he was always ready to tell me a joke, but of today and what he would want to tell me now, to tell us now.
And there is no a doubt in my mind about the message that John has for us today. If he could speak to us right now after being on the other side he would tell each one of us one thing.
“Get ready to meet God.”
John’s untimely passing is a reminder to each and everyone one of us that we have an appointment with our Maker, and that that day can come at any time.
But I think the reason I am here today, the reason I have been asked to speak is to announce that that appointment, that day we face God, does not have to be one that fills us with fear or anger. We don’t have to pretend it will never come but we can embrace it with hope and joy.
You see we have every reason to have fear of that day. We know that we haven’t lived up to God’s standards. Each of us has lied, each of us has stolen; we have all broken God’s laws. The thought of having to stand before Him and account for everything we have done should make us tremble.
But if you do fear that day you don’t have to, for our God of justice is also a God mercy. And He has looked down from heaven and seen our sins, our filthiness, and instead of crushing this fallen world He has provided a way of salvation for it.
Jesus Christ, God Himself, came to us because we could not make it to Him. He made a way where there was no way before. You see, we have a sin debt to God and He promises that He won’t let one sin go unaccounted for.
But, Jesus sees our debt and promises to pay it for anyone who would trust in Him. Jesus demonstrated His love toward us in that while we are sinners He died on the cross for us. He took our sins upon Himself and stood in our place of guilt before God. On the condition that we turn from our sins and trust only in His death and resurrection all of our sins can be forgiven because He paid the price for each one of them. And in all of this God is just, by accounting for all of our sins, and He is the justifier, by dying for everyone our sins.
So, that day does not have to be a day that brings us fear, or make us angry; it doesn’t have to be a day we try to ignore. That day can be a day we look forward to. That day can be the day we finally meet our Savior.
So, let us think of all the joyful memories we had with Uncle John. Let us think of all the time we spent with him and the influence he had in all of our lives. And let us think of his wishes now and what he would want to tell us if he could.
On behalf of the family I would like thank everyone for joining us today to remember our John Johnson and I would like to end this service in prayer.
Lord we pray that you would give us peace in this time. We ask that You would bring to our minds those times of joy spent with Uncle John. Please remind of us of his laugh and his jokes. Remind us of his voice and his touch. Please comfort us in his absence, and also help us to comfort one another. And Lord Jesus, we thank you for your love demonstrated toward us on the cross and we ask that You would help us to come to know it and embrace every day. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Times like these always seem to get me thinking.
After I had heard about what happened and the shock had went away I found myself trying to think of all the memories or traits that I would never forget about Uncle John. And in his case they were easy for me to put into words. Fishing. It is no secret that Uncle John loved fishing. I couldn’t talk about Uncle John without at least mentioning fishing. But he wasn’t only a fisherman, he was my Uncle, and I also remember my Uncle loved to joke around. I always saw him with a smile on his face. I can’t remember a family get together that he didn’t pull me off to the side to tell me a joke like it was some government secret. And no matter how many times I saw him he always had a new one to tell me, whether it was funny or not.
Uncle John was a light hearted, funny, gentle man. And I only have good memories of the time we spent together.
But I think it wise to not only remember those times of joy with John but also this present time of sadness and soberness. I couldn’t only think of the old days and how he was always ready to tell me a joke, but of today and what he would want to tell me now, to tell us now.
And there is no a doubt in my mind about the message that John has for us today. If he could speak to us right now after being on the other side he would tell each one of us one thing.
“Get ready to meet God.”
John’s untimely passing is a reminder to each and everyone one of us that we have an appointment with our Maker, and that that day can come at any time.
But I think the reason I am here today, the reason I have been asked to speak is to announce that that appointment, that day we face God, does not have to be one that fills us with fear or anger. We don’t have to pretend it will never come but we can embrace it with hope and joy.
You see we have every reason to have fear of that day. We know that we haven’t lived up to God’s standards. Each of us has lied, each of us has stolen; we have all broken God’s laws. The thought of having to stand before Him and account for everything we have done should make us tremble.
But if you do fear that day you don’t have to, for our God of justice is also a God mercy. And He has looked down from heaven and seen our sins, our filthiness, and instead of crushing this fallen world He has provided a way of salvation for it.
Jesus Christ, God Himself, came to us because we could not make it to Him. He made a way where there was no way before. You see, we have a sin debt to God and He promises that He won’t let one sin go unaccounted for.
But, Jesus sees our debt and promises to pay it for anyone who would trust in Him. Jesus demonstrated His love toward us in that while we are sinners He died on the cross for us. He took our sins upon Himself and stood in our place of guilt before God. On the condition that we turn from our sins and trust only in His death and resurrection all of our sins can be forgiven because He paid the price for each one of them. And in all of this God is just, by accounting for all of our sins, and He is the justifier, by dying for everyone our sins.
So, that day does not have to be a day that brings us fear, or make us angry; it doesn’t have to be a day we try to ignore. That day can be a day we look forward to. That day can be the day we finally meet our Savior.
So, let us think of all the joyful memories we had with Uncle John. Let us think of all the time we spent with him and the influence he had in all of our lives. And let us think of his wishes now and what he would want to tell us if he could.
On behalf of the family I would like thank everyone for joining us today to remember our John Johnson and I would like to end this service in prayer.Lord we pray that you would give us peace in this time. We ask that You would bring to our minds those times of joy spent with Uncle John. Please remind of us of his laugh and his jokes. Remind us of his voice and his touch. Please comfort us in his absence, and also help us to comfort one another. And Lord Jesus, we thank you for your love demonstrated toward us on the cross and we ask that You would help us to come to know it and embrace every day. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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