Proverbs 23:26 Revelation
7:9-17 John 5:24-30
Grace, Mercy, and
Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “These
are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Thus far our text.
Dear friends in Christ, Marcy, Family, and
friends of Mervin, Mervin Buck was a hard working man. He served in the National Guard, he farmed
for many years. And for “retirement” he
spent 25 years working at Wil-rich implements.
He rose early every day for work, and he went to bed early. He loved spending time with his grandchildren
and children, and he faithfully attended this church for 71 years, always sitting
in the same pew every Sunday.
Merv was a kind,
caring man, who loved his family and who loved his God. This gives us a pretty glowing description of
Merv. And yet, we know that despite all
of these things, Mervin was not perfect.
He too, just like me, and yes, just like each one of you had things that
he struggled with, difficulties in his life.
Things were not always easy for him, and often Mervin fell short of
God’s goals for his life. Mervin was a
sinner, and because of sin, he had struggles in his life, struggles which our
text call “the great tribulation”.
Friends, we too
are in this great tribulation. We too
struggle with our sin every day. We have
problems within our families. We have
fights and arguments. We have sickness
and pain. We have death all around us. And friends, today we feel that most
pointedly. We will miss Mervin, we will
miss his smile and his care and his advice.
We will miss his hugs. We will
miss spending time with our grandpa and father.
We hurt, we mourn.
This is exactly
what sin causes in our life. Hurt and
pain. Loneliness and sorrow. Because of sin, each and every one of us has
to face death, the death of others, and yes even our own death. And what is more, it is more than we can
handle. It is not pretty, it is not
fun. And we are left searching for
answers. Why? Why did Merv have to die? Why now?
Why did he have to be taken away so suddenly?
But we know that
as Christians death is not the end for us.
We know that even though we no longer have Mervin with us, that we will
not be apart from him forever. For
Mervin trusted in something bigger than himself, Something that was the answer
to the sin of this world, Something that could overcome death and pain and
suffering. Mervin looked to Jesus Christ
as his Savior and Lord. God called Merv
at his Baptism, marking him as a precious child of God. God called Merv as he was confirmed in the
faith with these words, “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe
my ways.” And that is how Merv lived,
ever living in the ways of Jesus, the ways of forgiveness of sins through the
cross of Christ.
And so, last
Thursday, Mervin’s 71st birthday, God called Mervin home. Now he is experiencing that picture which our
text describes. He now stands before
God, apart from pain, apart from suffering.
He no longer shall hunger, for he is at the feast of God. He no longer will thirst, for he drinks the
very living water of the spring of life.
He no longer will feel the pain and suffering of this world, for he is
before the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is with Jesus who died for his sins and
yours, and will be at rest forever more.
Friends, it will
not be easy for us. We will ask
questions in the coming days and weeks and months. We will miss Merv at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will have times where we just want to cry
a little because we hurt. But even in
the midst of this, we do not mourn as those who have no hope. We mourn as those who trust in Jesus, who
know the promises he brings. We mourn
knowing that Merv is now in a better place, and that we will one day join
him. Merv has passed from death into
life, he now lives forever with Jesus.
Praise be to our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
