We turn to the bible to find hope and comfort in times like these. In the passage I am going to read first, the Apostle Paul was writing to a young pastor named Timothy. Paul was facing death, and in this letter he summed up his life and spoke of what was next.
2 Timothy 6:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.
The word "departure" is a word with many meanings in the bible.
- Like a ship, Molly has sailed into another port.
- Like a soldier, Molly has folded her tent.
- Like a prisoner, Molly has been set free.
- And like a beast of burden, Molly has laid her burden down.
What is next for Molly?
2 Timothy 6:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.
- Molly fought the good fight,
- Molly finished the race,
- Molly kept the faith,
- Molly longed for, looked for, and loved the coming appearing of Jesus.
- AND NOW, I believe Molly is receiving her crown of righteousness, as was given to her by the Righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Paul is telling us, in this letter, what Molly showed us. Our faith experience is meant to honor the life and purpose of Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be working in our lives, whatever our circumstances might be.
Molly lived the last 6 months of her life a prisoner in a sickly body, she was in pain a lot of the time and she was unconscious a lot of the time. Yet she seemed to show joy whenever someone would come for a visit.
Listen to these words…
Philippians 1:20-24 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
I just want to spend a few minutes today looking verse 21: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain”
You see Paul understood and I think that Molly also understood, God fulfilled His purpose for the world through Jesus. God fulfills His purpose for us through Jesus. God has a purpose for our lives – for His glory. “Living is Christ!”
- For Paul, life was not about getting or doing things to acquire happiness, Life was not about finding joy in circumstances.
- For Paul, life was about pointing others to God- living for God’s glory. Life was all about Jesus. It was about giving God the glory for everything.
- For good times, because they are a blessing.
- For hard times, too, because God uses them to make him stronger.
- God has a purpose for each of us. We are not drifting on a rubber raft in the ocean. We are not wandering in the dark. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which has God prepared for us. “Living is Christ!”
- Because Molly knew Jesus and followed His example, she was one the most generous people I have ever known.
- When she retired from being a public school principle.
- She helped others through her leadership.
- She helped others through teaching school,
- She helped others in her family: (in fact she spoiled many of us – Progress report) by being a good wife, a good mother, helping her sisters.
And, just as God has a purpose for life – that is, for His glory – God has a purpose for death – for our gain.
For the Christian, death is gain. For Molly, leaving behind this old world and trading it for a new one was a serious upgrade. In heaven we gain so many things. What do we gain?
- We gain a better body – a glorified, immortal, resurrected body.
In this present body we’re subject to all the sorrows and tears that life deals out. (Cerebral palsy, Back pain, Fibromyalgia, M.S., Parkison’s disease, Dementia, Kidney Disease and eventually failure) Old age, sickness, and finally death are the inevitable. But in death and the resurrection we gain a better body, one that can never grow old, know disease, suffer pain, and can never die. In heaven there are no prescriptions, no canes, walkers, or wheel chairs, no doctors, nurses or hospice, to disability parking spots, hospitals or nursing homes. We gain a better body.
- We gain a better home.
However beautiful your earthly house maybe, it is nothing compared with our mansion in heaven.
Look at the promise of Jesus
John 14:1-3 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
Jesus promised that He would prepare our heavenly home. WE will live in His presence forever. - We gain a better inheritance.
Our final reward is not here – it is in Heaven. Living for God on earth for His glory has its advantages - purpose, meaning, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control – to name a few.
But the full value of “the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give us” will be ours for eternity.
- We gain a better fellowship with Jesus.
The Christian life on earth was one of faith, believing before seeing. But heaven works different from that. We will see the Lord face to face.
“What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the promised land, what a day, glorious day, that will be.”
- As God had a purpose for Jesus, God has a purpose for our lives right now God’s purpose is His glory.
- As God had a purpose for Jesus’ death, God has a purpose for our deaths Dying is gain.
- Saved by God’s grace, following the example of Jesus, Molly lived for God on earth, and she is experiencing His glory in her death.
The Apostle Paul had a vision of heaven. He wrote down this vision in his letter, “The Revelation.”
Revelation 21:3-4 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, …Revelation 21:22-23 I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Molly has gone home. To God be the Glory!
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| Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor twitter.com/philsallee facebook.com/phil.sallee philsallee.info nbchurch.info nbfamilies.info |
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