For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John
3:16 ).
That verse has been called "the little gospel." It is the essence
of the good news that Christians have been proclaiming to the world for
nearly two thousand years, but the world finds it hard to believe that death
is not the end of human experience --perhaps because the good news seems
too good to be true.
We ourselves sometimes doubt the gospel, wondering if men invented the idea
of eternal life simply because we need to believe it.
Therefore, when a loved one dies, or when we are brought to face our own
death, we are presented with a test of faith. What do we believe? Only we
can answer that question, individually and personally.
But what the church teaches us is this: Jimmy is alive, in another realm
of God's creation that we cannot see with earthly eyes. How do we know?
Jesus said it is so, and we can take his word for it.
We can take his word for it. That is what we mean when we say we believe
in him. And that belief is the foundation of our faith.
He who comes to me, I will not cast out ... and whoever will may come.
(John 6:37)
Although we believe in God and Jesus, we may ask, "What happens to
Jimmy?" And again, the answer is simple: he continues to be who he
is and to go in the direction he chooses.
We do not become instant saints merely by dying, but neither are we condemned
for violation of theological rules we do not understand. The one and only
critical question is this: do we turn toward Jesus, or away from him? That
choice determines which way we will go--and our direction determines our
destination.
What happens to Jimmy? Jimmy turned to Jesus in prayer, simply and beautifully,
like a trusting child. I saw him do that. Jesus will not cast out anyone
who turns to him. And that's all I need to know.
When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid
at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14)
That scripture applies to many people in this room. You helped Jimmy when
he needed it. You took him to the hospital. You visited him. You joked with
him and played Monopoly with him. You gave your blood for him ... thirty-eight
pints of it, at the last count I heard.
That scripture applies to Jimmy's brother-in-law, who paid hospital bills
and set up a fund to pay the other bills when Jimmy could not work.
Most especially, it applies to Laura. Laura, you are blessed because Jimmy
could not repay the ten-thousand-and-one things you did for him.
You are blessed. All those honest gifts are remembered, and will be repaid
at the resurrection of the just. Jimmy will find it a time for thanks-giving,
and you a time for thanks-getting, even as you will find opportunity to
thank those who have helped you.
And then the Master will say, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."
That is how it works. That is who we are and why we are here--not to build
up "stars in our crowns," but simply to obey the Lord's commandment:
"Carry ye one another's burdens."
That is how we follow him--carrying one another's burdens--during this life,
through the door called "death," and beyond ...
Amen.