Funeral for Lois Marion Miner

John 5:24-29 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. ²⁸ "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

 

Many people believe the way to heaven is broad and easy. Their conclusion is simple: “I believe in a god and I live a good life.” These people can’t imagine why the true God would want more than that. 

 

Look at Lois. Many people would think that if you can get to heaven by living a good life and being a good person, then she was the one. She has been married to Charles since 1948, soon after he got out of the military. Her children said that she never raised her voice with them. But then they added that she didn’t have to, because eventually dad was coming home. Lois took after mom and was quite an accomplished cook and baker. She enjoyed her sewing, gardening and cardinals. She liked summer vacations, camping and walking the beach.

 

In addition to being an excellent mother, Lois was also a very good mother-in law. She also raised her children in the Christian faith, bringing them to church with her every Sunday. Then when they got stubborn and didn’t want to go, she bribed them with milk and their grandmother’s kolaches.

 

Lois was a positive reflection of her mom. She had an overall goodness and a gentle disposition. She got along with everybody and never said a cross word to anyone.

 

She seemed to be a saint here on earth. And yet, Lois would have been the first person to quote the Bible to say that all of her righteous acts are like filthy rags compared to the perfection that God demands from His people. Or how the Bible says that anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God. Or when God’s Word reminds us that there is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.

 

Lois knew that she was a sinner. She sinned in her thoughts, in her words, in her actions. There were God’s expectations that she failed. There were God’s commandments that she broke. And all of this because she was born with an inborn, sinful nature, like the rest of us. It is Lois’ sins, like all of our sins, that keep us from living the perfect life that God demands and earning a place for ourselves in God’s heaven. Instead, our sins earn us a place in Satan’s hell.

 

But that’s where Jesus comes along. Jesus clearly teaches how a person receives eternal life and escapes eternal death and condemnation.  His words are clear and to the point: “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”

 

What Jesus teaches is vastly different from what many believe. It is much more than believing there is some kind of a god. It is also much more than offering this god a life filled with sporadic good works. It is about hearing and believing what God the Father has revealed in the Bible, and accomplished through his Son.

 

This is where Lois placed her confidence. Lois knew that she was not a saint because of what she did. She is now a saint gathered around God’s throne in heaven because of what Jesus Christ did for her. Instead of hoping that she had done enough or tried hard enough, she knew that Jesus’ perfect life covered over all of her failings as a wife, mother or friend. She did not trust in her own works or righteousness, but that it was Jesus’ blood and righteousness that was the solid rock upon which her faith was built. She knew her many and varied sins earned her eternal death in hell, but it was Jesus dying on the cross that paid the price to rescue her from hell’s flames and earn her a room in the mansion of heaven. She trusted that it was her Good Shepherd laying down His life for her, one of His precious lambs, that gave her the promise of being gathered with the rest the Shepherd’s lambs and sheep in the green pastures and quiet waters of paradise.

 

While it may sound more palatable to believe God is easy going and will allow just about anyone into heaven, it diminishes the tremendous work Jesus accomplished in coming to this earth. He came to secure perfect obedience for all. His came to earn forgiveness for all. He came to bring life for all by trusting in his completed work of salvation.

 

I chose the Old Testament lesson, sermon text and closing hymn because this Sunday in our church we celebrate Saints Triumphant, when we thank God for the saints whom He has gathered around His throne on Judgment Day. Friends, a clock is ticking. The Great Day of Judgment is coming. It started the minute we were born. We don’t know how long we have, but every day, every month, every year we come closer to our last hour. Every time we hear of earthquakes, hurricanes and wars, it reminds us that Judgment Day is just around the corner. Every time we look in the mirror and see another wrinkle or gray hair, or roll out of bed with a new ache and have to pop another pill, it reminds that our own, personal Judgment Day is coming soon.

 

And yet, like Lois, we don’t need to be afraid of this great and coming Day of Judgment. For Jesus promised, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” That life was given to Lois already at her Baptism on August 8, 1928 at Epiphany Lutheran Church – only a year after our church was built. She then confirmed that faith on May 24, 1942 and continued to feed her faith throughout her life with Word and Sacrament. It is through these Means of Grace – God’s Word, His Holy Baptism and His Blessed Lord’s Supper that kept on giving her life in Christ Jesus and prepared her for the life to come, which is now hers.

 

Jesus gives that same promise of eternal life to you, so you don’t need to be afraid. You see, there is a great difference between Lois, Charles, their children, and we who are gathered here this morning, compared to the rest of the world. Lois was not afraid to die. She looked forward to death. After her dementia robbed Lois of much of her life, we prayed for God’s grace to allow her to fall asleep in Christ. We are not afraid of death because Jesus has taken away the sting of death. We are not afraid of Judgment Day, because Jesus rose from the grave to give us the promise of eternal life with Him.

 

The Bible says, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). Every person who has ever lived will be present at the final gathering. Every heart that has ever beat. Every mouth that has ever spoken. On that day we will be surrounded by sea of people. All will be present. All will hear the voice of the Son of God. And all will be looking in one direction. All will be looking at Him—the Son of Man. Glorious in majesty. Robed in splendor.

 

Sadly, there are many who are in our world who are afraid of death and judgment. That’s because they are trusting in their own good lives, their own righteousness and they have thereby made themselves their own savior. They have rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior, so on the Last Day they will only see Him as their Judge.

 

But for us who are gathered here, who like Lois, have listened to God’s Word and believe, who receive Christ in Word and Sacrament, we will stand calm and confident on the Last Day. Because we believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin, because we have received Him as our Rescuer from death, now we are not afraid of standing before Him as our Judge.

 

For on that Last Day, we will hear the voice of Jesus calling us. Just as Lazaraus heard Jesus’ voice penetrate the grave and call him to come out, so we, Lois and all of God’s saints in faith, will hear the voice of Jesus pierce the dirt and coffin to find our ears. Our body will hear and awaken, to come together with our soul which has been with the Lord in heaven.

 

That will be the great day when we will be reunited with all of God’s saints. Lois will be there. No longer lying in bed, but standing around God’s glorious throne; no longer dressed in bed clothes, but wearing the white robe of Christ’s righteousness; no longer having to be fed, but now sitting at the banquet table that Christ has prepared. Not because of what she has done, but because of what Jesus has done for her. Amen.