Lou's Funeral Message - Phil 1 20-24
Better By Far
Lou’s Funeral Message
I. Introduction
A. Today we have gathered here in this place to celebrate the life of a husband, father, brother, friend and last but not least a protector of our rights and freedoms as a career soldier in the United States Army
B. As people, I think there is no more difficult time than this to express our true feelings. To find the proper words is so difficult and . . . words seem so inadequate, so incomplete--yet we do our best to express our sympathy/our concern to those left behind.
C. But I am reminded again that what we really need at a time like this is revelation, not just words.
1. We need something that speaks of certainties, not just hopes.
2. We need something that speaks with authority.
3. We need something that provides true comfort and gives something and someone to believe in/to trust as we go on from here.
4. We need more than sincere expressions of sympathy and concern (as wonderful as they are) in a time of sorrow and death
5. We need the authoritative, comforting revelation of the Word of God.
Philippians 1:20-23
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
II. The Text
A. What the text tells us
1. That the important thing is that Christ is exalted whether by my life or by my death
2. Then the distinction is made as to which is preferable
a. If I live then it is Christ that I am living for
b. If I die then it is to my personal gain and benefit
3. So for the Christian this brings about a dilemma “What shall I chose?”
a. Shall I choose the better and go and be with Christ?
b. Shall I stay and be with you?
B. I believe that last Tuesday morning Lou was faced with this crossroads
1. Do I want to stay with my loved ones or do I want to go and be with the Lord?
2. This past Mar 28th Mary invited her brothers and sisters to the Veterans Home in Anna to celebrate Lou’s 79th birthday and he was a bit unresponsive until Kathleen begin to play some of the old songs of Church.
a. All of sudden he woke up and the brightest smile came on his face. It was as if some miracle drug had been given him
b. He recognized us and gave that cute little grin that is so famous for.
c. What a great day. I left there blessed because of Lou.
3. On Tuesday morning, Mary felt the need to go to his bedside and tell him that it was alright for him to go home and be with Jesus and those that were waiting for him on the other side
a. There were those in the room that saw him reach out with his hand as if to take hold of an unseen hand
b. In just few moments he departed this life
c. The decision had been made
d. I believe in those closing moments of life as we know it, he understood what this text really means
C. You see the wrong person is standing here today talking about the glory and joy that is on the other side of death
1. I’ve never been there, but Lou is now an eye witness to and a participant in the events and happenings of that eternal country and Kingdom
2. I’ve never seen the light of that capital city, but Lou is looking at it right now
3. I’ve never seen the praise and worship that is taking place right now before the throne of God, but Lou is participating in giving the King of kings and Lord of lords glory and honor
4. I’ve never seen the face of Jesus, but Lou knows who He is and what He looks like
5. You see he is now able to fully answer the question, “What shall I choose?”
6. No longer can he say, “I do not know.” No longer is Lou torn between the two decisions. He knows now for sure!
7. He is has passed through the door of death into real living – eternal life
8. This is not the end, but just the beginning for him
Moody More Alive
Realizing that he would soon be gone from this world one day, the great and noted evangelist Dwight L. Moody said to a friend, “Someday you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it.
“At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all—out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”
9. He has not departed; He has just arrived
10. There will be many who will speak of the late Lou Chaney, but I am here to tell that you that we are the ones who are late.
III. Better by far?
Some have said that death is paying a debt of nature. But it is not paying a debt, but rather exchanging money at the bank. We bring a crumpled note to the bank to obtain solid gold in exchange. In a Christian’s death, you bring this cumbersome body, which you could not retain long; you lay it down and receive for it the eternal treasures of heaven’s best
A. A better country and city
Hebrews 11:16
16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
B. Joy and glory of heaven is better by far than any joy and glory that we witness here on earth
Romans 8:18
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
C. Being in presence of God is far better than being in the presence of any national or world leader
Revelation 7:9-10
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
D. Better by far because some things are missing
Revelation 21:4
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
E. Better body
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
IV. The question that each of us must ask and answer for themselves: “Is it far better for me?” Where will I spend eternity?
A. Some in this room are prepared to go and be with Christ
1. They have made the choice to claim Him as their Savior
2. They are looking forward to the day when they stand in His presence
B. Some in this room are not prepared for eternity
1. You cannot say it is better to go and be with Christ, because you have never turned to Him for salvation that only He can give
2. He will be your judge
3. I warn you not to put off doing what must be done to prepare