1.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord and Savior,
dear family and friends of Elvis. Every
life has two doors. One is birth, and the other is death. So, King Solomon from
the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes writes, “There is a time for
everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and
a time to die” (Eccl 3:1–2). Death has come knocking at our door. Death—the
most brutal enemy of life, an unwelcome intruder in our family fellowship. For
now, Elvis won’t be part of our lives until God’s kingdom comes in glory. In
the language of hope, the Scriptures tell us that she is forever with the Lord.
2.
In times of grief and sorrow our feelings run in all directions. They
need comfort and relief, and in Jesus Christ alone we can receive the cure.
There’s a verse of comfort in Scripture: “Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints” (Ps 116:15).
And, in Psalm 118:17 King David writes, “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.” Let us
take comfort in these words of hope from Psalm 118 and also from 1
Thessalonians 4, as we look forward to the victory over sin, death, and the
devil that Jesus has won for us and for Elvis through His death on the cross
and His resurrection from the dead.
3.
As Elvis’ Pastor, I’ve had the privilege to get to know her over the past
few years. The first time I remember
calling Elvis to make a visit with her to give her the precious promises of
forgiveness, life, and salvation we have through God’s Word and Sacraments, was
during the Summer. Elvis, a die-hard
Milwaukee Brewers fan, told me that I couldn’t come over that day, because the
Brewers were playing. Rest assured, I
was still able to stop by and visit her later, but I learned that day not to
mess with her Major League baseball team, the Brewers. I also learned that Elvis loved to shop for
deals at Goodwill. During my visits with
her, she would tell me what she had saved in several items she had recently
purchased. I learned from Elvis how she
was having difficulty getting around with her bad back. Elvis and I would talk about her time as a
Pharmacist Technician in New London and also about her love for music. She had a hard time when her friends passed
away, but I assured her that no matter what, the Lord would never leave her nor
forsake her. I told her that God had
chosen her to be his daughter through water and the Word in Holy Baptism and
had led her to confess that Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior on the day of
her confirmation.
4.
When Elvis dealt with the death of her friends, one of the questions that
came up with me was, if a person dies, will he live again? In the
midst of life we’re in death. Elvis had
seen her friends pass away, and also her brothers, Velmer &Vilas. As we see
people, the young and the old, one by one leave the land of the living, there
arises the question, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” Yes, Jesus
says. But even more. The resurrection day of Jesus Christ makes me sure that I
shall not die, but live. I shall not die eternally, as the Psalmist says here
in Psalm 118.
5.
Eternal death, the wages of sin,
with all its torments, has lost its power over believers. Jesus has abolished
it. He has brought life and immortality to light. Jesus said of himself in John
11: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” He proved that claim. Not only
did He raise Lazarus from the dead and restore life to him, He also laid down His
life for our sins through His death on the cross and took it up again to
confirm His words as true. This is the same Jesus who says to us in John 14: “Because
I live, you shall live also.” And, in John 11, “He who believes in me
will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never
die.”
6.
Of course, the prospect of
physical death faces all of us. When
Elvis found out that she had cancer, she learned that she didn’t have long to
live. That’s why the words of Psalm 118
are so comforting to hear. The Psalmist
says, “5Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord
answered me and set me free. 8It
is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
9It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in
princes. 13I was pushed hard,
so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. 14The Lord is my strength and my song; he
has become my salvation.” Even though our bodies die, because of the
effects of sin, the Scriptures tell us that they will rise from the dead.
Christ will fashion our bodies to be like his glorious body, and we shall see Him
as He is, for we shall be like Him and live with Him eternally in His home of
glory.
7.
As death and the grave couldn’t
hold Jesus, so it can’t hold those who die trusting in Him, like our dear
sister, Elvis. Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in
death. The full resurrection harvest of all believers will follow when Christ
comes again at the last day. This hope which we have in Jesus also has meaning
for us during this life as well. With this sure hope of life in Christ, we don’t
despair.
8.
Look at how St. Paul describes the
Christian’s death in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–15, “13Brothers, we do not want you to
be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who
have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we
believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According
to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left
till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen
asleep.” Note how St. Paul refers to
these believers who have died. The picture of sleep is no accident. Paul isn’t
just trying to make something bad seem a little better by referring to it in
rosy terms. No, he’s describing what death really is like for one who is dead
in Christ, like our dear sister, Elvis. It’s like a sleep in which a person’s
body is unaware of anything around it, but from which her body awakes to use
all its abilities and senses again. This
is comforting to know. I’m told that
Elvis had difficulty falling asleep.
But, now her body is at rest, awaiting the resurrection at the end of
the age.
9.
We aren’t afraid to put our heads down on our pillows at night and go to
sleep. We know we’ll wake up again to a new day. That’s how death is for those
who believe in Jesus. We need not fear putting our heads down on the pillows of
death and falling asleep. Jesus will wake us up to a glorious eternal day. People without this hope will grieve in a way
that shows they have no comfort. At best they might cling to some fond memories
of their loved one who has died.
10.
Paul isn’t saying that Christians don’t grieve. He simply says they don’t,
“grieve like the rest of men.” Of course, there’s sorrow at a death—one
can’t part even for a short time from a loved one without some sad feelings. But,
because Paul didn’t want the Thessalonians to grieve without hope, he begins
with the most basic fact: Jesus died but then rose again, showing His complete
power over death. Paul said if they believe this, then a second point to
believe goes hand in hand with it. Jesus promised that His resurrection means
we also will rise from death. (John
14:19). So, we’re confident that when Jesus comes, He will wake us from the
sleep of death and bring us to heaven.
11.
Elvis is with the Lord. Are you?
In my visits with Elvis she confessed the Christian faith that God gave
to her in her baptism in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. She confessed her sins to God and received
the forgiveness of those sins. Are you walking by faith in God, longing to hear
and receive the promises found in His Word and Sacraments? Are you resolved to
remain in the caring hands of Jesus your Good Shepherd? If that is true, there
will be a family reunion more glorious than any of you could possibly
experience on earth. Jesus Christ will host that reunion.
12.
Know that the Lord’s care for you gives you power by God’s grace to wait
for that great reunion of the saints when Christ comes in glory. The Psalmist
promises, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will
never let the righteous fall” (Ps 55:22). Jesus says in Revelation 3:11, “I
am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
There are so many other words of Scripture that also bear testimony to the love
of God.
13.
Leave this place not having endured a tragedy, but celebrating a victory
only God could author. The hero is Jesus. Trust in Him, grateful for our
departed sister Elvis, and all the blessed memories we keep, and thankful for
the living Lord who gave her to us as a precious gift. How safe she is in the
arms of the Savior. May Jesus’ peace, power, joy, and love be with you
all—in your minds and in your hearts and in your understanding. Amen.
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