Condolences:

Personal loss: I can say that it has been good to be her pastor. I will miss NAME. I feel sorrow about her departure, yet I am happy that she is rejoicing today.

I want to look today and want you to consider with me THREE ASPECTS OF OUR BEING. I will look at the delights of our life, the destiny of death, and our dwelling place throughout eternity.

First the...
Delights of our life -

I know that many of you were a great part of NAME’s joy in her life, her husband, her brothers and sisters, her parents, her children, her grandchildren, all her other family, friends and church family

Our lives are full of good memories and happiness with what I call the
Delights of ordinary existence.

These are Natural occurrences of life that begin at birth. We see first, our delight of...

• Food, meals, etc. - rather urgent as a child

Then our next delight is the

• Warmth, hugs, kisses, etc. Of our mother, father, family and friend’s caring touch. These carry on throughout our life and just having family and friends close gives us a great deal of comfort.

As we develop we begin to have our...

• Favorite foods, toys, games, books, clothes, tools, etc. Many of our favorite choices in life have developed in our infancy.

Even later we begin to long for more lasting things, and we begin to value...

• Support, encouragement, assistance, friendship, etc. in our lives.

These are all just part of everyday life and the delights of our lives. These are things we experience and enjoy everyday, and they bring us happiness.

Apart from these basic experiences, there are things that we delight in that we labor to obtain in order to enjoy. I call these..
Delights of a productive life

These include...

• Our work
- for many work is satisfying and we know it brings monetary blessings that help us enjoy other things...
• Homes, Cars, Hobbies
, etc.
• But for most of us, a productive life helps us enjoy a greater delight for us, our family. Most people work in life to help provide for their family. Most work at their chores as parents to help provide the needful things for their family. Family, for most people is the delight that glitters most (as I feel it was for NAME).

All these things I have mentioned, as good as they are, fall short. Even with the joys we have, there is something we lack. God created us as spiritual beings, and we so much need to experience the...
Delights of living for a loving God

I am certain that NAME, like all of us had many delights that were part of her everyday and productive life. These did not totally satisfy a longing in her soul.

I mention three things that bring delight to our soul ...

• Rescue for Satan’s snares and sins and the sadness they ultimately bring
• Rest for our souls can be foreseen
• Reassurance for our family when we leave them

It is this that NAME delighted in as she faced death, the reassurance that her commitment to Christ had gained a resting place where she now rests. It was this, that she relayed to her family that she was ready to cross over to the other side.

As I think of her crossing over, I want to take the time and deal with our...
Destiny of Death

I know it is something we do not enjoy dealing with, but I feel we must.
Our Destiny with death is filled with finality

It is ..

• Unavoidable - we cannot dodge this one.
• Unchangeable - we cannot back up, we face death ready or not
• Useable - it can be a good step for us if we are ready

Our destiny with death is based on our selection.

We have two choices - yes or no?????

• To refuse Christ (is to reject God and select a tormented eternal life)
• To accept Christ (is to select joyous eternal life)

Also
Our destiny with death can still be changed today

• God’s caring has already been shown towards us (and NAME) through His Son Jesus.
• God’s solution is still available
• Your answer can change your destiny

And last I want to look our...
Dwelling place throughout eternity.

We all face eternity with...

Two Choices - Christ or Satan

Two Abodes - Heaven or Hell

Two Different kinds of Eternity

One:

• Pain-free
• Love filled
• In the eternal presence of God and the saints.

Other:

• Pain-ridden - no pain killer there - weeping and gnashing of teeth
• Full of hatred, despair, misery - no love, darkness
• Eternal separation from God.

Read Poem - "If You Go First"

God bless you and may you consider all the aspects of your being and may you make the choice of Christ in your life.

Even in our sadness and tears, how glad we can be that NAME made the right choice.

I know she wishes you would too.

Let us pray.