Funeral Sermon for Lori Jean Cheal
Title: Loved, Forgiven, Forever!
Romans 8:28-39 (ESV)
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the daylong;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Dear friends, family and loved ones of the much loved Lori,
I’m Pastor Russ Tkac, Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church of Waterford. I'm blessed to be Veretta’s and Debbie and Rick’s pastor and to be asked to share a few words with you today as we together grieve Lori’s passing.
I had the privilege to be able to pray with Lori over the phone while visiting with Veretta a few weeks ago. The comfort of God’s word and forgiveness was a blessing to share on speakerphone so we could all pray together and it brought comfort for us all at this difficult time.
Lori unfortunately, over these last months, had an aggressive cancer causing her to spend time with doctors, hospitals and care facilities for her cancer rather than doing the things she loved being mom and Nana for Rachael and Regen and add a Trans Am or three into the mix.
I’ve been blessed to visit Veretta over these last few years and to bring her prayer, comfort and the Lord’s Supper at her home and to also have Debbie participate on many occasions with her mom. Though I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Lori in person, I’m sure that she, like Debbie and Veretta, was a wonderful person as well … though Debbie assures me that Lori could be a bit more of a wild child – even as a little girl she once packed her bag to run away from home – all the way down the street but really what family doesn’t have one of those children? [I dropped out of college to play in a Rock Band in the 70’s myself and my mom would tempt me with $10 if I would go and get a haircut.]
The Epistle lesson for our reading today speaks of trial and comfort – something very familiar to the Apostle Paul’s hearers. He offers assurance to all, so that no matter what they may endure in this life … whether, tribulation, distress, persecution, and we might add sickness, hospitals and cancer (Rom. 8:35) that we can be certain that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8-28)
This broken world, our own sinful desires and the working of the Devil continues to bring many in our own day as it did in the first century to doubt that there salvation was secure. But Paul comforts them and us with the assurance that no matter the trials of this life whether persecution or even death … that God has redeemed them and bought them with the precious blood of His only begotten Son and that they, you and me … and Lori, cannot be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:39)
Death brings about a separation from our loved ones … for a time. It is a consequence of sin and the brokenness of this perfect creation of our loving God. We all can see the evidence … as we grow older, we look forward to graduating growing up … and starting a career, falling in love getting married … starting a family … and getting up and going to work every day … unless at the spur of the moment you decide to not go to work and just drive to Tennessee like Lori did … just because she felt like going to Tennessee. But Lori had her loves just like we all do, the beach, art fairs, gardening and her beloved coffee – sounds like Lori and I would have gotten along just fine.
But that’s what happens in life all the while as life goes on we think very little of our own sinful condition, in this broken world … and time that is slipping away.
Before long, the joys experienced in our 20’s and 30’s is a faded memory … trust me … I know. Because in this life, the corruption caused by sin, can throw a wrench into the plans you’ve made and unfortunately all too often this precious life is cut short. Some of the pain of sin is our own fault; some is brought upon us by at times well meaning friends and loved ones; and some, might have been avoided … had we just been a bit more kind.
But death makes us all look at the reality that eventually we all will breathe our last. For some like Lori it is way too soon … and as much as we try, we all will eventually … breathe our last.
God’s purpose and hope for you and me though is not one of despair. In the Epistle to the Ephesians the Apostle Paul writes:
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
God foreknew – or knew beforehand – Lori before the foundation of the world. He predestined – determined or decreed – that she would bear the image of His son; that she would be covered by the righteous, royal robes of the God/man Himself, Jesus Christ. God called Lori by name to believe the Good News of the Gospel. He did this in her baptism - by a nun in the hospital the day she was born - as she was washed clean of her sins forgiven in Christ through saving faith given by the Holy Spirit connected to the water and promise of God.
She also confessed her Christian faith in this congregation, though at our former location on M-59, on her confirmation day May 20th 1973. 42 years ago Lori confirmed God’s working in her at her baptism and God, by the power of his Holy Spirit, promises that he would never leave her nor forsake her and that she will spend an eternity with Christ and his love for her forever in heaven.
The joy of family was important for Lori with her devotion to daughter Rachael and granddaughter Regen or beloved sister Debbie and her husband Rick, and her brother Richard and wife Kelly and her mom as well as many nieces and nephews. Lori loved being a mother and grandmother most of all.
Though Lori had a lot of health issues the love of family shows the great blessings of her life. One of those blessings too was the gift of faith and trust in Jesus and the salvation that he won for her at the cross and gave as a free gift by the working of his Holy Spirit. The price of Lori’s salvation was the very life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of, not just Lori’s sins, but the sins of the whole world. It is the price that you and I could never pay, but was given to Lori freely and is also given to each of us who by faith trust in Christ’s finished work.
Today we honor Lori’s life, as we say our goodbyes. But, the grief and tears that fill us all with loss and sorrow who knew Lori as mother and grandmother, sister, daughter and friend, will one day be replaced with the joyful tears of our blessed reunion in heaven … one day for all who believe.
Our loving God in Christ Jesus will wipe away every tear of sadness that we have today and in that day replace them with tears of joy, as we together rejoice in Heaven with our resurrected Lord who came to conquer sin, death and the power of the Devil not only for Lori but for you and for me as well.
In Christ, death is not the end for we who cling to the blessed hope of reunion in Heaven one day. But, it is only a time of parting … for a while.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
Heaven is now Lori’s home and Jesus has prepared a place for her.
Heaven is a tangible and real place and Lori may also have the blessing of gardening around God’s house – though the flowers are probable all perennials and there are no weeds to deal with.
You too, who trust in Christ, have this home waiting for you. The blessed Good News that Jesus died for your sins - is the wonderful Gospel message you can trust. He has forgiven your sin and has called you to faith by the Gospel, and through the power of the Holy Spirit has given you faith to believe in Christ’s saving work. There is a place that has been prepared for Lori that she has now taken possession of – probably by the water and beach - and there is a place waiting for you and me and all who believe by faith the wonderful Good News. In Christ, you are:
Loved, Forgiven, Forever!
May our Lord comfort you at this time of loss with that in Christ we are … loved by God, forgiven in Christ and together will live with Him forever!
Amen
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