1 Timothy 6:12 (English Standard Version)
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Dear friends, family and loved ones of our beloved and dear friend Roy,
“Tell all the people at Peace that I miss them!” Those were the words Roy shared with me a number of times on our visits at church or over the phone after he moved to Chesterfield Township. The last few years we talked on occasion when Roy visited the church at Christmas, Easter or most recently at our Chicken BBQ. Once in a while we talked on the phone mostly when he called to have someone added to the prayers at church; so if you’ve been sick or in need of prayer Roy probable added you to the prayers here.
Over the last several years we talked and saw each other less, but for many years we’ve served together here at Peace on the board of Elders and at church events we’ve had plenty of time to talk.
Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
Roy confessed his faith in Christ to me personally on many occasions and also confessed it publicly often. If you knew Roy you knew he was a Christian. He knew Jesus as his savior and knew salvation in his name. He wanted others, especially his boys, to know that too. So he brought them to Sunday school even at time I’m sure against their will … but that’s what good dad’s do if you think something is important. Roy also served here on the board of Elders, helping with the services and distributing communion and he interviewed the confirmands as well who were being examined before they made their confirmation.
Roy would ask the parents after the students had passed their exams, “And what are you going to do to make sure that your child stays connected to the church?” He would ask … in a booming voice.
One mom … a bit startled at his directness and even a bit choking back tears said, “Bring them to church?” In a voice of question … hoping she got the answer right.
Roy smiles and said, “Good answer!” Somewhat indicating that had she got the answer wrong … she would have had hell to pay with God and Roy.
“Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all … even death … rather than to fall away from it?”
Roy at his own confirmation answered to that very same question: “Yes, with the help of God.”
Jesus says:
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides (or lives) in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Roy bore fruit, in service to Christ, here at Peace, and for the members of this church family … for many years … but also for the many friends he had and even the two pastors who had the pleasure to know him and serve with him.
If you didn’t know this … Roy wasn’t perfect. In fact Roy was a sinner just like you and just like me. But … here is the Good News. Jesus only came for sinners!
1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) The Apostle Paul writes:
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
I bet when you came here today you didn’t expect to hear the Apostle Paul and Roy Kushnereit in the same sentence and favorably compared. But the Apostle Paul and Roy will have much in common in heaven. Both were God’s enemies born sinful and unclean, The Apostle Paul had his Damascus Road Experience where he was knocked to the ground by the voice of Jesus, blinded and led to a house where Ananias came, his eyesight was restored, and by the Holy Spirit he believed.
Roy too was God’s enemy born in sin and dead to Christ and he also had his eyes open being led to the waters of Holy Baptism where his sins were washed away and by the Holy Spirit he believed.
Roy loved his family and friends but especially his boys. As St. Timothy said in our epistle reading for today. Fight the good fight of faith. As often happens in life and with those you love fights happen and it was not something Roy was immune to. He had battles in life with family, friends and even in church. Roy and I bumped heads a few times as well. Mostly as it related to the softball team that had the church’s name on the shirt … but we also forgave one another before our God whom we both trust and serve.
One of my fondest memories of Roy and church was the one year he was on vacation when Vacation Bible School was happening. He came every day and walked to classes with the kids and sang the songs and … yes … danced. Not one of his many talents. It was a bit like a robot that needed a computer upgrade but as an IT specialist for ATT for many years maybe he knew he needed a new hard drive?
God comforts us … as we go to comfort others.
And even though Roy had a good life … for those that loved him and cared about him, he was called away from you, his loved ones, his family, his friends and this life that he loved very much.
Despite our grief Jesus’ words still can comfort us all:
7 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Roy was a man who loved life, sports, his family, friends, and loved ones. He knew that he was truly blessed - sinful and flawed though he was.
Today we honor his life, as we say our goodbyes. But, the grief that fills us all with loss and sorrow who knew him as beloved relative and friend will one day be replaced with our blessed reunion in heaven 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 has come to conquer sin, death and the power of the Devil – not only for Roy - 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.
For the Apostle Paul – Roy’s buddy in heaven - brings great joy when he says in the Epistle to the Romans in chapter 8:
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 Roy’s promised home.
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 Roy trusted and you too can trust. He has forgiven your sin and has called you to faith by the Gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit, and has given you faith to believe in Christ’s blessed saving work.
There is a place that has been prepared for Roy that he has now taken possession of and there is a place waiting for you too and for all who believe by faith the Good News that in Christ, you are:
Roy is forgiven in Christ and in heaven forever!
Amen.
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