Text: Romans 8:37-39
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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 family, friends and loved ones … It is a time of mourning and grief for us all as we remember our dear Paul.
I’m Pastor Russ Tkac – Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church here is Waterford and I’ve had the privilege to know Paul and Janette for the last 20 years and most specifically over these last 9 years as Pastor here at Peace.
The circumstances of life that bring us together are not always the best or easiest to deal with but Paul made the best of a difficult situation over the last number of years and Janette made life comfortable and joyful for Paul.
The Roman’s text today speaks of trial and comfort. These believers in Rome were being persecuted for their faith and the Apostle offers assurance to them that no matter the trial whether, tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, (Rom. 8:35) that they could 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)
All things work together for good?
Well, we might at times question that.
Why? Why these circumstances? Why did this happen? Why now?
Paul – was born on November 10, 1936 and reborn in the waters Holy Baptism.
Baptism washes away our original sin, and though the wages of sin is death, God gives us a new hope - one in Christ Jesus - who has stood in our place, received the punishment we deserved, and purchased us back from sin, death and the power of the devil.
… Not with gold and silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death, that I may be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.
This is most certainly true.
– Small Catechism answer to the 2nd article of the creed.
Paul confessed this same truth about Jesus for himself at his Confirmation all the way back in 1950 confirming what God had done for him in his Baptism!
Paul was marked as Christ’s, and Christ remained his!
Death though is real and we all know that first hand. It brings about a separation from our loved one - for a time - for we who believe. It is a consequence of the sin and corruption that we are born into. This once perfect creation of our loving God is broken and we see the evidence written on our lives, and on the lines of our face, and in the loss of our loved ones.
The reality of life and death is with us now … because in this life, the corruption caused by sin, has thrown a wrench into the plans we’ve made for ourselves that unfortunately - all too often – like in Paul’s case, is cut short.
What a tuff year this has been for us all!
Covid and all that it brought has now as things are looking promising given us another reality check. Normal, going forward will be different again as we all together navigate this time without our dear Paul.
Some of the pain of sin in this life we cause and bring upon ourselves; some comes upon us by the sinfulness of others and this life broken in the fall; and some, might have been avoided had we only been just a little bit more loving and forgiving.
But death, none the less, makes us all look at the reality that at some point we all will breathe our last. It is our reality! For some sooner and for some, like Paul at 84 years young, and from my perspective that is still too young and getting younger the older I get!
Paul was a kind and sweet man. At least that was the perception of Paul I had when I would see he and Janette in church. The walk to the pew though, was getting harder and more labored. Many times, he had to stop and rest in the narthex just to get up the strength and make his way to the back pew where they both sat.
This is quite a picture that differs from the Paul many of you remember who loved to hunt and fish and spend time outdoors, and on the water or the Paul that worked to support his family for 30 years at GM.
As one friend recently told me:
“I wake up each morning, look in the mirror, and shave my grandfather!”
Looking in the rearview mirror of life and seeing 84 years of memories is good and a blessing but not the times and the reality of the health issues we all deal with as we get older. And, Paul had to deal with quite a bit while dear Janette was his faithful care giver, day in and day out.
Last year during Covid I had a member offer me a new powered portable wheel chair for the church. As I thought about it the first person to come to mind was Paul. This I thought would give him some better mobility.
I called and explained it to Paul and we had a great visit and though it could be disassembled and transported easily, it was still too heavy for Janette to lift into the car and they later called me to see if I could find another home and person who could make better use of it.
I did. And the lady that has it now is getting great use out of it and so thankful for it.
God uses all things for good. Even these times of loss and trial.
29 For 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
God foreknew – or knew beforehand - those believers in Rome before the foundations of the world. He predestined – which is to determine or decree – that they would bear the image of His son our Lord Jesus; that they would be covered by the righteous, royal robes of the God / man, Jesus Christ himself.
He called them by name to believe the Good News of the Gospel and justified them by saving faith in the blessed Gospel that they too, like the Son, would be glorified, forgiven in Christ, and with Him forever in heaven.
God called our dear Paul in Holy Baptism as his own and promised this same forgiveness and eternity for him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28
The trials of life are all around us and they were there for Paul as well.
But each time I visited in their home Paul and Janette were a blessing in Christ for me. Kind, loving, never complaining and always asking me how my wife Monica and I were doing? Always thinking of others – a truly godly blessing.
Whether it was Paul’s love for family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, good friends, and neighbors or his church home here at Peace, a church that Paul and Janette called home since 1968, 53 years of blessing for Paul and Janette and for our church as well – together here in Christ.
How quickly it is that even one day can change our whole lives.
Unfortunately, that day came on Tuesday last week when Paul suffered a heart attack at his home and only a few days later when he was called away from you - his dear loved ones - and this life here that he loved.
It seemed that my call on Tuesday was divinely inspired as I called Janette to set up a home visit for them and to bring them Holy Communion, only to find out that Paul had just been taken to the hospital.
When Janette and I talked later that evening it didn’t sound too promising.
But, in spite of our grief the Apostle Paul still brings comforts to us all:
Because 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? (Rom. 8:32)
No matter our love for him God always loves us more, even sending his only son our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us so that we might live in him and be his forever.
Today we honor Paul’s life, as we say good bye. But the grief that fills us all with loss and sorrow, for those who knew him as a kind and loving soul, will one day be replaced with the blessed reunion in heaven for all who believe.
Our loving God in Christ Jesus promises to 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 conquered sin, death and the power of the Devil not only for Paul but for you and for me as well.
In Christ, death is not the end for we who cling to the blessed hope of Jesus and reunion in Heaven one day for all who believe. 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)
The church is the arc of our home and peace in Christ. It is the ship of God’s protection and comfort and the place where God marks us as his and keeps us in our baptismal grace throughout this life to our destination on a distant shore and promised eternity.
Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matt. 25:23
In the name of the Father, and on the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
In the name of the Father, and on the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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