A Good Day to Die

Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 55 views
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Revelation 21:1-7

A Good Day to Die?

Grace and Peace to you Les, Joe, Christine Melissa and Pricilla and April, Kelsey and Karter.

It was a good day to die.  3 or 4 different people told me this, over the past week.  And in part I agree with them, but the Lutheran pastor part of me says No and Yes. 

First, I will say that it was not a good day to die, and I say this because I look out at Les and the children and grandchildren Lavonne’s sisters and her friends and I can see their sorrow and grief and I know that this is not good. It stinks and it hurts.  From the pain in the pit of your stomach to the emptiness in your heart and the boxes and boxes of Kleenex it is obvious that this is not a good thing. 

Lavonne will be missed by her life mate of over 47 years; the support and love she shared with her children and their spouses cannot be replaced; grandmas laughter and hugs and gentle touch have been taken away.  A spot in the row of six sisters, a friend and co-worker in the kingdom of God has now been left vacant. 

I have to say that this is not a good day to die.  God does not find death a good thing.  He takes no pleasure in the death of his saints.  Even Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus.  Death and dying is alien to the will of our loving and gracious Lord. 

Death is and always will be a result of and a constant reminder of Sin.  It is sin that brought death into this world and it is our sin that causes us to die, and sin is never a good thing.  Lavonne was a sinner.  She was conceived in sin and she would be the first one to tell us that she battled sin all of her life.  It was for this reason that she was so grateful to her savior Jesus who provided his own body to be tortured and crucified for her sins and for ours.  And Yet because of her sins she died and earthly death. 

It is for this reason that a part of me says that it is never a good day to die.

Revelation 21:1-7 (NIV)

      Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Yet having read this beautiful passage from the Bible, I must agree with those who say that it was a good day to die.  Lavonne died on Palm Sunday, a liturgical day when we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Last Sunday Lavonne made her triumphal entry into the New Jerusalem.  She is now with Kevin and together they stand before the Lamb that was slain in their place and He has wiped every tear from their eyes and they will never again face sin or death or sorrow or pain.  For Lavonne it was a good day to die. 

For nearly a year our congregation has been centered on the theme Journey to Jerusalem.  By this we mean that we find our mission in the work of Jesus at Jerusalem and then by his command we GO out from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth to spread the good news of salvation.  All the while we are traveling back to the New Jerusalem and anticipating the great and glorious day of reunion and victory we will share in heaven.  Throughout the season of Lent we have used this journey to highlight Repentance Rebirth Forgiveness Trust Trials Service Lord’s Supper Sacrifice and Resurrection. 

These same ideas are a reflection of Lavonne in her walk with the Lord.  She was on a journey to Jerusalem, then out into the world to witness to the Good news of salvation and finally back to the glorious Jerusalem.  This all began when she was brought to the water of Baptism and given Rebirth through the Water and the Word.  It was here that God promised to her and all who are baptized that nothing in all of creation will be able to separate them form the love of God in Christ Jesus.  It was also at her baptism that the pastor gave her the Baptismal verse of John 3:16 “For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life.” Her baptism and this verse exemplified her life. 

She lived in daily Repentance and Trusted in the Forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternal life.  Lavonne faced Trials and difficult times as well as victories and defeats.  She lived her life in Service to her family and her Lord.  She spent many years as a member of the school board at Immanuel and was always ready to go to work when needed.  In fact she had volunteered with several other ladies to serve the lunch after the 11:00 worship yesterday.  Lavonne’s journey included frequent stops at the Lord’s Table to be fed by His body and blood and receive the forgiveness and assurance of salvation. Each of these mini-meals were a foretaste of the heavenly banquet that would be prepared in her honor; a banquet of the best of meats and the finest of aged wines.  Let me assure you that tonight as we gather around the altar to receive the Lord’s Supper, Lavonne will be feasting with the Lord face to face.

On Sunday she came to the end of her Journey to Jerusalem when she made that great and final Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Unlike Jesus who came into town while the crowds shouted of Hosanna, there was only one person at the city gate welcoming her home with the simple words, “Welcome home good and faithful servant.” And His name was Jesus. 

I guess when all is said and done; I can honestly say that for Lavonne it was a good day to die.  Amen.

Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more