Celebration of Life for George Stolberg

But this hope is not wishful thinking. This hope is based upon the fact of an empty tomb. You can go to Jerusalem today and find that empty tomb. It is based upon the fact that more than 500 witnesses saw Jesus walking from the dead. It's based upon the fact that his disciples who ran away in fear, free that they were gonna be crucified too, spent the rest of our lives fiercely proclaiming Jesus was alive. It rests on the character of God who cannot lie, and it rests on the promise of Jesus himself who said, because I live, you also will live. [00:32:46] (38 seconds)  #ResurrectionHope

Today is the day for that same resurrection power that raised Jesus and now will raise George can raise you to a new life right now. Again, Jesus said, whoever believes in me shall never die. And, again, do you believe this? And that faith in that that faith in Jesus, it gives us strength to grieve with hope that we can cry, we can mourn, we can remember, we're gonna share stories. But let the memories bring both smiles and tears. But underneath it, hold fast to the to the promise that this separation is temporary. [00:34:07] (38 seconds)  #GriefWithHope

And because Jesus rose from the dead, death does not have the last word. And Paul the apostle picks up the same thought when he wrote to Thessalonians. He writes that so that we may not grieve as others do who have no hope. We do grieve, he says, but it's not without hope because we believe Jesus died and rose again, and therefore, God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. And one day, the Lord himself will descend, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [00:29:52] (34 seconds)  #DeathDefeated

It was not based upon his deeds in life, but purely because he put his faith in the cross of Christ where his sins were nailed and pinned to that cross along with mine and so many others. C. S. Lewis, a onetime atheist and professor of Renaissance literature of Oxford, he was commenting on that passage from the gospel of John about those who put their trust in Jesus. And I've added George's name to the quotation as Lewis says. George's place in heaven will seem to be made just for him and him alone because he was made for it, made for him stitch by stitch as a glove is made for the hand. [00:36:38] (49 seconds)  #SavedByGrace

I love how the bible picks a gives a picture of the future believers in Revelation 21 that it says that God will begin he will wipe away every tear. The death shall be no more, neither shall there be any more mourning or crying or pain anymore for the former things have passed away. There'll be no more hospitals, no more goodbyes, no more watching someone you love, and their life fading away. And no more empty chairs at the table. Only the fullness of life and the presence of the one who loved them and loves them still and is loving them in the most perfect way. [00:32:02] (44 seconds)  #NoMoreTears

We know that he rested in the finished work on the cross when Jesus says it is finished. At that point, everything, past, present, and future, George's sins and my sins were placed upon that cross. And George belonged to Jesus Christ by faith. And because of that right now, this very second as I talk, right now, he's more alive than he has ever been in the presence of God. His body has died, but his spirit is with the Lord. And one day, that body is gonna be raised imperishable, glorious, and free from pain and from sickness and tears. [00:31:11] (41 seconds)  #ItIsFinished

For one day, for those like George who have put their faith in the saving grace of Jesus, we will be reunited, not just with George, but with the lord who binds us all together. And for those who call Jesus our lord, it calls us to live differently because of this hope. Because George's life, however long and however short, was not the end of his story, and neither can it be of yours. That we should live today in the light of eternity, that we should love more freely, that we should forgive more quickly, and that we should share the hope that we have in Christ more boldly. [00:34:46] (37 seconds)  #LiveBoldlyInHope

And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. And then perhaps the most important question you will ever answer in your life, Jesus said, do you believe this? Jesus spoke these words to Martha after her brother Lazarus had died, and she, like us, she was grieving. She was confused. She was disappointed. But Jesus did not offer her platitudes. It's okay. It's okay. What he offered her was himself, the great I am. [00:29:05] (32 seconds)  #DoYouBelieve