I’ve been thinking about what I could share with you this morning that might be helpful - as I’ve been thinking about _____ - there’s a familiar passage in 2 Timothy that has stuck in my mind. These verses - in part - describe _____.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy - 2 Timothy 4 - starting at verse 6. Paul writes, For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Thinking about _____ and these verses there are four thoughts that I’d like to share with you. First - _____ impressed me as someone who invested herself in what was important.

Someone once said, “There’s two dates on a gravestone - a date of birth and a date of death. What’s important is the dash in between.” Paul’s - “time of departure has come” - shows us the certainty that our time will come. Only God knows when. What’s “poured out” - how we live - the dash - is important.

So many people get to the end of their lives and start trying to recapture a whole lifetime - trying to create a legacy or reclaim missed opportunities. Do you know people like that?

My impression is that _____ wasn’t one of them. Each of us here today is a testimony to what she valued in the days God gave her. The importance of her family - her friends - her church - her relationship with God.

We can celebrate that today. Her life. Our memories. What we’ve experienced with her. She’s given us and example to follow - to live our days - the dash between - valuing what’s really important.

Second thought - _____’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

When I would visit _____ at her apartment - #8 out there on El Camino - usually _____ come with me. I’d ask, “_____, how are you doing? How’s your family?” We’d sit. We’d talk. We’d have coffee - goodies. Coffee was important.

_____ and _____ would get into these conversations about spiritual things. Deep conversations about God and life and faith and family They’d use words that went beyond my vocabulary. So, I’d sip my coffee - listen and try to keep up. Every once in a while they’d stop - remember that I was there - and ask, "Badveli, what do you think?”

_____ struggled in life - sometimes with life itself. There were parts to her life that were really difficult. But, I enjoyed those visits - even visiting with her in the hospital. I enjoyed listening to her talk about life. When I left her I felt encouraged - energized - renewed. I appreciated in the midst of all that she went through - I appreciated the depth of her faith and relationship with God. He - God - kept her going.

Paul writes, I've fought the good fight, I’ve finished the course, I’ve kept the faith.”The word here for “fight” - in Greek - is the word we get the word “agony” from. Paul writes, I've agonized the good agony.” The word was used to describe athletes - who sacrificed everything - who trained hard - who struggled - in agony they kept going when by all reasonable standards they should quit. But they kept going running to finish the course.

_____ finished her course. She knows Jesus personally as her Savior and Lord - she’d given her life to Him. She lived faithfully serving Him. That was not always easy. But, she finished trusting in Jesus for her eternal reward.

Third thought - the celebration _____ is a part of.

Paul writes, the future there’s laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day

Remember the Olympics? Same crown. The laurel leaves placed on the head. This is reality. _____ has entered heaven - eternity with God - and Jesus Himself places this victory crown on her head. Trusting in Jesus her Savior - she’s won the race of life - entered into eternity with Him.

We miss her. But, there’s no way we’d want her to step back off of that winner’s platform. Even though its hard - we can rejoice - celebrate - with her - her victory - knowing for certain that she is with Jesus.

Fourth thought - the opportunity we have.

The crown of victory is for Paul - its for _____, and - Paul writes - only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

What _____ believes in - what Paul writes about - is not just some wishful thinking or a religious philosophy. Jesus Christ really was born in a stable. Really did live here with us - died here - was crucified - dying and taking the penalty for our sins. Really is alive and coming back.

Today is an opportunity for us to think about our own mortality and what God offers us in Jesus Christ. Do you love His appearing? When Jesus returns or if today is your departure day - do you know where you will spend eternity? Will Jesus place a crown on your head?

Its so crucial to be able to answer those questions, "Yes, I’m looking forward to His return. I’m going to spend eternity with Jesus.”

Do you remember the words to John 3:16? Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”at a great verse!

God loves us. Jesus came. Trust Him as your Savior - give your life to Him - and God gives us life with Him - forever.

_____ believed that and she is with Him. Those who are looking forward to Jesus returning - because they’re trusting Him with their lives - they will live with Him - and _____ - forever.

May God comfort each of us - as we celebrate Dzaghanoush’s life - and look forward - as she did - to eternity together with Jesus.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.