Death is one of the hard realities of life.  Isn’t it?  To say that _____ will be missed is an understatement.  Each of us - in some way - was touched by her life.  Touched in a good way.  We have good memories of her as a friend - as a loved one.  Death - in this life - death separates us from all that.  Death is hard.

When we come to honor the life and death of someone we care about we’re reminded that we, too, one day will die.  There’s something mysterious - something uncomfortable about death.  All of us struggle with the separation and the questions that death brings us face-to-face with.  And yet, its a reality that we need to accept. 

Death is an opportunity for us to think about our own mortality and to think about what comes next - if anything.  In the Bible, God speaks to the mysteries of death - and eternity - and our eternal destiny.

I’d like to share with you from John 14:1-6.  These are verses that _____ had highlighted in her Bible - especially verse 6.  They’re worth our being reminded of this morning because they offer us comfort and answers to questions we have about death.

Jesus is in the Upper Room - its the Last Supper - just prior to Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion.  Jesus is sharing with the disciples truths which literally stagger the imagination.

In John 14:1 Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled; Believe in God, believe also in me.”  Jesus equates trust in God to trusting in Him.  He’s God.  God speaking directly to the issues that trouble us.

He goes on, “In My Father’s house - in heaven - are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you - there’s a place for everyone of you - we can put our own names there - Linda - Carl - Steve - If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Revelation 21 gives a description of heaven - what Jesus is talking about.  Revelation 21:3:  “Now, God’s home is with mankind!  He will live with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them, and He will be their God.”

When Jesus talks about there being dwelling places in heaven He’s talking about our getting to live with God - where God dwells.  That’s better than any place on this earth.  More beautiful - more awesome - a place of great joy - peace.  There’s a river that runs through that dwelling - the river of life - the purist crystal clear water - coming right from the throne of God.  We’ll be able to see God - right there on His throne and drink from that river.  God’s presence - God’s glory - will shine so there’s no night - no darkness - no sin.  Our relationships will be free of the struggles we have now.

Think about who’ll be there.  All those who’ve trusted in Jesus as their Savior.  There are so many people that I’m looking forward to seeing again.  Aren’t you?  There are people I’ve never met but heard so much about.  I’m looking forward to seeing them.

It's worth it to go to heaven just to be with God.  But imagine - _____’s there.  And _____.  She’s one more reason to look forward to being there.  We’re gonna’ dwell together with God forever in that incredible place.

Revelation 21:4:  “He - God - will wipe away all tears from their eyes.  There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain.  The old things have disappeared.”

To which we say “Amen!”  There are times when life is really good.  But let’s be honest - life has its hard stuff too.  That’s all going away.

Can you imagine this?  The Almighty God of creation - loving and gracious and merciful - God will personally wipe away our tears.  He Himself will make sure that we never ever ever have to face a day like this again. 

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that when we get to heaven we’re going to get new bodies.  Bodies that aren’t subject to disease - that don’t wear out and break down.  No more death.  That’s amazing isn’t it?

John 14 - verse 4 - Jesus goes on.  “And you know the way where I am going.”

Verse 5:  Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

Can you appreciate Thomas?  He’s the guy who’s thinking things through.  Thomas is the guy - who while other disciples are just sitting there watching paint dry - Thomas is asking the hard questions.

“How are we to know the way to God?”  That’s a huge question. Isn’t it?  People today - even here - people today are asking the same question.  “Great place.  But, how do we get there?”

Jesus replies - John 14 - verse 6 - the verse underlined by _____ in her Bible - Jesus replies with this incredible revelation about Himself - “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

That’s huge!   Jesus doesn’t say, “I show a way.  I teach a truth.  I give a life.”  He is not merely a religious philosopher - some enlightened way-shower - someone with a new angle on who we’re to achieve nirvana.  “I think this might be the way to heaven.”  Jesus makes this absolute - dogmatic - politically incorrect statement.

Jesus - claims to be God - speaking with Godly authority to the issues which trouble our lives - Jesus says, “There is no other way - no other truth - no other life.  When you come to me you are meeting God; you have found ultimate reality and truth.  When you come to me you then and there possess life.”

Jesus can make any claim He wants - claim to be God - truth - or a little green man from Mars.  Without proof - why should we believe Him?  The validation of Jesus’ claim is what takes place four days later - Jesus’ resurrection - Jesus’ conquest over sin, Satan, and death - His accomplishment of that which only God is capable of.

Face to face with our own mortality - thinking about what comes next - we must take the words of Jesus seriously.  Minnie did.  Underlined them in her Bible.

Jesus is the way to Heaven, the truth about how to reach that dwelling, and His is the life which leads to eternity with God.  And Jesus says to us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in Me.”

This is a hope that we share as Christians.  Through Jesus - death becomes the beginning of eternity with God.

Do you have that hope this morning?  Be sure.

Jesus said, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man - Jesus - is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done.”  (Matthew 16:26,27) 

In this self-focused He-who-dies-with-the-most-toys-wins world we all fall into this trap - trying to gain the world and everything in it.  And what we’re left with is emptiness and speculation.  What good is all of that on a day like today?  Where’s the hope in all that?

The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the righteousness and holiness of God.  We don’t measure up.  We don’t deserve to enter into eternity with God.  Ultimately, when Jesus returns, we’ll have to give an account for ourselves before God.  We’ll be judged for our sins.

Many today dismiss the idea of sin and judgment as outdated - as too narrow minded - not worthy of a God of love.  But God is honest with us.  He tells us that we’re sinners.  What we earn by our sin is death - eternal separation from God.

And yet, Romans 5:8 tells us, “God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

All of us are sinners in need of the Savior - and Jesus says, “Trust God, trust Me”  He is God’s answer to our sin and separation.  He is God’s door to eternal life - the way, the truth, and the life.  All of us need to come to the point in our life when we admit our sin - our need for Jesus as our Savior - and to trust God with our lives.

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