Salvation Wednesday 8/17/16 Going Home

Today I was contacted by the family of a dear friend who had just been called home to Jesus. As I put notes down for her funeral, I thought it might work well for salvation message. So here are my notes for the funeral. Please pray for the family of Edna.

John 11:25/26 - Jesus said to them: "I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Do you believe this?" (NIV)

Isaiah 41:10 - Do not fear, for I am with you: Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help  you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (NIV)

I don't remember the date, but I can remember the first time Edna walked into our church service at the Bridges. She had just moved in. I went back and sat down beside her and asked her her name and told her  mine. I asked her where she lived and she told me on Laurel Lane in Colonial Park. I asked her if she knew the Witmers and she said yes. They also lived in Laurel Lane. It did not take me long to know that Edna loved to laugh and have fun. I started calling her "Laurel Lane." Today I know where Edna is because I know she was saved, "Born Again," and I know that because I asked her. Edna was one of the best people at making new people feel welcome and she also was one of the best in getting new people out to church. Edna and I hit it off great and she also did with my dear wife Dolores. It could be dull at her table at lunch if she was not there, but when she would arrive she would have people laughing within minutes. And she loved picking on me, she just loved it. Another reason I know where Edna is today is because she confessed herself over to Jesus in one of our church services. She loved Jesus. I asked her one time shortly after she had moved in if she liked it at the Bridges and she said NO!! But I will make the best of it. It was about a year later I asked her that same question saying, Edna, do you like it here? She said no, but I am making the best of it. I never heard her complain about anything. Whatever food they served, she ate without complaint.

I want you to know that this is the first service I have done at the Bridges since I left. Why? Because Edna was so special to us, she really was. With her smiles and laughs she would get people to come to church and I don't know how many people might have come to Jesus because of her. Again she was special and I am sure God's Son Jesus who died for all of us thought the same.

We had some very special songs we sang at the Bridges when I was pastor there. One was there is "Room at the Cross" for you. It goes like this.

Room At the Cross

The Cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide.
And its grace so free is sufficient for me,
And deep is its fountain, as wide as the sea.

There's room at the cross for you.
There's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have come, there's still room for one.
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

The hand of my Savior is strong.
And the love of my Savior is long.
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain
The Blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

There's room at the cross for you.
There's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have come, there's still room for one.
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

Though millions have found Him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned,
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it's too late.

There's room at the cross for you.
There's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have come, there's still room for one.
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

Just because people go to retirement homes and nursing homes does not mean they stop working for Jesus. Not Edna, anyway, not our dear sweet Edna. She traveled on for God, she walked it out together. There is a scripture in Romans that I like and want to talk to you about.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (NIV)

It does not say some things, it says "all things." It goes on to say that is for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose.

Now her work here on earth is finished and she has been promoted to heaven.

Listen to these words of assurance found in 2 Corinthians 5:6 - Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (NIV)

In other words, Edna has checked out of The Bridges and she has checked out of her earthly tent, that body of bones. And she has checked in to Heaven with Jesus. PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD.

But for we who remain and loved and still love Edna, life must go on. We need to search our own souls and take a look deep into our hearts, for if we really want to see Edna again and more so want to be with Jesus face to face, we need to take a look at a few things. To get into heaven we need to have what we call a relationship with Christ, a relationship with our Lord Jesus. Edna, I am sure, had a personal relationship with Jesus. I know because I asked her already. So today I ask all of you this question.

Who needs Salvation through Jesus? The only ones who need Salvation through Jesus are those not wanting to go to Hell. I want to walk you down a road today, one that most pastors might referr to as Romans Road to Salvation.

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Again, the scriptures tell that ALL fall short, because we are all sinners, yes, even me and you. And I even put me ahead of you on this one. When did sin get started?

Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

The very first man that God created sinned, and since then all men have sinned except one and His name was/is Jesus. Did you know you can get paid to sin? Well yes, a lot of people have jobs that they get paid for and are just a plain out and out sin. Abortion doctors and nurses get paid, those running the gambling tables get paid, in some states prostitution is legal and the "ladies of the night" (I cleaned that up) get paid. But let me talk about scripture. All of us are sinners and sinners get paid. Look here.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There was a saying years ago that all you ever needed to do in life was "pay taxes and die." According to the Bible, we only need to pay taxes. Yes, while we are to give to the government what is due them, we can escape death and have eternal life with Jesus. PRAISE GOD FOR THAT, WOW, WHAT A BLESSING.

So how do we "sign on" for this free gift from God?

Romans 10:9 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:13 - For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

What I have just set before you in scripture is sometimes called "Romans Road to Salvation." I think it is "GOD'S ROAD TO SALVATION, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST."

Is thee any other way to get to heaven, other than through Jesus Christ? No! Not according to the Bible, and the Bible is the Real Book of Truth. Here is the scripture that tells us that.

John 14:6 - Jesus answered: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Now why was all this done? This was done because God loves us very much, even though we have sinned over and over again, God has loved us, and He even loves those who really hate Him. Here is proof. Again I go back to the Bible.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

Today as I close up my message I need to ask all of you, if right now the Lord would return or right now He would even just call out your name as He did Edna's Wednesday, would you be ready? Are you Born Again? Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Not just know Him, but really and truly love Him? On behalf of Edna and Jesus, I invite you to the cross today. I would like to lead you in a prayer, my closing prayer today, but maybe one that will open a relationship with Jesus and you. Or maybe you have that relationship and just need to spruce it up a tad. I can't pray it for you, only lead you. Please pray with me now.

Next week services will be held at Indiantown Gap. When a veteran is laid to rest, a trumpet plays Taps. Someday the trumpet of God will sound and those who are dead in Christ will be risen up with a new body to meet with Jesus in the clouds. Praise God.

One other thing we did at The Bridges each week was close with the refrain of this song, How Great Thou Art.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art.