Introduction: On April 29th, 2011 my Father passed away. As part of my responsibilities as the eldest son, I presided over his funeral. These are the words I shared that day with family and friends. I am sharing this with you today because on that day I had to struggle with the fact that my Father never verbally told anyone whether he had accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour, and I know some of you have lost a loved one in a similar situation. I pray you will find these words encouraging.
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We are gathered here today, to remember Harold Joseph Zimmer, my father. He went by the nick name of Harry in High School, and it stuck with him throughout his life. Harry was a good man, and he will be missed by his family, and by the many people he touched during his 84 years on this earth.
Harry’s favorite song was “Amazing Grace”………..
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
Message – Tom Zimmer
When a Christian passes away, we often have a celebration in the hope that they have moved on and have completed the path that God planned for them in this life.
Harry didn’t make that clear for us. We do know that he was a good man, perhaps even a great man. Certainly a man that many of us enjoyed knowing, and were made better for that knowing. So, in regard to Harrys eternal destiny, we are compelled to rely on the character of God, His Justice, his Mercy,, His Compassion, and His Grace. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. It makes us uncomfortable not knowing, but sometimes we have to put away our discomfort, and rely on God’s Sovereignty. God’s will is perfect, and He always does the right thing. We can only hope that Harry made a decision at some time in his life and just didn’t tell us.
We do know that the pastor Greg from moms church came one evening and talked to Dad, and dad clearly stated that he did believe in God, and in Jesus.
The bible also tells us;
1 Corinthians 7:14-16 “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; … But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”
What we do know, is that on dads last day on this earth, when he went to the doctor, he clearly proclaimed that the only reason he was still alive, was because of prayer.
Romans 10:8-9 “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
So, the question remains for us, do we believe, and will we confess, that there is a God, and his name is Jesus, The Christ. The one who died for my sins, and yours, and who was resurrected to new life, eternally joined in Heaven with God the Father, waiting patiently for our answer. I know my answer, and I pray that you know yours.
