Funeral for Clyde Manuel (18 September 2017)

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Matthew 28:18
Theme: All Authority To Save

Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Clyde, John, Barry, Robert, Trevor, Kevin, and especially you, Cora;

There’s no preparing for the surreal-ness of death. It hits us with mysterious, inscrutable perplexity- even when we “expect” it. Only through the promises of God can the shock be properly absorbed. Christ has overcome death and He has the final word. Humans will always have questions about the circumstances of dying. Why now? Why in this way? Why so much struggle or so little? Why so much pain or hardly any at all? Why seemingly unnecessary drama or not more warning? Why did it drag on or why didn’t we have another chance to say goodbye? The questions are valid, but we can only peer so deeply into the wisdom of God. Every death is a reminder that we are only mortals and we should be prepared to depart this life at any moment. Clyde’s death was a blessed one; quietly….in the night. He has now been received into the eternal paradise of God. Thanks be to God for His immeasurable love.

We’re not gathered here today under false pretenses. We’re not here to whitewash Clyde’s life history; to build him up in death into something he wasn’t in life. We’re here to recognize the reality of God’s work in the case of one specific man and reflect on what it means for us as well. It wasn’t altogether easy to convince Clyde to do something he didn’t want to do. Cora could tell us a few things about that; the boys too. You can try to topple a steam engine off its tracks, but you’ll need a few friends. But we’re here because the strength of God always reaches beyond human weakness and the compassion of God extends beyond human comprehension.

We might say that spiritually, Clyde was somewhat of a late-bloomer. It’s not a recommended example to follow. But no one can say Clyde wasn’t mature when he was baptized. Some might wonder if Cora finally wore him down? But those in the know understand it was nothing to do with her nagging, and everything to do with her faithfulness. God was working through that. Once you pass 70 years of marriage you probably know whether pressure is going to work or not. My part in the process spanned only ten years. Some careful conversations were had around the topic. Clyde taught me the wisdom of knowing when to stop and when to explore a little bit further. I hope you noted the wording in the obituary. Clyde “requested to be baptized”. It wasn’t a rash decision. He didn’t make it on whim or under duress. The full consequences of baptism are now his eternally.

So what counts is God’s perspective on the matter. Clyde was tenacious. He was persistent. But no one can outlast God or wear Him down. People may die trying, but it’s all in vain in the end. God draws us with a tireless, thoughtful, and genuine love. The Good Shepherd searches for the one lost sheep. You can’t outrun Him, or outwit Him. And you cannot hide. He knows how to warm the coldest hearts, soften the toughest exteriors, and cut doors into solid walls of pride. God doesn’t coerce or intimidate us, but the Holy Spirit is resolute in convicting us of our sins and Christ is absolutely unwavering in His attentiveness. The Scripture we heard earlier sums it up well, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”1

Raising five boys while farming in the Mallee was no easy task. Clyde was generous and helpful with his neighbours. He had a sharp wit, a good sense of humor, and loved a good joke. He was blessed to be a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather- if he had lived any longer…. who knows? But Clyde was still a sinner in need of God’s grace. In that regard, he was no different than any of us. Placing ourselves completely at the mercy of Christ is the only way to God’s favour. Sin cannot be excused, denied, or negotiated. It can only be repented of. Salvation is by grace, through faith. There is no other way.

Clyde has no worries now. For us, there’s grieving left to be done. It’s not something to be made light of, avoided, or denied. But death has no final power over believers. We feel sorrow but we are not in despair. The Scripture says, “We do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.”2Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though He dies.”3 And again He said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”4 That authority was proven by His crucifixion and resurrection. His death was the sacrifice for your sins, mine, and Clyde’s.

It’s okay for family members to feel relief when a loved one dies, and not only when they’ve enjoyed exceptional longevity. The stresses of coping with frailty become cumulative. Uncertainty weighs on our hearts and minds. So, relief is not an incongruous emotion at the time of grief. Cora, Clyde’s journey here has ended. All the challenges you tackled together, the joys, the sorrows, the difficult times, and the times full of laughter, all form the collection of memories of your shared life. Death brings an irreplaceable loss. Life will not be the same. No one can understand exactly how radically your life will change. When a believer dies, one piece of the body of Christ transitions from the temporal to the eternal. The church is collectively diminished in the here and now, and we all suffer that. But in the bigger picture, the kingdom is increased.

So, the magnificent thing about Christian truth is we don’t have to get caught up in the melancholy of looking back. We look forward with great anticipation. Clyde is absent from our lives, but he is present in a more important place. He is in the presence of the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, angels, and believers who have gone before. He’s not bothered about the trivial and mundane details of our lives. He awaits the bodily resurrection of the dead, but his soul already enjoys a profound peace and bliss which we have no applicable words to describe. The Scripture simply says, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 And that we will see God “face to face”6

Clyde was blessed to have his mental faculties right to the end. He knew what was going on. Think of what it means that he’s now been released from all the limitations of sin! He has been crowned with life. He is home. Thanks be to God! Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Christian Burial of (Edwin) Clyde Manuel
18 September 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Romans 8:38-39
2 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
3 John 11:25
4 Matthew 28:18-19
5 Revelation 21:4
6 1 Corinthians 13:12