Funeral of Gwen Kaesler (27 July 2018)

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

Text: John 14:2
Theme: Finally Home


Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Gwen, and especially you, Theo;

Gwen is finally home. Her desire has been fulfilled. She has been released from all anxiety, pain, or trouble. The limitations of our fallen existence no longer affect her. Light, and life, and joy are all that she experiences in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; believers who have gone before, and angels. She has received the crown of life. She is at peace. The Saviour promised that He was going to prepare a place for her, and He has made good on that promise. She now enjoys the reward of faith.

God gave life to Gwen and now He has received her back to Himself. She was gifted to us for a very impressive 95 years. Daily routines changed dramatically during her lifetime. Horses and manual labour used to be the norm for farm life. They have long since been replaced by automation and powerful machinery. The concept of the internet would have been a far-fetched fantasy when Gwen was growing up, and now many wonder if their lives could go on without it today. Gwen adjusted to all the changes of the decades with tenacity and perseverance. One thing that did not change was Gwen’s trust in the faithfulness of God. The merciful Lord never fails to keep His promises.

Of course, many in our current culture would now disagree. The architects of society have been working hard for some time now to label Christianity as a legalistic religion hopelessly out-of-date with modern sensibilities. The need for a Saviour to rescue mortals from the perils sin and death is said to be obsolete. Pundits say we now determine our own identities and destinies, and sins are primarily crimes others perpetrate against us. At any rate, most sins don’t require absolution, only therapy- perhaps intervention if they become incapacitating. Antiquated, they say, is the idea that heaven or hell await people in the afterlife (though it’s not coincidental that most secular-minded people believe that they will be going to a ‘better place’ when they leave this earth). In summary, we’ve moved on from the fears and hopes of the generations that believed that the God who created them would be the same God they face as Judge and that only through His Son can heaven be made accessible.

Dear friends, it might seem harmless enough to converse about possibilities when only speculation is at stake. But death is no theoretical concern and there is nothing out of date about mortality. Talk about shaping our own destinies might sound all well and good until we realize we are powerless in the face of death. Humility, not arrogance is the better part of wisdom. The Scripture says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”1 He has the power over death, and no one else does.

We might think of it from this perspective: We live in a society in which we are increasingly dependent on specialists. Those who are able to concentrate on one field of expertise become recognised authorities. They can provide great service to others who don’t have the time and ability to tackle these subjects on their own. We would be much poorer and more vulnerable in most areas of life, including medical care, education, and science and industry if it were not for specialists. But when it comes to the topic of mortality there is only one authority. Only the Almighty God holds power over life and death.

Jesus said, "Fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”2 He said, “For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."3 And why did He lay down His life? Because He knew that sinners would remain hopelessly lost and doomed to destruction if not for His selfless act of love. The history of humanity is a broken record of repeated arrogance, ignorance, and rebellion. A just God would have every right to consign all sinners to condemnation. Yet, again, and again the mercy of God comes to the fore. The crucified and risen Christ brings life, hope, and salvation to all who believe.

Gwen drew her strength from God’s presence with her and promise to her. Gwen was a resilient woman. When knocked down, she got back up. Like others, she went through struggles, and those struggles left scars. Gwen and Ernst lost their second child, a daughter who Gwen carried to full term. But due to the customs of the times Gwen never met her little girl. No name. No funeral. No recognition. No point of reference to direct her sorrow. She quietly carried that grief for 95 years. Imagine her joy to meet her for the first time in heaven!

The heavenly Father made a covenant with Gwen when she was baptized. Gwen was baptized as an adult at the same time as her confirmation. Baptism isn’t a hollow ceremonial ritual. Baptism is the means by which the redeeming work of Christ becomes accessible to us. It is a visible, tangible application of the Word. In baptism believers are steeled against the vagaries and uncertainties of this temporal life with the unshakeable promise that they have an eternal inheritance in heaven. The Scriptures encourage believers saying, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”4 That’s exactly what Gwen did. She held fast that confession of hope throughout her entire life. She knew she was a sinner who was forgiven. She knew she was saved by grace through faith. She knew Christ was crucified and rose again for her redemption.

So, today we celebrate the fact that Gwen is finally home. But it’s still appropriate to grieve.
Grief is not a sign of weakness or flawed character, as if only the weak grieve and not the strong. Rather, grief is a true expression of our humanity. Jesus stood at the grave of Lazarus and wept. Being parted was not the original intent of the Creator. He made us to live in community that was not to be severed by sin. Gwen now enjoys that perfect fellowship and will never be separated from vibrant and unending life.

Theo, we only have one mother. To be blessed with her for such a long time is exceptional.
Cherish those memories, and don’t worry for a single moment that she would have any regrets. Gwen is home. She has been received with great adulation to the place prepared for her. Sin has been erased from her experience. The threat of sickness and death no longer exist in her world. She looks upon the face of Christ. Thanks be to God! Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Christian Burial of Gwen Kaesler
27 July 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Hebrews 13:8 2 Revelation 1:17-18
3 John 10:17-18 4 Hebrews 10:23
5 John 11:25-26 6 1 Peter 1:4
71 Peter 1:8-9