+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 11:25
Theme: Resurrection and Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Verna, and especially you, Everlyn and Jean, her daughters;
“Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”1 That was Verna’s confirmation verse, assigned to her some 72 years ago- but timeless. Verna no longer has to look forward in anticipation of the life to come. She now understands ‘godliness’ through actual experience; something we can only grasp by faith. Thanks be to our merciful Saviour, who has received her in to the divine presence, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, saints and angels, and all the company of heaven. Light, joy, and peace are hers beyond description.
Verna is now “complete”. But we are left diminished. It can be no other way. Grief is the most human of all emotions. It rocks us to the core because it brings us face to face with our ultimate vulnerability. We are powerless to stop the separation death causes. It stings so deeply because humans are made in the image of God and at some level we know that God’s original purposes have been thwarted.
Jesus Himself wept. As He stood at the grave of Lazarus His compassion was evident for His friend and for humanity. Jesus knew He would soon call Lazarus forth from the grave. Only Christ could truly know and understand that this separation from Lazarus was only very temporary, and still He wept. In so doing He stood in solidarity with the entire human race. When the divine Son of God assumed our human nature, there was nothing that we are or experience that He didn’t also possess, save for our sin.
Yet, He took that sin and bore it all the way to the cross. Verna believed He did that for her. She understood that she was not master of her own destiny. She had her transgressions, her failures, her regrets, her scars. She carried burdens, and mourned shattered hopes that few, if any knew about. No one traverses nearly 88 years of life without causing hurt, whether on purpose, through ignorance, or by apathy to others. Some things remain unreconciled, and those that are can often be improved. Verna knew, that like all of us, she was a sinner in need of God’s grace.
The Bible says, “He who has the Son, has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”2 It may sound too simple. It may sound too preachy. It may sound like a stereotype. It may evoke scepticism, resentment, denial or apathy. But when we arrive at the threshold of mortality nothing is more important. It is all or nothing. The one who ‘has’ Christ, has everything. Those who go it on their own will end up with nothing. There are no self-styled ways of entering the presence of God. Nothing that we have accomplished, nothing that we have pursued, not the greatest of intentions will compile for us a resume worthy of storming the gates of heaven. Christ alone is worthy. He made the sacrifice. He paid the price.
Heaven is not a hypothetical place conjured up to give hope to those desperate to find an optimistic angle when facing mortality. Those who doubt the reality of life beyond the grave characterized by a perfected and vibrant existence need to take up their misgivings with the Man who came from there, submitted Himself to death in our world, rose from the grave and returned to that dimension of eternal bliss. And heaven is not in some distant, far off corner of the galaxy. It is as close to you as you are sitting to one another right now.
Verna was a straight-shooter. It wasn’t her nature to put on appearances. She called it as she saw it with no spin or embellishment. You didn’t have to guess what she was thinking or tip toe around her feelings. She never caused a fuss or expected special treatment. Her affections were genuine, and her loyalties were never divided. She was God’s lamb. The Shepherd says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”3 He said, “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.”4
It seems like a long time ago since Verna was baptized. She wasn’t baptized in the church because she wasn’t expected to live. The mortality rate of twins was much higher in those days. But the Lord almighty had other plans. He saw her through the difficult early years arming her with resilience and determination. The promise and power of baptism doesn’t lose one iota of vitality or validity as the years roll on. In fact, Christian maturity involves growing into the depth and breadth of God’s baptismal promise. The Bible says it this way, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”5
Verna is in that glory now. When we reflect on the death of a Christian, grief doesn’t end in despair or loss of hope. Rather, we anticipate a reunion. In the midst of sorrow, we can be filled with gratitude for the blessings that were. We look forward to what will be. And what will be is described in this way, “The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable.”6 And again, the Scripture says, “Dear friends, now we are children God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”7
Now, it’s impossible to describe how magnificent this will be. We will be raised to a state of existence in which we will enjoy the life of God unencumbered by any of the circumstances of this fallen existence. No burdens, cares, or anxieties will be experienced. We won’t be subjected to pain, exposed to danger, or otherwise occupied with any distress. Beholding the vision of God will be enthralling. Thanks be to God that Verna now wears the crown of life. She is at rest; a vibrant, sublime rest permeated with unending joy. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Verna Dorothy Schubert
15 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 Timothy 4:8 2 1 John 5:12
3 John 10:27-29 4 John 11:25
5 Colossians 3:1-4 6 1 Corinthians 15:52-53
71 John 3:2
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Seventh Sunday of Easter (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Acts 1:9
Theme: Ascended and Enthroned
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
The narrative the Holy Spirit has given us is never inconsistent with the character of God. From the first word of Genesis to the last sentence of Revelation the account of God’s presence and work in the world is a coherent unity. Saving knowledge of the true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, comes to us only in the record of Holy Scripture. Any attempts to play the nature of God off against the biblical accounts is like sawing off the branch upon which one sits. There may be only a small disturbance when the sawing begins, but a big crash when it is completed. God remains true to Himself and true to His word.
Thursday marked the occasion of the ascension of Christ to the Father’s hand of power. Forty days after His resurrection from the dead He was lifted up to heaven. Jesus ascended bodily to the Father’s throne in the presence of His disciples. They were near Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. Angels were present, indicating the importance of the event. The disciples were still confused. Jesus gives them correction and comfort. He then receives His coronation. His journey of sacrifice was ended.
The church confesses the ascension in its creeds. The ascension is not an afterthought, an event tacked on to the chronology of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is, rather, the culmination of His work of redemption. He now rules at the Father’s side and makes intercession for His church. But we do not believe God is an absentee landlord. He does not deliver decrees from distance demanding obedience from His subjects. He is not an aloof ruler that occasionally intervenes in human affairs according to His whim.
God has not left us to fend for ourselves. Pentecost looms, but the ascension is not a handover from Jesus to the Holy Spirit or from Jesus to the apostles. He has already said to them, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."1 Jesus is Immanuel- God With Us2! His reach is not limited by His enthronement in heaven. He is present wherever and whenever His word and sacrament are. His presence isn’t a projection in the minds of believers. He is the incarnate one; always near to His people. When the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people,"3 the apostle understood that the Saviour was at His side.
There is no place God is not. It’s important to understand, though, that the omnipresence of God does not mean we have unrestricted and generic access to Him. The truth that God is everywhere does not mean He is available to us according to our preferences. Saving contact with God only happens through His chosen means. That’s why regular contact with God’s word is so vitally essential. Today Jesus prays to the Father on behalf of His followers saying, “Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth.”4
His truth is the be all and end all of reality itself. His truth calls us to account for our sins, brings us to repentance, and shapes us for lives of service, and comforts us with heavenly blessings. This happens as He transforms us from the inside out. When you answer that question, “Do you confess that you have sinned, and do you repent of your sins?” Do you think God is just targeting some lapse in your self-control that resulted in lying, cheating, and stealing? Restraint is necessary primarily for unbelievers. He is targeting the deeper motives of your heart. God is not a parole officer keeping a list of your “petty offences”. He is a master surgeon operating on the cancer of your idolatry. Restraining the outward transgressions doesn’t cure the inward motivations. But when the heart and conscience find security in the grace of God the actions will follow.
The Lutheran Confessions say it this way, “Now, the Decalogue [Ten Commandments] requires not only outward civil works, which reason can in some way produce, but it also requires other things placed far above reason, namely, truly to fear God, truly to love God, truly to call upon God, truly to be convinced that God hears us, and to expect the aid of God in death and in all afflictions; finally, it requires obedience to God, in death and all afflictions, so that we may not flee from these or refuse them when God imposes them.”5
Faith means that your conscience wants to know and do God’s will even if your heart is enticed by selfish desires. Faith means the conflict against temptation is always engaged. Not that we live in some state of perpetual anxiety over the constant presence of temptation. We have peace that passes all understanding6. If we are being assaulted by Satan’s schemes, or refined by the Lord’s discipline we can be assured that our faith is active. A person with a dead faith cares nothing about following God’s will, flees from Divine discipline, and avoids every sort of pain and heartache the world can throw at us. Avoidance of discomfort is at the top of most modern agendas. Evading pain is not only a top priority, it is nearly considered to be an inalienable right.
Dear friends, as people of God, we live in the world, but we are not of the world. You have worries, cares, frustrations, and challenges. You are occupied with disappointments, fears, and doubts. You may struggle with being dependent, despondent or depressed. You may be apathetic or lack empathy. You may not feel any different from the average person of the world. Yet, God’s holiness is not far removed from you. There’s no burden He cannot lift. There’s no darkness His light cannot penetrate. There’s no sadness that cannot be wiped away by the immortal life He brings. We dine at His table. We are cleansed by His blood. It’s our privilege to share His hope and light.
Jesus died and rose again to atone for the sins of the whole world. His grace has no conditions. His mercy has no prerequisites. His compassion is not restricted according to any human criteria. If you could contribute anything, even in the smallest measure, to your own salvation, the entire premise of the gospel would be overthrown. If you could climb part of the ladder, pay a little of the debt, or carry some of the burden, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ would be undermined and overthrown. That means your baptism is not a conditional promise. Yes, it can be despised. It can be torn to shreds like tearing up $100 note. When God’s promises are despised we scorn God Himself.
Yet, just as tearing up that $100 note does nothing to the authority that issued it (the central bank), so too, God in His character (His power, grace, and wisdom) remains unchanged by human fury or folly. God is, of course, pained when people rebuff His blessings. The Scriptures warn about grieving the Holy Spirit7. Still, God remains true even when every human is false. He remains faithful even when we lapse from the faith. He remains constant in love even when our hearts grow cold.
Today mothers are also recognized all around the world. What a tremendous privilege it is helping to bring life into existence. But the status of motherhood is under attack. Not respected as it once was, Christian mothers are in greater need of support from the wider network of Christian people. Life is sacred to God. He blesses its conception, its nurture, and the Christian’s entire pilgrimage to eternity. Mothers are not discretionary. They are His indispensable means of giving love and care, identity and purpose to His children.
Jesus is ascended. But He is not absent. He rules patiently and tirelessly until the appointed time for His return in glory. He doesn’t leave us short-handed or in suspense. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
13 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 28:20 2 See Matthew 1:23
3 Acts 18:9-10 4 John 17:17
5 Apology IV 6 See Philippians 4:7
7 See Ephesians 4:30
Text: Acts 1:9
Theme: Ascended and Enthroned
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
The narrative the Holy Spirit has given us is never inconsistent with the character of God. From the first word of Genesis to the last sentence of Revelation the account of God’s presence and work in the world is a coherent unity. Saving knowledge of the true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, comes to us only in the record of Holy Scripture. Any attempts to play the nature of God off against the biblical accounts is like sawing off the branch upon which one sits. There may be only a small disturbance when the sawing begins, but a big crash when it is completed. God remains true to Himself and true to His word.
Thursday marked the occasion of the ascension of Christ to the Father’s hand of power. Forty days after His resurrection from the dead He was lifted up to heaven. Jesus ascended bodily to the Father’s throne in the presence of His disciples. They were near Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. Angels were present, indicating the importance of the event. The disciples were still confused. Jesus gives them correction and comfort. He then receives His coronation. His journey of sacrifice was ended.
The church confesses the ascension in its creeds. The ascension is not an afterthought, an event tacked on to the chronology of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is, rather, the culmination of His work of redemption. He now rules at the Father’s side and makes intercession for His church. But we do not believe God is an absentee landlord. He does not deliver decrees from distance demanding obedience from His subjects. He is not an aloof ruler that occasionally intervenes in human affairs according to His whim.
God has not left us to fend for ourselves. Pentecost looms, but the ascension is not a handover from Jesus to the Holy Spirit or from Jesus to the apostles. He has already said to them, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."1 Jesus is Immanuel- God With Us2! His reach is not limited by His enthronement in heaven. He is present wherever and whenever His word and sacrament are. His presence isn’t a projection in the minds of believers. He is the incarnate one; always near to His people. When the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people,"3 the apostle understood that the Saviour was at His side.
There is no place God is not. It’s important to understand, though, that the omnipresence of God does not mean we have unrestricted and generic access to Him. The truth that God is everywhere does not mean He is available to us according to our preferences. Saving contact with God only happens through His chosen means. That’s why regular contact with God’s word is so vitally essential. Today Jesus prays to the Father on behalf of His followers saying, “Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth.”4
His truth is the be all and end all of reality itself. His truth calls us to account for our sins, brings us to repentance, and shapes us for lives of service, and comforts us with heavenly blessings. This happens as He transforms us from the inside out. When you answer that question, “Do you confess that you have sinned, and do you repent of your sins?” Do you think God is just targeting some lapse in your self-control that resulted in lying, cheating, and stealing? Restraint is necessary primarily for unbelievers. He is targeting the deeper motives of your heart. God is not a parole officer keeping a list of your “petty offences”. He is a master surgeon operating on the cancer of your idolatry. Restraining the outward transgressions doesn’t cure the inward motivations. But when the heart and conscience find security in the grace of God the actions will follow.
The Lutheran Confessions say it this way, “Now, the Decalogue [Ten Commandments] requires not only outward civil works, which reason can in some way produce, but it also requires other things placed far above reason, namely, truly to fear God, truly to love God, truly to call upon God, truly to be convinced that God hears us, and to expect the aid of God in death and in all afflictions; finally, it requires obedience to God, in death and all afflictions, so that we may not flee from these or refuse them when God imposes them.”5
Faith means that your conscience wants to know and do God’s will even if your heart is enticed by selfish desires. Faith means the conflict against temptation is always engaged. Not that we live in some state of perpetual anxiety over the constant presence of temptation. We have peace that passes all understanding6. If we are being assaulted by Satan’s schemes, or refined by the Lord’s discipline we can be assured that our faith is active. A person with a dead faith cares nothing about following God’s will, flees from Divine discipline, and avoids every sort of pain and heartache the world can throw at us. Avoidance of discomfort is at the top of most modern agendas. Evading pain is not only a top priority, it is nearly considered to be an inalienable right.
Dear friends, as people of God, we live in the world, but we are not of the world. You have worries, cares, frustrations, and challenges. You are occupied with disappointments, fears, and doubts. You may struggle with being dependent, despondent or depressed. You may be apathetic or lack empathy. You may not feel any different from the average person of the world. Yet, God’s holiness is not far removed from you. There’s no burden He cannot lift. There’s no darkness His light cannot penetrate. There’s no sadness that cannot be wiped away by the immortal life He brings. We dine at His table. We are cleansed by His blood. It’s our privilege to share His hope and light.
Jesus died and rose again to atone for the sins of the whole world. His grace has no conditions. His mercy has no prerequisites. His compassion is not restricted according to any human criteria. If you could contribute anything, even in the smallest measure, to your own salvation, the entire premise of the gospel would be overthrown. If you could climb part of the ladder, pay a little of the debt, or carry some of the burden, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ would be undermined and overthrown. That means your baptism is not a conditional promise. Yes, it can be despised. It can be torn to shreds like tearing up $100 note. When God’s promises are despised we scorn God Himself.
Yet, just as tearing up that $100 note does nothing to the authority that issued it (the central bank), so too, God in His character (His power, grace, and wisdom) remains unchanged by human fury or folly. God is, of course, pained when people rebuff His blessings. The Scriptures warn about grieving the Holy Spirit7. Still, God remains true even when every human is false. He remains faithful even when we lapse from the faith. He remains constant in love even when our hearts grow cold.
Today mothers are also recognized all around the world. What a tremendous privilege it is helping to bring life into existence. But the status of motherhood is under attack. Not respected as it once was, Christian mothers are in greater need of support from the wider network of Christian people. Life is sacred to God. He blesses its conception, its nurture, and the Christian’s entire pilgrimage to eternity. Mothers are not discretionary. They are His indispensable means of giving love and care, identity and purpose to His children.
Jesus is ascended. But He is not absent. He rules patiently and tirelessly until the appointed time for His return in glory. He doesn’t leave us short-handed or in suspense. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
+ In nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday of Easter
13 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 28:20 2 See Matthew 1:23
3 Acts 18:9-10 4 John 17:17
5 Apology IV 6 See Philippians 4:7
7 See Ephesians 4:30
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Peg Ziersch Funeral (11 May 2018)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:6
Theme: The Way, Truth, and Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Peg, and especially you, Karen, Michael, and Andrew, her children;
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”1 That’s what the word of God says, and it is now true for Peggy Ziersch. She is free from all frailties, infirmities, and cruelties that beset us in this life. The happiness she now knows is beyond words. When St. Paul had a glimpse of paradise he said that he “heard inexpressible things2. So, while we grieve, we also give thanks to our gracious God that Peg is now privy to these things.
Reflection on the life of any Christian is both a cause for gratitude and an occasion learning. The lessons to be gleaned from Peg’s life are many and colourful. God blessed others through her in humble, authentic, humorous, and yes, sometimes maddening ways. Life was challenging throughout most of her early years. She was born with no silver spoon in her mouth. Her mother died when she was not yet three. Yet, she persevered. Peg understood hard work. Frugal, resourceful, determined; she was never wasteful and always generous. She was never idle. There were always things to do on the block, and the cows always had to be milked. Still, time was made to be in the Lord’s house and Sunday was the day around which the rest of the revolved.
In her later years, Peg lamented how drastically times had changed and how many were falling away from the faith. Those who attended Bible study with her were always in for a treat. Feeling humble and inadequate she still made her queries and comments with bravery. She had an uncomplicated but deep desire to understand God’s word. Deeply influenced by the weight of God’s law and legalism in her early years, she longed to find comfort in the freedom of the gospel. She grew to appreciate God’s grace. How many times did we hear Peg say, “I shouldn’t be asking this, but…” or “What’dya reckon?” or “That’s a little bit naughty, don’t you think?” About those she thought God had been more than fair to she often said, “They had their chance.”
Peg didn’t really like to talk about death. Undoubtedly, she wasn’t fussed about any particular arrangements for her funeral. But her hesitation may have also been an expression of the intrinsic human fear of dying. The tendency of our current culture is to trivialize and sanitize death. We glorify it in the cinema and the gaming world, desensitising young and impressionable minds to the real finality of death. In virtual reality the characters are blown up or shot down, but in the next episode or next round of the game, they’re back again as good as new. We make death seem trivial. The living, breathing, flesh and blood world we live in is not that way. We also tend to sanitize death by our frequently sterile way of dealing with it. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’.
But that does nothing to solve the dilemma. Death is the unalterable consequence of sin. No human can overcome it. Peg had a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of others. She knew that she was a sinner in need of God’s grace and in that regard, she was no different than anyone else. The Bible allows for no exceptions when it says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."3 No one can stand at the judgment and account for their own sins.
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the sacrifice that covered the sins of the world. No one can get to heaven in any other way, for He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”4 But no sinner is beyond the reach of His mercy. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”5 And again, “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.”6 Therefore the Bible says,“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, - who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”7
When we leave this mortal life the Scripture tells us, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’" 8 Peg longed to be made new. She looked forward to the restoration of her sight, the restoration of her hearing, and, in the end, the restoration of her mind. But most of all, like all who hope in the Lord and look forward to the fulfilment of His promises, Peg anticipated with great eagerness being perfected in righteousness. Self-deprecating and always dismissive of her worthiness, it was beyond her wildest imagination to picture herself robed in the perfect holiness of Christ. Yet, she knew she was a baptized child of God and that counted for something. She confessed her belief in the resurrection of the dead.
Dear friends, there aren’t any shortcuts for grief. There is no inoculation program that makes one immune to its influence. Not that grief is shameful or something to be avoided. It is a necessary pain. It involves the recognition of human vulnerability in its most absolute context. We feel the pain of separation and we are powerless to stop it. Life is torn from us and we understandably feel the loss even if we were preparing for it. Yet, Christ does not fail to make good on His promises. He says, “As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”9 Peg has made that transition. She has traversed the inscrutable abyss and her soul has been escorted into the kingdom of immortal light. There a sublime peace reigns and immeasurable joy permeates the very fabric of all existence.
It was my privilege to be at Peg’s bedside when she drew her last breath. It was about 10 minutes before midday. A couple of carers had just left the room a short time before. I assured Peg that the forgiveness of her sins was an absolutely unshakeable truth. The Good Shepherd was about to receive His lamb into eternal pastures. Crucified and risen, His immortal life was about to be hers. She turned her head slightly to the right and the angels quietly escorted her soul into the presence of the divine. But we can safely assume the atmosphere in that dimension was also one of great joy and fanfare. No believer is received into heaven without great celebration. Though Peg was exceptional, she was no exception. Peg has been crowned with life. She is at rest. Her peace is profound. Her joy is immeasurable. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Peggy Ziersch
11 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Psalm 115:16 2 2 Corinthians 12:4
3 Acts 17:30-31 4 John 14:6
5 John 10:27-29 6 John 11:25-26
7Phillipians 3:20-21 8 Revelation 21:4-5
9 John 5:21-24
Text: John 14:6
Theme: The Way, Truth, and Life
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Peg, and especially you, Karen, Michael, and Andrew, her children;
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”1 That’s what the word of God says, and it is now true for Peggy Ziersch. She is free from all frailties, infirmities, and cruelties that beset us in this life. The happiness she now knows is beyond words. When St. Paul had a glimpse of paradise he said that he “heard inexpressible things2. So, while we grieve, we also give thanks to our gracious God that Peg is now privy to these things.
Reflection on the life of any Christian is both a cause for gratitude and an occasion learning. The lessons to be gleaned from Peg’s life are many and colourful. God blessed others through her in humble, authentic, humorous, and yes, sometimes maddening ways. Life was challenging throughout most of her early years. She was born with no silver spoon in her mouth. Her mother died when she was not yet three. Yet, she persevered. Peg understood hard work. Frugal, resourceful, determined; she was never wasteful and always generous. She was never idle. There were always things to do on the block, and the cows always had to be milked. Still, time was made to be in the Lord’s house and Sunday was the day around which the rest of the revolved.
In her later years, Peg lamented how drastically times had changed and how many were falling away from the faith. Those who attended Bible study with her were always in for a treat. Feeling humble and inadequate she still made her queries and comments with bravery. She had an uncomplicated but deep desire to understand God’s word. Deeply influenced by the weight of God’s law and legalism in her early years, she longed to find comfort in the freedom of the gospel. She grew to appreciate God’s grace. How many times did we hear Peg say, “I shouldn’t be asking this, but…” or “What’dya reckon?” or “That’s a little bit naughty, don’t you think?” About those she thought God had been more than fair to she often said, “They had their chance.”
Peg didn’t really like to talk about death. Undoubtedly, she wasn’t fussed about any particular arrangements for her funeral. But her hesitation may have also been an expression of the intrinsic human fear of dying. The tendency of our current culture is to trivialize and sanitize death. We glorify it in the cinema and the gaming world, desensitising young and impressionable minds to the real finality of death. In virtual reality the characters are blown up or shot down, but in the next episode or next round of the game, they’re back again as good as new. We make death seem trivial. The living, breathing, flesh and blood world we live in is not that way. We also tend to sanitize death by our frequently sterile way of dealing with it. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’.
But that does nothing to solve the dilemma. Death is the unalterable consequence of sin. No human can overcome it. Peg had a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of others. She knew that she was a sinner in need of God’s grace and in that regard, she was no different than anyone else. The Bible allows for no exceptions when it says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."3 No one can stand at the judgment and account for their own sins.
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the sacrifice that covered the sins of the world. No one can get to heaven in any other way, for He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”4 But no sinner is beyond the reach of His mercy. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”5 And again, “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.”6 Therefore the Bible says,“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, - who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”7
When we leave this mortal life the Scripture tells us, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’" 8 Peg longed to be made new. She looked forward to the restoration of her sight, the restoration of her hearing, and, in the end, the restoration of her mind. But most of all, like all who hope in the Lord and look forward to the fulfilment of His promises, Peg anticipated with great eagerness being perfected in righteousness. Self-deprecating and always dismissive of her worthiness, it was beyond her wildest imagination to picture herself robed in the perfect holiness of Christ. Yet, she knew she was a baptized child of God and that counted for something. She confessed her belief in the resurrection of the dead.
Dear friends, there aren’t any shortcuts for grief. There is no inoculation program that makes one immune to its influence. Not that grief is shameful or something to be avoided. It is a necessary pain. It involves the recognition of human vulnerability in its most absolute context. We feel the pain of separation and we are powerless to stop it. Life is torn from us and we understandably feel the loss even if we were preparing for it. Yet, Christ does not fail to make good on His promises. He says, “As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”9 Peg has made that transition. She has traversed the inscrutable abyss and her soul has been escorted into the kingdom of immortal light. There a sublime peace reigns and immeasurable joy permeates the very fabric of all existence.
It was my privilege to be at Peg’s bedside when she drew her last breath. It was about 10 minutes before midday. A couple of carers had just left the room a short time before. I assured Peg that the forgiveness of her sins was an absolutely unshakeable truth. The Good Shepherd was about to receive His lamb into eternal pastures. Crucified and risen, His immortal life was about to be hers. She turned her head slightly to the right and the angels quietly escorted her soul into the presence of the divine. But we can safely assume the atmosphere in that dimension was also one of great joy and fanfare. No believer is received into heaven without great celebration. Though Peg was exceptional, she was no exception. Peg has been crowned with life. She is at rest. Her peace is profound. Her joy is immeasurable. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Peggy Ziersch
11 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Psalm 115:16 2 2 Corinthians 12:4
3 Acts 17:30-31 4 John 14:6
5 John 10:27-29 6 John 11:25-26
7Phillipians 3:20-21 8 Revelation 21:4-5
9 John 5:21-24
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