Good Grief!  Part 2

Sermon Notes:  May 4, 2008

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road 85248 - (480) 895-8766

 

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NRSV

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.  15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.  16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.  18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

A.  Introduction

    1.  Four tons of canaries!

        a.  A man was driving his car to work in the city.  He was right behind a big truck similar to the type you might rent to move yourself.  Every time the truck got stopped at a traffic light, the truck driver got out and beat the side of the truck with a baseball bat.  Then he would jump back into the cab.  This ritual was repeated at every light.  Finally the guy in the car was able to pull up next to the driver’s side of the truck.  He asked the driver, “Why on earth at every stop do you beat the side of your truck?”  The trucker said, “Because I have a two-ton truck, and I’m carrying four tons of canaries!  So I have to keep two tons of them in the air at all times.”

        b.  There are some here today who feel as if the load on their soul is two tons more than they can endure.  And quite possibly the heavy weight has something to do with grief.  A dear loved one has died.  They are facing a serious illness.  A relationship has broken.  They have been fired from their job.  They have suffered the loss of someone or something they love or care for greatly.  Today’s message continues our quest for help and guidance during times of grief.

    2.  Today’s Scripture:  I Thessalonians 4:13-18

        a.  Today’s Scripture lesson in verses 13 and 14 says:  “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those Christians who have died so you will not be sad, as others who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again.  So, because of him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died.”  (I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NCV)

        b.  Today’s Scripture lesson in verses 15 to 18 continues with vivid imagery talking about the power of the Risen and Glorified Jesus Christ!  These verses tell us that Christ will triumph over evil, and that Christ can and will lead us through life to eternal victory!  These verses add to our “Good Grief” list a call for patience and to trust the Lord.  So we continue to affirm the truth:  “Grieve not as those who have no hope.”  (I Thessalonians 4:13, Seminary professor’s translation)  We do grieve, but we grieve as a people who have the hope of the resurrection!  We know Jesus Christ.  And the same Lord who can transform a “Bad Friday” into a Good Friday is the same Lord who can transform our sad grief into “Good Grief.”  Today I lift up two more things about good grief.

 

B.  Good grief is patient

 

    1.  Airplane

        a.  Little Johnny was having a terrific time on his first airplane trip.  The rest of the passengers were have a terrible time, because he was such an undisciplined little terror.  Johnny pushed every button in sight, kicked the back of the seat in front of him for an hour, and then ran down the aisle at top speed.  He finally crashed into a flight attendant knocking her down and spilling refreshments all over her and several other people.  She got up, grabbed him by the arm, and said, “Little boy, why don’t you go outside and play?”

        b.  Patience is not easy.  At times it’s not easy being patient with kids, other adults, or even our self.  It is certainly hard at times to be patient in the grief process.  Others and we would like to hurry us up.  However, grief takes time.  And we must remind ourselves of this in times of sorrow.

 

    2.  Car Horn

        a.  A woman wrote to Reader’s Digest.  Her car was at a crowded intersection waiting for the light to change when the vehicle stalled.  A long line of vehicles was held up behind her.  She was flustered, but then remembered something her husband had done to get the car running again.  She popped the hood open and fiddled with the carburetor.  As she did so the driver right behind her began honking his horn.  She jumped back into her car and again tried to start it.  Still the vehicle would not start.  Then the fellow behind her began to pound on his horn.  So she got out her car, and went over and spoke to the impatient motorist behind her.  She said, “If you will fix my car, I’ll be glad to keep blowing your horn for you!”

        b.  Broken cars and broken hearts take time to mend.  Stalled cars and sorrowing souls need time and attention to heal them.  No matter how much the friends or relatives “honk” at you to get over it, allow yourself to go through the emotions and stages of grief.  It just takes time to grieve.  Be patient with yourself.

 

C.  Good grief trusts God!

    1.  Guideposts:  “The Unseen Visitor”

        a.  Jordan White was five years old at the time of this Guideposts Magazine story.  He was and according to his mom still is a sweet child who loves going to Sunday School, and being read to from a “children’s version” of the Bible.  Jordan likes to pray and often asks Jesus to help him.

        b.  Several years ago his family was moving to a neighboring community.  It was not far and they planned to move themselves.  The family owned a car dealership so dad brought home a big car-hauling trailer.  It had a rear gate that folded down to make a ramp.  The ramp was sturdy enough to support cars and trucks.  It weighed about 300 pounds.  Jordan came outside to be with his dad.  Dad’s back was turned for only a moment when out of the corner of his eye he saw the heavy ramp come down crushing Jordan underneath it.  Father lifted the ramp off of Jordan and they rushed the boy to the hospital.  Jordan’s skull was broken and pushed in on one side.  Bone fragments had been jammed into the area of the brain that controls speech, hearing, and memory.  The doctors were not optimistic.  Then Jordan by himself sat up and in a weak but clear voice said, “Jesus take care of me.”  After that an ambulance came and Jordan was quickly taken to another hospital that specializes in brain traumas.  The doctors stated that Jordan would die without surgery.  However, he might not survive the surgery, but medically it was his only chance.  Before he went in for surgery his mother prayed, “Lord, all I can do is trust you the way Jordan trusts you.  Please save and protect Jordan.  Amen.”  The operation was a success.  It would be a long stay in the hospital, but to the amazement of all the medical staff Jordan would fully recover with no speech, memory or hearing loss, and no visible scars! 

        c.  For a time Jordan didn’t remember anything about the accident, but then one day while he was playing with a toy truck he suddenly said, “Mommy, I pulled the pin out.  That’s what made the trailer ramp fall on me.  It really hurt, but then Jesus came.”  His mother asked, “What did Jesus look like, honey?”  Jordan replied, “He was just… all white.  Then daddy came and they lifted the ramp off my head.”  Jordan went on to say, “Jesus came to see me when we got to the hospital too.  He lifted me up and hugged me and said, ‘Jordan, you’re going to be okay now.’”  Jordan White trusts the Lord to take care of him.  How about you?

    2.  Young widow

        a.  A young widow named Becky, whose husband had just died, was left to care for three small children.  She wrote about an emotional experience in a devotional magazine.  “As I looked out my window last night, I saw the moon shining in the heavens, and I thought about it shining on my husband’s grave.  For a moment I was lonesome.  But then I thought:  ‘No he isn’t there.’  The next day my six-year-old boy came home from school.  He fairly burst into the house, excited because of what he had to tell me.  He said, ‘Mother, just think!  Daddy has seen Jesus now!’  I thought to myself, ‘Yes, son, how true!  And he has seen Peter, Paul, and John.  And, also, his parents and friends and relatives who have gone before!’”

        b.  God loves you and you can trust the Almighty.  The Lord will get you through this life, and by faith offers you eternal life!

 

D.  Conclusion

 

    1.  Old Farmer’s Almanac

      a.  One of the most successful publishing ventures in America has been the Old Farmer’s Almanac.  This publication has been around for over 125 years.  In July of 1883 the Old Farmer’s Almanac was a struggling business.  The editor was finishing the final draft for the next year’s Almanac.  He had worked all the way into the following year estimating what the weather would be like every day from January through July 12, 1884.  He grew weary and decided to pick things up the next day.  He took what he had across the hall to his printer.  As the editor was leaving the boy he had hired as an assistant and “gopher” came running and exclaimed, “Our printer says you can’t go home yet, because we must start printing tonight to finish in time, and we still need the weather for July 13, 1884.”  The editor said, “I’ve had it.  There’s just one day left to finish.  So lad you just write in some temperature and some kind of weather for July 13th.  Frankly, your guess is as good as mine.”  So the boy sat down and wrote, “Wind, hail, and snow.”  When the Old Farmer’s Almanac came out the editor was furious!  He called the young man in and shouted, “This is outrageous!  We’re barely making it and this will ruin all of us.  There’s no way that there can be wind, hail, and snow on July 13th!!!”  Well, on July 13, 1884 there was wind, hail, and snow all across the U.S. like never seen before or since!  And when people read that the Old Farmer’s Almanac had predicted this one-year before the reputation of the publication soared!  Orders and subscriptions went way up and the Almanac became a national success.

        b.  Sometimes we think that our loss is just too heavy or too impossible to get through.  Well, God can do the impossible!  The Almighty can make it snow in July, and He can surely see you through your bad times!  Trust Him. The key is to grieve as a person of hope.  Last week and this week, we have lifted up these four truths:

 

    2.  Recap

        a.  Good grief does not deny feelings

        b.  Good grief reaches out to others.

        c.  Good grief is patient.

        d.  Good grief trusts God!

Good Grief!

 

1.  Good grief does not deny feelings

 

2.  Good grief reaches out to others.

 

3.  Good grief is patient.

 

4.  Good grief trusts God!

 

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NRSV

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.  15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.  16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.  18Therefore encourage one another with these words.