*This is a slightly edited funeral message I preached for the family of Kenneth Ward. I present it to fill you with the hope of the gospel.

Kenneth has departed his earthly body.  He is now home with the Lord.  We live by faith, not by sight.  Kenneth now lives by sight, and not by faith.  Which is better by far. The old hymn proclaims, “And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight.”  That day has arrived for Kenneth. 

Kenneth will be missed by all of us gathered here. Join me in reading Scripture in order to help us find hope beyond the grave. 

Join me in reading 2 Corinthians 5:1-8,

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,  because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

I don’t want our thoughts about death to be wishful thinking or wild speculation, but rather, rooted in Scripture.

Scripture tells us that things of earth, rust, rot, and breakdown.  We see this all around us.  Our new boots eventually show signs of wear and tear.  Our new car eventually hits 100,000 miles.  Our new home will eventually needs a new roof, new water heater, new AC unit, and a remodel. 

The things of earth rust, rot, and breakdown.  This is true for our body as well.  Our young back and knees suddenly become our old back and knees.  Can I get an amen?  

Kenneth’s body told the truth of this story in recent years as his body slowly began to fail.  

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 puts it this way: Our earthly tent is destroyed.  We groan and long for something better.   Kenneth’s earthly tent slowly was destroyed. He groaned and longed for something better.  He groaned and longed to be reunited with Marjorie. 

For those of us who’ve placed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our earthly tents get a heavenly upgrade.  2 Corinthians 5:4 says that the “mortal will be swallowed up by life.”  That is, eternal life. We have the Spirit living in us as a deposit guaranteeing our new home.  

This gives the author of 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, confidence.  It should do the same for us.   2 Corinthians 5:6-8 says, 

^“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”  

We are home in our bodies.  We enjoy good food, fun vacations, time with friends and family. Many of us are home in Sulphur Springs.  We enjoy downtown restaurants, walks around Coleman Lake, feeding the cows, and Friday Nights at the Prim.  It is good here.  But to be home here is to be away from the full presence of the Lord.  As a Christian, to be away from here is to be home with the Lord.

The full presence of the Lord is much better than young backs and knees.

The full presence of the Lord is much better than a high-end vacation.

The full presence of the Lord is much better than anything this earth has to offer.

Right now, we all live by faith not by sight.  We trust the Lord’s word.  We trust the Lord’s work.  We imagine Heaven. Kenneth no longer has to imagine.  He lives by sight not by faith.  He trusted Jesus.  He now rests with him.  He’s home with the Lord.