Here lies a man of great accomplishment and we celebrated his gifts and his accomplishments and his greatness. And for a time we gained from his knowledge, his wisdom and his being spiritually in-tune with God. But he was, after all, just a man. Like you, and you, and like you, Ma'am...
God seeks just a man (and just a woman) like you, and you, and you, Brother... through whom he can also do great things like he did through our dearly departed who we celebrated who now lies in repose before us now to show us all he was just a man like us all.
God can do great things through people like you and you and you, Young Child.... if you'll only do what our beloved departed did with his life... submit it humbly before God.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
When has he shown us?
John 13:
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one anothers feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
God incarnate among us laid aside the privilege of his deity to live his life as a man in perfect subjection to the will of the Father. He did not dig in his heels and stab a rebellious finger to the heavens and say "It's MY LIFE... God... I'll do with it as I please..." Even in the agony of the evening of his own hell on earth (which we cannot imagine) not only of the beatings and crucifixion, but to have laid upon him the sins of the whole world... he said essentially, "Father if there be any other way... make it possible... but nevertheless, not what I wish, but what you wish... not what I hope will spare me this cup, but what you know must take place to fulfill your will and your plan of salvation for these you have given me."
God found in our dearly beloved a reflection of this Christ-like submission, and that is the light God showed in him which we have basked in for a season. This same light he can and will show through you, and you, and you, O Sinner, if you will just submit to him.
D James Kennedy was just a man. King David was just a man. The prophetess Deborah was just a woman. Just like you, and you and you....
"Oh, but you don't understand... I have trouble with lust..." King David was an adulterer.
"Not me, I gossip and I don't say the nicest things..." the prophet Isaiah was a man of unclean lips.
"I'm sorry, but you don't know the things I've done..." Moses was a murderer (and so was King David).
"I can't because I don't have an education..." King David was brought up from the sheepcoat (janitor, grounds keeper, trash man equivalent of his day).
D James Kennedy wanted to be a dancer.
When it's all said and done and this moment of mourning is long forgotten and in judgment you stand before the face of Jesus who gave his all for us...
what excuse will you have then?
What will you tell Jesus when he asks you what you did with the gifts he gave you to serve? Will you tell him you made a trillion dollars? You lavished yourself and your family with all the toys and presents and trips and bobbles this life has to offer (incidentally all of which will be lying in ash heaps as you face the Savior)?
"No, Jesus," you will have to admit, "I did not love you more than these..." pointing to the smoldering ash heap that was once this world.
Two things you will notice then. One, that Jesus did not tell you "well done thou good and faithful servant... but is preparing to tell you "depart from me, evil doer, I never knew you..." and two, you will see a familiar face on the far side of Jesus... in his faithful servant section... the face of our dearly departed... pastor, husband, father, servant, reverend doctor D. James Kennedy....
...right where you could be, and you, and you...
God seeks just a man (and just a woman) like you, and you, and you, Brother... through whom he can also do great things like he did through our dearly departed who we celebrated who now lies in repose before us now to show us all he was just a man like us all.
God can do great things through people like you and you and you, Young Child.... if you'll only do what our beloved departed did with his life... submit it humbly before God.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
When has he shown us?
John 13:
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one anothers feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
God incarnate among us laid aside the privilege of his deity to live his life as a man in perfect subjection to the will of the Father. He did not dig in his heels and stab a rebellious finger to the heavens and say "It's MY LIFE... God... I'll do with it as I please..." Even in the agony of the evening of his own hell on earth (which we cannot imagine) not only of the beatings and crucifixion, but to have laid upon him the sins of the whole world... he said essentially, "Father if there be any other way... make it possible... but nevertheless, not what I wish, but what you wish... not what I hope will spare me this cup, but what you know must take place to fulfill your will and your plan of salvation for these you have given me."
God found in our dearly beloved a reflection of this Christ-like submission, and that is the light God showed in him which we have basked in for a season. This same light he can and will show through you, and you, and you, O Sinner, if you will just submit to him.
D James Kennedy was just a man. King David was just a man. The prophetess Deborah was just a woman. Just like you, and you and you....
"Oh, but you don't understand... I have trouble with lust..." King David was an adulterer.
"Not me, I gossip and I don't say the nicest things..." the prophet Isaiah was a man of unclean lips.
"I'm sorry, but you don't know the things I've done..." Moses was a murderer (and so was King David).
"I can't because I don't have an education..." King David was brought up from the sheepcoat (janitor, grounds keeper, trash man equivalent of his day).
D James Kennedy wanted to be a dancer.
When it's all said and done and this moment of mourning is long forgotten and in judgment you stand before the face of Jesus who gave his all for us...
what excuse will you have then?
What will you tell Jesus when he asks you what you did with the gifts he gave you to serve? Will you tell him you made a trillion dollars? You lavished yourself and your family with all the toys and presents and trips and bobbles this life has to offer (incidentally all of which will be lying in ash heaps as you face the Savior)?
"No, Jesus," you will have to admit, "I did not love you more than these..." pointing to the smoldering ash heap that was once this world.
Two things you will notice then. One, that Jesus did not tell you "well done thou good and faithful servant... but is preparing to tell you "depart from me, evil doer, I never knew you..." and two, you will see a familiar face on the far side of Jesus... in his faithful servant section... the face of our dearly departed... pastor, husband, father, servant, reverend doctor D. James Kennedy....
...right where you could be, and you, and you...