BRUCE SCOTT'S BEST FRIEND

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

The last words of the "He is survived by" sentence of Bruce's obituary reads, "...and many friends." That is evident by your presence here this afternoon. Some of you may even consider yourself close friends. But I almost hate to tell you--- you were not his best friend. I wasn't either though I had a part in introducing him to his best friend and he met Him not very far from where you are sitting today.

His best friend, like most best friends, shared common interests with Bruce. Bruce Scott's best friend is a Fisherman, a Hunter, a Gardener, a Humanitarian, a Supplier, and among other things, a Builder. Bruce Scott's best friend was and is Jesus Christ. And Bruce would have told you and I tell you today that most of the things you liked about Bruce were because of His best friend.

His best friend is a Hunter. Another way to say hunt is to say seek, and Jesus said in Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. There was a time Bruce Scott was lost in sin. The Bible says, Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Bruce believed that was true because it is true.

When I first met Bruce back in the late '60s/early 70s I was the pesky kid brother keeping him from being alone with my sister. Expecting a bribe to leave them alone what I got was a modified spinning toe hold. Eventually he decided kindness might be better than brute force and he would give me his truck keys so I could go listen to his Partridge Family 8-track tape! By 1974 I was an usher in their wedding. In 1976 Bruce and Becky thought I made the smartest decision of my life by marrying Clydie. It was really the second smartest decision I had made as they were about to find out. Clydie and I had joined Pine Level Baptist Church the week after we got married and started inviting family and friends to visit with us. Eventually Bruce and Becky did. Brother Roman was preaching the Gospel from the pulpit and we were talking to them every weekend we were home from college.

Mother's Day 1977 they were under what we call conviction. That means God was dealing with their hearts. After lunch that day the four of us walked out into the yard at Mom's house and sat in the grass and talked about how we are all sinners, and how the Bible teaches that because of our sin we all deserve to go to the lake of fire, the place we commonly call Hell.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The bad news is that we are all sinners and if we pay for our own sin we have to go to Hell and stay there forever. The Good News is that God loves us and sent Jesus to pay the price for us.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Every farmer and gardener knows crops don't all come up at the same rate. Bruce Scott's best friend is a Master Gardener. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Though they did not trust Christ that afternoon they came back to church that night for the evening service. It was in the building right next to this one. Bruce and Becky sat close to the back (like many of you). Brother Alvarez undoubtedly repeated many of the things I have mentioned here. "We are sinners. God is Holy. Sin must be dealt with. Christ died to pay the sin debt and rose again from the dead, proving He is who He said He is-God in the flesh and that He had done what He came to do which was pay for sins. If you will receive Him as your Saviour He will save you and take you sin and sin debt away!"

I have heard both Brother Roman and Bruce tell this part many times. As the invitation was given with every head bowed and every eye closed Bruce knew he needed to trust Christ. He was fighting that internal battle. His hands gripped the pew in front of him until his knuckles turned white. Roman looked back and Bruce looked right a him and Roman motioned one time. Bruce said that that step was the hardest he ever taken but then he didn't even remember the rest and he never regretted having taken that stepped. He trusted Christ as His Saviour and his life was forever changed, his eternity forever secure and his best friend forever Jesus.

His best friend is a fisherman. Bruce loved to fish. Many fish and many ways with many people. Jesus met some professional fishermen on the shores of Galilee one time and told them, [Matthew 4:19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Bruce became a fisher of men. He enjoyed introducing others to his best friend. One of his favorite fishing holes was beside a hospital bed where he led many a soul to the feet of Jesus. But he fished in many places, a few of you may have hooks in your mouth right now... friend, let Jesus reel you in this afternoon. Don't fight the Saviour. Find as Bruce did... you win by surrendering.

His best friend is a humanitarian. The Bible says in Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. If we had the time scores of you could testify that Bruce had done good unto you. That was due largely to his best friend.

Bruce was a supplier. This was true in many areas but he specialized in windows. Many have told me that when it came to measuring and getting the right windows for you that nobody could touch him. Friends, his Best Friend is THE Supplier. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

There are many things we could say but I guess for the sake of time let us say just one more. Bruce Scott was a builder. He could have been a contractor, a carpenter, a roofer. Let's just say he was a builder. His Best Friend is a Builder. John 14:1-6

1. Jesus has built an Assured Place [v. 1]

2. Jesus has built an Abundant Place [v. 2a]

3. Jesus has built a Distant Place [v. 2b]

4. Jesus has built a Populated Place [v. 3]

5. Jesus has built a Reserved Place [v. 4-6]

Two weeks ago I accompanied the youth of our church to the bill Rice Ranch in Tennessee. I asked Bruce to preach for me on Wednesday night. He preached a message he entitled "When He Reached Down His Hands". On the last page of his notes he wrote:

The touching hand of God is for us every day, every hour, every minute if we would but trust Him at His word.

It is our unbelief that makes me wonder why He keeps working with us. He keeps reaching down His hand.

[then he sang] When he reached down His hands for me. When He reached down His hands for me. I was lost and undone without God's Holy Son when He reached down His hands for me.

This week at the Bill Rice camp God has already reached down to at least 8 young people who got saved, and you can rest assured He is still reaching down. Thank God for His unseen hand.

[then he sang] I am trusting to His unseen hand that leads me through this weary land and some sweet day I'll cross that strand still guided by the unseen Hand.

Bruce made his reservation on Mother's Day 1977, on July 2, 2009 his place was prepared and Jesus came for him [v. 3] and received Bruce unto Himself. Have you made your reservation?

Invitation--------------------


Closing remarks- There will not be a processional to Crosby Lake Cemetery nor will there be a graveside service. The family thanks you very much for your prayers and kindnesses shown during these days and for the honor you have shown Bruce Scott.