3 FACTS ABOUT BROTHER JOE

 Pastor Rick Jackson

Message from a homegoing service

Today we are gathered to pay respect to a man. It doesn't matter what your relationship to Brother Joe was, your presence here today indicates he will be missed. I do not plan on keeping you long this afternoon, but I'd like to share with you three facts about the man I call Brother Joe.

 

#1 - BROTHER JOE IS IN HEAVEN

 

He's not here at the funeral home. I went to see Joe early last Saturday and I said, “I hear you want to take a trip.” “Where?” “Home.” He understood immediately and said, “Yes sir.” And we talked about it.

Have you ever gone to someone’s place of work and then found out they weren't there? They had gone home. His body was Joe's place of work but he's not there, he has gone home.

 

2 Cor. 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

#2 - BROTHER JOE IS IN HEAVEN BECAUSE HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

Remember what Jesus said in John 14: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Joe knew he wasn't perfect. He knew the Bible teaches us that "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" He understood that "...the wages of sin is death;" and he understood that good news "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." He knew that if he, or you, or I, didn't get our sin situation resolved we would have to go to the place commonly called Hell. But he knew from the Bible that "... God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." and that by rising on the third day Jesus proved He was who He said He was, God in the flesh and that the payment He had made on the cross was enough to pay for all our sins. And so, knowing these truths, Joe put his faith in the crucified and risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

#3 - BROTHER JOE IS IN HEAVEN BECAUSE HE TRUSTED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HE WANTS YOU TO TRUST HIM TOO!

 

Joe was interested in souls while he lived down here. He is even more interested now. Some of you relatives and friends who haven't trusted Christ yet. He wants you to trust Christ. Some of you who have trusted Christ but aren't living for Him, he would tell you to turn your life over to Christ and live for Him. You really need to get this settled. It sure would be good if some of you would trust Christ this afternoon. Stop playing with this thing and get it settled.

Rom. 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.