Funeral For A Man Of God

Our church lost amazing man, last Thursday evening, Mr. Curtis Johnson. He was married to his wonderful wife for 64 years and served our church faithfully till the day we went to be with Jesus. Below is the sermon I preached at his funeral. It is roughly edited, but I think we can be challenged by Paul in 2 Timothy and by the life of Curtis Johnson. Please continue to be in prayer for his family.

Ecc 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. Mr. Curtis strove for this. You know it is nice to do funerals where you don’t have to lie and try and preach someone into heaven. But, Ms. Cat asked me not to praise Curtis. She said she wanted God’s presence here and focus on God and not Mr. Curtis. Truth is I don’t have to praise Mr. Curtis. All of you are here because you know and love this man. The man lived his funeral. He just did things, he did not draw much attention to it, and he just did it. The world is full of people who point out problems and even church people say all the things that need to be done, all the while expecting someone else to do them. Mr. Curtis just did it. He and Mrs. Cat were always the first at church to turn on lights and have everything ready for the service to begin. Mr. Curtis always dressed nice. Mrs. Cat would always tell me his suit came from 1947 and 2.00 dollars. He also had a sharp red coat, that I always wanted to wear, to bad he and I were just not the same size. Just last month when I went to visit the tires on truck were slack and he went out to put some air in them for me.

I could on and on with all the little things. But one other preacher also wanted to have a chance to share as well. I will let other past preachers praise him. a. Gordon Thronton, 1982 first church. Charles Jones, David Jone’s dad was struggling with cancer and Curtis would go and shave him every morning. Gordon remembered when after Mr. Charles passed, Jewel Jones proclaimed his as good as gold. Gordon said in his words, Curtis was one of the best deacons he has ever known and he agrees that he was as good as gold!

I thought about other great men who died and the way they wanted to be remembered. a. The apostle Paul was a fellow as well who got things done. He did far more action than he did talking about it. Towards the end of Paul’s life he wrote a letter to a young preacher named Timothy.

2 Tim 4:5-8 But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (6) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

Vs.6a The apostle uses two vivid figures of speech to portray his coming death. He likens his life to a drink offering. Final act of sacrifice, in the fact that he had given everything that could have to the service of God and man. Offered all he had to God

Vs.6b Departure: It has few powerful meaning for us to consider It is the word for unyoking an animal from the the plough. Death to Paul was rest from toil. Mr. Curtis now has found his rest. It is the word for loosening chains or shackles Death for Paul was a release. He was to exchange the confines of a Roman prison for the glorious liberty of the courts of heaven. Mr. Curtis is free from the pain that he felt and endured in this life It is the word for loosening the ropes of a tent. For Paul it was time to strike camp again. Many a journey he had made across the roads of Asia Minor and of Europe. Now he was setting out on his last and greatest journey; he was taking the road that led to God. Mr. Curtis now is a new and better place. A place of worship, vibrant life and activity.I don’t now if things break in heaven, but if they do we know Curtis will have it fixed quickly! It is the word for loosening the ropes of a ship. Many a time Paul had felt his ship leave the harbor for the deep waters. Now he is to launch out into the greatest deep of all, setting sail to cross the waters of death to arrive in the heaven of eternity Mr. Curtis is home now on those heavenly shores. The journey is complete

Vs.7a I have fought the good fight’. This athletic imagery. My coach used to always say “leave it all on the field.” Mr. Curtis certainly used ounce of himself in love and service to God To the very end he worked and served.

Vs.7b Next, he writes, ‘I have finished the race’. The life a Christian is started by many, but it sad to see how many people don’t finish. He finished strong, and now serves as encouragement to those of us in this room to imitate him in faithfulness to endure and preserver no matter what!

Vs.7c ‘I have kept the faith’. “I have kept my faith: I have never lost my confidence and my hope.” Paul meant that through thick and thin, in freedom and in imprisonment, in all his perils by land and sea, and now in the very face of death, he had never lost his trust in Jesus Christ. I never saw Curtis lose faith. I see his family now keeping the faith. That is what he would want from us. i. Not to despair, no to worry, not to fear, but to keep the faith!

Vs.8a Paul goes on to say there is laid up for him the crown. In the games the greatest prize was the laurel (evergreen) wreath. With it the victor was crowned; and to wear it was the greatest honor which could come to any athlete. But this crown in a few short days would wither. Paul knew that there awaited him a crown which would never fade. Notice who give the reward: The Lord and Righteousness Judge, Jesus. Imagine Jesus rewarding Curtis for all he has done! Mr. Curtis reward from God is never ending. Never fading, he never drew attention to what he did, he knew God noticed, God did and now he is being rewarded for it.

Vs.8b In this moment Paul is turning from the verdict of men to the verdict of God. He knew that in a very short time he would stand before the Roman judgment seat and that his trial could have only one end. He knew what Nero’s verdict would be, but he also knew what God’s verdict would be. The man whose life is dedicated to Christ is indifferent to the verdict of men. He cares not if they condemn him so long as he hears his Master’s “Well done!”Paul sounds still another note—this crown awaits not only him but all who wait with expectation for the coming of the King. It is as if he said to the young Timothy: “Timothy, my end is near: and I know that I go to my reward. If you follow in my steps, you will feel the same confidence and the same joy when the end comes to you.” The joy of Paul is open to every man who also fights that fight and finishes the race and keeps the faith.
Go back to verse

Vs.5 Paul says this: ‘But as for you, Timothy, you must fulfill your ministry, for I am already on the point of death.’ It is all the more vital for Timothy to continue and complete his ministry because the apostle’s life-work has reached completion and is about to close.
Mr. Curtis ministry to our church is done. These are big shoes left to fill. The question for you and I today is will we fulfill our ministry? Will we give all we have to serve God and give it our all? Will we run the race through the hard times, while clinging and never letting go of that faith? Will we receive that crown that Curtis is wearing now when we finally face our creator and God? Will we continue to honor Curtis by serving the God and the church that he loved?

BTW: I used The Message of Second Timothy by John Stott from The Bible Speaks Today commentary series in preparation. I love this series and recommend it.

Pastor Phillip