This is a written version of my talk at Bob Shaprles’ funeral service
Readings
John 14:1-
Revelation 21:1-7
Preaching for Bob has always been a nerve wracking affair. I remember one of my first sermons at Bearwood Chapel. Bob scored it at elders. He gave it 2/10! God could be very “matter of fact” to the point of bluntness. That included about things like death. When Steve Sturman and I were going on a mission visit to Egypt in the middle of the Arab Spring, bob pointed out that it was “win/win”. If we came back in one piece, all well and good. If anything went wrong, well, we got to go to heaven and he got to preach the Gospel at the funeral! And he would expect the same in return.
Bob could be matter of fact about death because our readings aren’t just sentimentality. Bob believed what they said. They reflect who he was. First, we were reminded that Jesus has gone on ahead of us to prepare a home for us, so we do not need to be anxious about anything, including death.
Bob cared about our homes. He sometimes gave us advice about their maintenance and upkeep. Sometimes the advice was solicited! Bob cared about our homes because he cared about us. I remember him offering to come round and look at houses with us when we were moving up here. That Saturday was quite the experience. We walked into one house “damp “he announced and walked out, at the next “asbestos”. By the third house, Bob and I were looking into a crater in the garden. I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be the one. The estate agent, leaning against a wheelie bin said to Sarah “your friend knows his stuff doesn’t he?” Sarah said “yes. So don’t mess us about.” Well, it worked, we walked into 106 Harvest Road, and Bob smiled. We knew we were home. Bob cared even more that people found that spiritual home with Christ, in the Father’s House.
Our second reading points to the hope we have, God’s kingdom coming. Bob was a Scotsman in England. And we all knew it. Especially those of us who have watched an international football game with him!” But Bob wasn’t hoping to get back to Scotland. He got so much life from his visits to Arizona: the sunshine, time with his sister’s family and opportunity to help serve and worship with his friends at Alive Church. Bob was a Scotsman living in England, lobing to be in America! More than that though, Bob had a longing for a better home. Bob was a citizen of heaven.
And he could be matter of fact because he had found life, hope and forgiveness in Jesus. Bob would want you to have that same hope. And in his matter-of-fact way, he would want me to remind everyone that none of us know when the day will come, when it’s our time to die. He would want to say that we should not risk having unfinished business, with each other and most of all with God. Jesus died on the Cros, taking the penalty of our sin, our sin and shame on himself so that we could say “there’s no unfinished business. I have peace with God.”
Don’t leave here today with unfinished business.
