Oliver Raymond Saeger funeral sermon

John 14:1-6: “Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14:19: Because I live, you will live also.

John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

+ Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our Lord pour out an extra measure of His love andcompassion upon you—Ruby, Mike and Vicki, Paul and Judy, Brenda and Martin, and all you grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen.+

Throughout God’s Holy Word, we come across many promises that are made by our Lord. But these are not just any promises. For one thing, our Lord kept (and still keeps) every last one of His promises. But these are promises that guarantee forgiveness, life and salvation. In the Gospel reading that was justread, Jesus promises that in His Father's house aremany mansions and that Jesus prepares a place for all believers--including Ollie. Later on in the chapter, in verse 19, Jesus gives the promise that because He lives, all believers shall live also. Verse 27 promises that we have God's peace--it is not a peace that the world gives, but a peace that passes all understanding. However, before we focus in on these promises of our Lord and how they were meaningful for Ollie, it is important to remember a promise that God had made long before Jesus ever spoke these words.

We read in the book of Genesis about how Adam and Eve ate the fruit from a tree that they were told by God not to eat. From then on, Adam and Eve, and everyone that descended from them, Oliver included (along with all of us), had a sinful nature. God made a promise that He would send a Savior to forgive the sins of all people. The Old Testament continued to repeat that promise. God sent prophets to proclaim to the people that the Savior was to come.

And when the time had come, Jesus was born as a baby in the manger in Bethlehem. He would minister to the people on the earth, and it was while He was on earth where He made the promise of God's heavenly mansions, and a place was being prepared for all believers. The Lord also prepared a place in His heavenly mansions for Ollie, where Ollie is now living. Ollie firmly believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and he is in the place that was prepared for him.

Jesus mentions the promise that because He lives, all believers shall live also. It is true that Ollie's earthly life is complete and he will be missed. But he lives because of the love that Jesus had—and still has for him. Because Jesus died on the cross, Ollie was forgiven of all sins, and you and I are forgiven. And because Jesus lives, Ollie lives in heaven.

Ollie was always at peace with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He had Jesus' peace. On a personal note, it was my privilege to know Ollie for the last few years and it was a real privilege and honor given to me by my Lord to be his pastor in the last few weeks of his earthly life. I know that the previous pastors in this congregation that I know personally would consider being Ollie’s pastor a privilege and honor from the Lord as well. In the years that Ollie was a member here, he received God’s Word of peace, and He received the peace that comes from receiving Christ’svery body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. That was only foretaste of the feast that Ollie is now enjoying in heaven!

The love of Jesus also important to Ollie outside the church. Most importantly, it was important in the home. Because Jesus loved Ollie, Ollie certainly loved his Lord. Jesus love also enabled Ollie to love Ruby, his dear wife of 60 years. Jesus’ love enabled Ollie to love his children—Mike, Paul, and Brenda along with their dear spouses. Jesus’ love enabled Ollie to be a loving grandfather and great-grandfather. Jesus’ love enables Ollie to be a very dear friend to many people. Ollie loved because Jesus first loved him.

Jesus said in earlier in the book John (11:25-26) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me with live even though He dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? Ollie did! Ollie knew and believed in Jesus as his Savior, and that the Savior was born him, lived a perfect life for him, died for him, and rose for him so that he would have eternal life. That is the precious Gospel message that Ollie knew and believed. That is the precious Gospel message that Ollie would desire for all of you to know believe. More importantly, that is the precious Gospel message that our Lord desires for all of you to know and believe. The Savior was born for you, the Savior lived a perfect life for you, the Savior died for you, the Savior rose for you—all so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

As we continue with our earthly lives, let us always ponder in our hearts and minds the love Jesus had for Ollie and how that is why Ollie is living in heaven,and let us always remember the love that Jesus has for all of us. His death and resurrection gives to each ofus His peace.

Thanks be to God; He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.