Sermon - Norm Prins Funeral

Agnus Dei, Stained Glass at Saint Columbkille Church, Wilmindton, Ohio

Dear Ruth, children, grandchildren, brothers, family, and friends of Norm; Norm has died with Christ, and since he has, he also lives with Christ even now, and shall riase again with Christ on the final day. As you mourn and grieve today and in the days to come, remind yourself of that fact. Norm, your husband, father, grandpa, friend, will rise from the grave to live with all the saints in the kingdom of light. God has promised it, so trust His sure and certain word, dear people of God. Let your grief be tempered by hope.

I’ve only known Norm for a year, but I see his daughter Sue most days of the week since she’s our talented secretary at church here, so I’ve heard countless stories about Norm. I’ll spare telling you any of the stories now, since I want you to tell your own stories of Norm with each other during lunch. Ruth has the stories from their past 69 years together; decades of rich stories of a powerful marriage. Norm’s children can tell the stories of their dad, a strong man capable of anything, from the workshop to the ballfield.

Up until just recently that’s who Norm was, a strong man capable of doing whatever needed doing. Indeed, looking on Norm’s life you can see that he took Ecclesiastes to heart: “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” But, as we also read there: there is “a time to be born, and a time to die.” So since last autumn especially, Norm has not been the same strong man capable of anything.

That’s a hard thing to live and it’s a hard thing to watch. Nevertheless, “God has made everything beautiful in its time” because “He has put eternity into man’s heart.” As difficult as it has been to watch Norm go from Stormin Norman to the frailties of age, we know that there is a beauty therein on account of eternity. In a way the strength and virility of youth is deceitful, since it disguises the reality hidden beneath. But at death all the cards are on the table, and the reality of our weakness and fragility are exposed for all we’re worth.

In the end Norm is man, sinful and mortal, and the wages of sin is death. In spite of Norm’s strength he could not overcome the power of his own sin and death. The reason Norm will be buried in a grave today is because he was a sinner. Norm knew this well, it was no surprise to him, that’s why he confessed regularly with the rest of this congregation that he was a poor miserable sinner deserving of death. Beneath the thin veneer of his strength, he knew his situation and that one day he would be resting in a grave.

But Norm’s strength wasn’t within himself, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Norm’s strength is from the Lord! His newness of life comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sin which brought Norm death, has been crucified with Jesus, so that Norm may be freed from sin and death! “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.”

Norm lives because of Christ Jesus! Norm’s weakness of sin has been forgiven by Jesus who died to pay for Norm’s failings so that Norm may live eternally! Eternity has been placed into Norm’s heart from the moment of his baptism unto his final breath. 

For that reason, the Lord Jesus Christ commands you: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Yes, on this day when we observe Norm’s funeral, Jesus commands you to not let your hearts be troubled! Norm is not dead but living. When Norm died, that is a sad and unnatural thing, death should not exist! When he died, his body and soul were separated. His body is here with us on earth. And his soul is with the Lord in heaven. Soon his body will be laid into the grave to await the resurrection and the return of Jesus Christ. When Jesus returns, Norm is going to be raised from the dead. His body and soul will be reunited. The same body, the same soul, the same Norm that you have known for so many years will stand again! You will see him, and hug him, and hold his hand again. Indeed! Let not your hearts be troubled! Shed your tears, but do not lose hope.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” The Lord is preparing paradise for you, a new creation, where you shall live bodily with others, where you shall live with Norm. Norm knew the way to this paradise. For Jesus says: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Norm knows Jesus, and Jesus is the way to eternal life, therefore through Jesus Norm has life, strength, and vigor beyond compare!

You, dearly beloved, have a sure and certain reason to hope! The stories you’re telling about Norm today are fantastic! Keep telling them. I hope Sue keeps telling me more stories during morning coffee! But through faith in Jesus Christ, you will make more memories and stories with Norm in the age to come! So follow the example of Norm, and put your faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ. Confess your sins alongside Norm, and receive the forgiveness of your sins from Jesus, returning to your baptism. When you die with Christ through faith in Him, you will also live with Christ, for all eternity, dwelling alongside the saints in the household of God.