John 10:11-16; Romans 8:31-39; Isaiah 25:6-9
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
On March 31, 2017, Mac
received the diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and was given three weeks to
two months to live. Perhaps the most horrible thing about cancer is that it
causes the body to attack and destroy itself. When someone or something is
attacking you from outside, you can know your enemy and fight or stand against
him. However, when the enemy is inside you, when your own body is your enemy,
that really takes a toll on a person’s self-understanding and identity, and
it’s not surprising that cancer patients often struggle with depression,
hopelessness, and despair. Undoubtedly, Mac could relate to St. Paul’s words,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep
to be slaughtered.” And yet, Mac was not overcome with depression,
hopelessness, and despair. In fact, he was at peace with his disease and with his
impending death. He was more concerned about his wife and family, especially his
beloved grandchildren, than himself. And, that is because Mac also clung to St.
Paul’s words that say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger,
or sword,” or even Acute Myeloid Leukemia? “No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Of course, the reality is
that Mac did not die in three weeks, or two months, but he lived another ten
months and then some. And, he really and truly lived those months, spending
time with his grandchildren, worshipping at church, attending Bible study,
keeping up with the local news at the HyVee, and more. Mac was living on
borrowed time, and so he made the most of it. Of course, the truth is that we
are all living on borrowed time, all the time. Blessed are those who realize
that and treasure each day as a gift from our LORD who gives us life, who
sustains our life, and who will call us through death into life that does not
end, in His way and in His time.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd,
and Mac His precious and beloved sheep. And, the Good Shepherd lays down His
life for His sheep. That is how much He loves you. He did not flee the wolf
Satan, but He faced him dead on and threw Himself into the wolf’s jaws that He
might break them and destroy his power in death. Jesus knows each and every one
of His sheep personally. He know you, He calls you, He protects and He keeps
you. He died for you and He was raised for you that you should be raised from
death to life with Him in heaven, life that can never die again. What freedom
this knowledge and faith grants us in our lives; what freedom this knowledge
and faith granted Mac in his life! Indeed, “If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how
will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
Fear, fear of death, keeps
us paralyzed and unable to truly live and truly love and truly give and truly glorify
God by loving, giving to, and serving others. Mac didn’t have that problem. Mac
wasn’t afraid. Strangely, having been effectively given a death sentence, Mac
wasn’t afraid, but he was freed; he was freed to live, to love, to give, and to
serve without fear. And, Mac loved to give gifts, especially to his
grandchildren. In fact, he loved to give gifts so much that the actually
couldn’t wait to give them. Like a kid with a new gift himself, he would let
the cat out of the bag prematurely, talking about them so much that they’d
guess what it was, or just flat out giving it to them before Christmas, or the
birthday, or whatever the occasion happened to be. Freedom to live and worship
and serve without fear, that is what Mac enjoyed. And that is what Mac shared
with his family and his friends and all who encountered him. What a wonderful
witness to our wonderful and amazing God and His grace!
Mac was a hard worker,
having worked for John Deere thirty years while also farming with his Dad Jack
and brother Phil. He was frugal and he drove the bus transporting employees
from Waverly to John Deere in order to save money. He enjoyed nature, birding
with Betty – together they spied and identified over 500 species! – hunting
deer and duck, and fishing in Canada. And, Mac enjoyed working with Laborers
for Christ and with other men from the church in building the Gathering Room
extension. Though Mac wasn’t so much involved in the building itself, he did
contribute by cleaning up and by sweeping the floors. He especially enjoyed the
morning Bible Study which ended with the singing of the Doxology, “Praise God,
From Whom All Blessings Flow.” Indeed, I have heard Mac and his cohort in crime
Glen, kindly heckling me at the Bartel’s Center saying, “Let’s sing 805!” And,
we’ll be singing 805 this morning, as Mac is surely singing it “with angels and
archangels and all the company of heaven,” around the throne of God and the
Lamb.
Mac and Betty were blessed
with fifty-six years of marriage. Betty says that Mac was her rock. Over those
years, Mac was able to visit all states, with the exception of Hawaii, which
Mac didn’t consider a state. When I asked if he had visited Alaska and whether
he considered it a state or not, Betty said, “Yes, because he liked it.” Mac
also served in the Army and was amongst those men who provided a human shield
along the streets of Berlin for President Kennedy’s cavalcade in 1963 when he
spoke those famous words, “Ich bin ein Berliner.” After retiring from John
Deere, Mac and Betty moved to Minnesota. Betty said, “I will live in Minnesota,
but I will not be buried there.” Indeed, Mac and Betty moved back to Iowa to be
close to their beloved grandchildren. Indeed, Mac will not be buried in
Minnesota, but in Tripoli, Iowa, where he will join his brothers, in time,
three in a row, overlooking the Snyder Access land donated by his family for
hunting and fishing.
Mac was baptized and
confirmed at the Congregational Church in Tripoli. In many ways, he has come
home, not only to Tripoli, but to the Good Shepherd’s pasture where His sheep
may safely graze. Our Good Shepherd Jesus has lead His dear sheep Mac through
the Valley of the Shadow of Death and into His Father’s house forevermore.
However, the same Good Shepherd accompanies you through that very same Valley
even now, and victory over sin, death, and the devil is already yours, just as
it was Mac’s, and will be given to all who trust in Him and follow Him. Indeed,
death is the wage of our sin, both original and actual. But, death has been
defeated in the incarnation, life, obedience, death, resurrection, and
ascension of our Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Therefore, you have nothing to
fear, and you are truly free to live and to love and to give and to serve
without fear, as did our brother Mac throughout the time that was given him. Truly,
we all have but a little borrowed time to live our lives for the LORD, and for
others to His glory. He has blessed us with an example in Mac. Let us honor Mac’s
faith and life by living our lives in faith toward God and in fervent love
towards our neighbors to the glory of His holy Name. Let us be glad and rejoice
in His salvation.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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