It almost seems unreal to be here - doesn’t it? Like there has to be some mistake.

_____ was so much a part of all our lives. He left an indelible mark on each of us. As a husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and brother in Christ - he’s set a very high standard - an example - for us to follow. There is not one person in our congregation whose life has not been positively touched by _____. A tremendous number of people in our greater community have been affected by _____.

And _____ tirelessly - selflessly - faithfully - served the church. I sometimes felt as if _____ was always thinking about the church - even in his dreams.

All of this comes from one single truth about _____. _____ personally knows Jesus as His Savior. In all these things he has faithfully served Jesus whom he loves.

In 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle Paul writes words which could easily be applied to _____. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; (8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Bible speaks of death - for the Christian - as a rest from labor - a reward for faithful service. In Revelation 14 we read, (13) “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord....that they may rest from their labors...”

Its like God has said, “_____, you’ve been faithfully in your work - now come - sit here with me - and rest - enter the joy of the Lord.”

Victor Hugo - the French novelist - said of death, “When I go down to the grave I can say, like so many others: I have finished by work, but I cannot say I have finished my life. May day’s work will begin the next morning. My tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to be open in the dawn.”

When the New York Yankees won the 1998 World Series millions of New Yorkers turned out for a ticker tape parade. What a scene - the huge cheering crowds - the confetti coming down. It was an incredible celebration - the homecoming celebration.

I think _____ would have been happy to see that kind of parade - just once - for the Warriors.

There’s a great hymn - the chorus goes “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.”

For the Christian, death is not a tragedy. For the Christian, death is victory - a celebration of the homecoming of a believer who is taken to the presence of his Savior. Imagine _____ in that type of celebration and victory.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” - even in death.

Two last verses - powerful and victorious verses from Isaiah 25: (8) He - God - will swallow up death forever - permanently - and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke - this shadow of death which hangs over each one of us - God will take away - the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. (9) And it will be said in that day; “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited; and He will save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

On behalf of Karen and myself - and the Calvary Armenian Congregational Church - I would like to express our sympathies to you - _____’s family. We also feel your loss. May we comfort each other knowing the victory that is _____’s - that he is in the presence of his Lord.