The first servant had invested his master’s money in some profitable ventures and had doubled his investment. By the way, we’re not talking about small sums of money here - the return on his investment - in today’s money - was approximately $4.25 million. The second servant also made wise investments and earned about $1.6 million. The third servant - as we know - hid the money and earned nothing.

The master condemns the servant who did nothing and greatly rewards the two who had worked hard. In the words of the master, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)

We often hear these words of the master at funerals - sadly they sometimes loose their meaning because they are used so often and without discretion. But, here - now - in applying these words to __________ - the words are not trite - they are exceedingly applicable. __________ is an example to us of what Jesus is speaking about.

Jesus spoke of servanthood to the master - the importance of faithful service - and the reward which comes from the master. As __________ was reading - as we heard __________’s testimony and we’re remembering his life - it is very evident that __________ has lived his life as a hard working - faithful servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I appreciate __________’s biography - it helps us to understand what was important to him - what it meant to him to be a servant of Jesus Christ.

If you were to write a letter - a biography about yourself - to be read at your funeral - what would you write? What information would you include? Certainly we would include what we would consider to be the most important aspects of our life. This biography - written by __________ - tells us what was important to him.

In my mind three important aspects stand out.

First: __________ had a personal - saving relationship with Jesus Christ. __________’s belief in Jesus was not a belief in a philosophy or religious experience. He served the Master whom he knew personally. On March 9, 1937 - after a long inner struggle - admitting that he was a sinner - __________ accepted Jesus as his personal Savior - In __________’s words, “I experienced an inner peace and the joy of salvation, which passes all understanding.... forsaking all else I dedicated myself completely to the Lord, and passed from death to life.”

Second: __________ was a very hard working man who had great concern for the physical and spiritual welfare of his family. In his words, “I have never left today’s work for tomorrow, and have even done that portion of tomorrow’s work that could be done today.” __________ was punctual - industrious - providing for his family - and concerned that his children have a good foundation in life - that they grow up knowing Jesus - and serving Him.

Third: __________ was a hard working faithful servant of Jesus Christ - not for personal glory - but because servanthood is what his Savior has asked of him. __________ says, “From my childhood I have believed in the existence of God, in the Bible and its teachings. And after receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, after having the joy and assurance of salvation, I have striven to serve my Lord.... At no time have I considered my works of my service of importance - only placing my hope on the Lord Jesus Christ - who died for me, saved me, keeps me, leads me and will lead me until death.”

What has God prepared for __________? What does the Master say to His faithful servant, “Well done, enter into the joy of your master.” Joy - the Bible tells us - is the realization - the moment by moment experience of the presence of God.

The Bible describes our life after death as a place of dwelling with God - God living among His people - God Himself wiping away the tears - the experience of death - the mourning - the crying - the pain - God wiping these away for in His presence the sorrowful things of this world no longer exist. God gives to His servants water from the spring of the water of life - life eternal with Him.

These last years were not easy for __________ or his family. And there is a tremendous comfort in knowing that He has entered into the joy of his master. He is well. He is healed - restored. He and __________ are together.

Even though __________ is well and dwelling with God - I know that there is for those who loved him - knew him - a tremendous feeling of loss and separation. Let me encourage you - not with my words, but with the words of the resurrected - living - Jesus Christ, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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.” (John 14:1-3)

And then, these words of the Apostle Paul, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

There is loss in separation and Setrak will be missed. But, there is also encouragment for us. May this time of remembering be a time of recommitment for us - to faithful service for our Lord Jesus Christ - to follow example the example of __________ - and to look forward to our reunion and our dwelling together in the joyful presence of God.