How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Blessed means happy - regardless of the circumstances. In 104 years a man must go through a lot of circumstances - some of them very hard. And yet, _____ always seemed to be happy. He lived a life blessed by God.

One of the reasons for that blessing was God’s word. As the Psalm says, _____ meditated on God’s word. When I first met _____ he had read through the Bible about 60 times. When he died he was working on his 68th. How many people do we know who could claim that? Whenever we had a Bible Study and _____ was there he always had something prepared to share - something that God was teaching him about life. And, it wasn’t just that _____ was reading the Bible - he was thinking about God’s word and living by what he was learning.

Another reason - I think the most important reason _____ was blessed was because _____ was like a tree - firmly planted by streams of water - hard working - productive - in all that he did in life he was prospered by God.

Consider that image - “A tree firmly planted by streams of water.” In a dessert - the importance of water to a tree.

Jesus was traveling through Samaria and He stopped in a little town called Sychar. There - by the well of that town - Jesus had a conversation with a woman about her life. It was very personal conversation with Jesus very gently talking with her about the deeper issues in her life. This woman was a like a tree desperately in need of watering. Her soul was dry - longing to be satisfied.

We all face times like that. When there are needs in our lives - fears - concerns - that take everything from us. Times - even like today - here in a cemetery reminded of our own mortality.

Jesus uses the well as an illustration. He says to the woman, “Everyone who drinks of this - well - water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13,14)

Drink the best water on earth - Evion or Arrowhead - whatever - and we get thirsty again. Life is like that - a restlessness - a longing deep within that never quite gets satisfied.

But, the water that Jesus gives is always available - the stream never stops flowing. The water that Jesus gives always refreshes - it brings life - life that satisfies - with a love and joy and peace and purpose to it. A life that begins now and goes on forever.

_____ - planted with roots in Jesus - _____ had found that life. He had come to place his trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Jesus was the water that brought him blessing in this life. And even though _____ has died physically - Jesus has produced in him eternal life.

Isn’t that what Jesus said? “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” (John 11:25) That is a certain promise that we can hold onto this morning. Death is not the end. _____ lives with Jesus.

I’d like to encourage you this morning. Keep that promise before you. Especially as those who are also trusting in Jesus as our Savior. Because we also know that life. Even though we feel loss today. One day we will see _____ again.

And, if you’ve never trusted in Jesus as your Savior that same invitation to blessing is given to you. Come to the waters and drink. Trust Jesus as your Savior - find the life that He offers you.