My brother-in-law, Scott, my only sister’s husband, went to his final resting home at the young age of 59 a few weeks ago. He was a pastor, teacher, friend, but mostly in his life a believer. As much of our family gathered together to say our good-byes to him, and to rally around my sister, Julie, and her four daughters and their families, we were strengthened in our own faith. It was a gathering that touched many, but probably the most unique and emotional parts of the service were spoken to us by Scott himself.
Just one day before he died, Scott preached to his congregation from II Timothy 4: 2-8. That wasn’t supposed to be his original sermon for the day, but just hours before, he had told my sister that God was placing other words on his heart for the morning message. So he went about planning a new message, including this scripture and an urgency for all to be “ready”. He even commented that this might be his last sermon, we never know what day will be our last.
Because his sermon was recorded that day, his family was able to choose to use parts of it to speak to all of us just a few days later. In between his words, a young man that Scott had mentored to also become a pastor gave the rest of the funeral message. For me, as we all listened and sang the song, “ Only Jesus”, it brought all that Scott believed and taught in his life together. None of us left that place without knowing God’s plan for us. Nothing could have honored him and his life more as his life was celebrated.
II Timothy 4:2-8
“ I give you this charge.
(2) Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with patience and careful instruction.
(3) For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
(4) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
(5) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
(6) For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and time of departure is near.
(7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
(8) Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.”
Between our tears, we had plenty of things to smile and laugh about as we remembered Scott. I spent a few days with my sister and her family in Iowa as they prepared to say their final good-byes. We laughed about his interest in used treasures, and always searching for a good “find”, either for his family or a friend. He is probably the only person I know to have a beautiful bouquet of flowers at his funeral “ from his friends at Goodwill”! Just recently he had given me several new Bibles for my youth group kids that he had “found” amongst his stash.
Just a few months ago Dan and I had the privilege of spending five days in Branson with my sister and Scott. He usually didn’t enjoy traveling, but consented to go with us to celebrate Julie’s birthday. We had the best time, and he enjoyed it so very much. Being an avid coin collector, he found a couple spots there that brought new interest to his hobby. As we finished our time out with the play, “Samson”, he expressed interest in wanting to go back again. There were plans to do that, but that was not to be.
Scott loved to play jokes on people, and even though I tried to be on guard with him, he “got me” many times, to his delight. I will always remember his smile, and my children have all commented on his generous, compassionate giving to others. As our circle of in-laws is now broken, (out-laws, he liked to call them) we will hold his memory dear to our hearts. As he himself said, we never know the time or day when God will take us home. It is imperative that we are “ready”.
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