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I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

Funeral message for M. Sarah Yoo
May 21, 2009

“My sheep listens to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”(John 10:27-28)

        Today’s key verses are from the passage Minneapolis coworkers studied for this week. As you know, “eternal life” is the theme of John’s gospel. It is in Jesus and Jesus came to give us eternal life. One of the study questions was, “What difference does it make to have eternal life?” This question led us to see newly what we have now and think about how it affects our lives.

        Most of the time, we cannot think more than day-to-day work to do and problems to fix. Eventually, however, we realize that “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” Now is the season in which we enjoy growing green grass and blossoming flowers. In several months, however, they will wither and fall and we will not remember their glory. Man’s life is like that, as Moses said in Psalm 90, “The length of our days is seventy years-or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away…Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

        We praise God, for he has given us the best gift of all—eternal life through Jesus Christ. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.”  If God has not given man the hope of eternal life, our lives would have been nothing but troubles, sorrow, and vanity. With the promise of eternal life, God has made everything beautiful and meaningful in its time. It is the greatest comfort and joy for us to think about eternity and eternal life during our temporal life in this troubled world. 

        In the Scriptures, the word “eternal” is used for three subjects: First, it is used for God. God is eternal and his word is eternal. Second, it is used for eternal fire or punishment. Third, it is used for eternal life and redemption along with eternal glory, praise, and pleasure. God revealed that man is not a mortal creature. Man is a spiritual being and God bestowed immortality to man’s soul. God also revealed that man is a moral being who is accountable to God for his conducts while living on earth. Romans 2:7-8 says, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”

        The Father has given the Son authority to give eternal life and to judge because he obeyed the Father and became the Son of Man. God sent his Son to call those who listen to his voice and give them eternal life. Jesus Christ came to lead them to his kingdom for eternal glory, praise, and pleasure. Jesus, as the Judge of all mankind, declares, “they will never perish.”  No one can snatch them out of his hand, because he purchased their lives through his death and cleansed their sins with the precious blood he shed for them.

        Then, what difference does it make for a man to have eternal life? Eternal life is in God. A man who has eternal life is united with God. He has fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He listens to God’s voice and God knows him. He knows the truth. He follows Jesus Christ who is the way to the Father. He has protection, provision, rest and peace in God. He knows the purpose and direction in life. He has a living hope of the kingdom of God. He lives as a holy pilgrim and bears fruit that will last. On the other hand, those who do not have eternal life live hedonistic lives. They are like orphans. They have no hope. They perish.

          M. Sarah Yoo’s life was not long, especially with her beloved husband M. Joshua Yoo and two children John and Hannah. But God made her life most blessed and beautiful through his wondrous love before he took her into his kingdom in his time. 

First, God saved her and gave her eternal life through Christ. God saw in her a truth seeking heart and revealed Jesus Christ to her during her junior year in college. After graduation, God led her to UBF Wharang Chapter in Korea so that she could grow to be a shepherdess and a Bible teacher. For five years as a single and another five years in marriage to Joshua, she participated in the gospel ministry for Korea Military Academy, Hong-Ik University, and Seoul National University of Technology. She listened to Jesus’ voice and followed him. So the Lord blessed her not to wander in the world, but to live as a holy pilgrim and a blessing to others.

Second, God exalted her to be a missionary to Iowa. In 2006, God brought her with Joshua and two children to Iowa for Joshua’s doctoral study. Sarah dedicated herself to be a missionary during her stay in the States. For the past 32 months until God called her to rest, she served the pioneering ministry at University of Iowa with M. Joshua as prayer mother, fisher, and Bible teacher while caring for two children. God gave her the honor of being called home as a missionary on duty and I believe she is now honored in heaven. I believe God will remember her prayers for Iowa and will bring them to fruition. She will rest in the land of her mission until she will rise in a glorious resurrection body when the Lord comes again.

Third, the Lord led her into an eternal love relationship with him. When she was diagnosed with lung cancer last August, doctors said that she could live not longer than three months. But God enabled her to live over nine months. During this time, the Lord was with her and led her into a deep love relationship with him. It was the most difficult time for her and Joshua, but I believe it was the most beautiful time in her life because of the Lord’s love for her. Before her departure, she fully committed herself and two children unto the Lord, her Good Shepherd, Savior and Lord. During the time, she also received the full extent of Joshua’s love and she too showed the full extent of her love for her husband and children. 

        Now, she rests in the bosom of the Lord in the splendor and glory of his kingdom. In the wondrous grace of our Father and the Lord Jesus, our departure is not a sorrowful tragedy, but a celebration of glorious homecoming. There will be a far greater celebration when we all meet again in the restored paradise in the glorious resurrection body. May the grace of the Lord Almighty be with M. Joshua and bless him to finish his doctoral study and serve Iowa pioneering ministry. May our loving Father bless the two children to receive eternal life from the Lord Jesus and follow him after their parents. May God extend his mercy and love to each of the family members and lead them to receive eternal life through Christ. May we all follow Christ and serve his kingdom work as holy pilgrims who have received eternal life.