I'm the father-in-law, but don't blame them for that. Today I want to close with a few thoughts about comfort from God's Word. We are attending a funeral today, and it's a reminder of the brevity of life and the certainty of death. Whether we wanted to be reminded of it or not, one day we will all face that reality. In Ecclesiastes 3, verse 2, Solomon wrote these words, there's a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up. In James 4, verse 14, there's a commentary there, an analogy about what life is all about. It simply says this, as James writes these words, For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. It's like steam from a kettle on a cold day. It appears for a time. It seems that it lasts forever. But really, it's brief. I'm convinced that one of the reasons that God shows or allows death among us is to remind us what we must do what we wished we had done when death overtakes us all. Even now, Connie's life seems to us to be oh so brief. It's here for a moment and then gone, even though it lasted 52 years. In John chapter 14 in the New Testament, there's an insight that is given to us there that took place on the night before Christ's crucifixion. The disciples were all gathered together with Jesus in the upper room. They were troubled about what Jesus was saying. His remarks indicated that he would be going to heaven soon, in fact, the very next day. And this gave rise to some questions that the disciples asked. And especially one disciple in particular is recorded. His name is Thomas. And he raised the question that a lot of people ask, even to this very day. The question that he asks, I focus on with you for these moments. It's found in John chapter 14 and verse 5, where Thomas asks, how can we know the way? That is, how can we know the way to heaven? Can we know for sure the road to heaven? This question really can be known in several different ways. That is, boiled down to several different questions. That is, some people respond to that question by saying, if I have enough good works and they outweigh my bad deeds, then surely I will merit heaven. But listen to what the Bible says about that question. In Titus chapter 3 and verse 5, these words, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Many people stumble on that one question. They think it's all up to their works as to where they will spend eternity. But that's not so. It's all up to the mercy of God and the grace of God. In fact, Paul writes this in Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 8 and 9, where he says, for by grace are you saved through faith. and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. If heaven were attained by our works, heaven would be full of all kind of boasters. People who said, I did this, I did that, but it won't be. There will not be one word of boasting in heaven. A second answer that is often given is by people who say, my way is as good as any way, and I think it's good enough. I'll just trust in my way to get there. Well, John chapter 1, verse 13 says it's not by works of the flesh. It's not by the flesh that we obtain that way. In Proverbs 16, 25, it says, there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is death. It seems to be right. He follows his own instincts. He tries to do it his way, but it's the wrong road. And then the third indication of a false way is I believe I'll follow my religion and it'll lead me there. That's answered in John chapter three in verse 13 where he says it's not by the will of man. Jesus met a man who had all of the credentials of going to heaven and his name was Nicodemus. He was one of the leading scholars of his day. In fact, many Bible scholars believe that Nicodemus was probably the leading Pharisee of his day. And in John chapter 10, verse 1, we read, John chapter 3 rather, Jesus met Nicodemus one night And he told him, unless a man is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. And Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born again? Is he to go back and enter his mother's womb and be born all over again? And Jesus responded by telling him that the new birth is a spiritual birth. It's a miracle of God that takes place in the heart that is open to him. that responds to him and invites him to come into their life. John chapter 10 and verse 1 says it this way, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up another way the same as a thief and a robber. In other words, there's only one door to the sheepfold. And that's admitted by Christ. Then there's those who say God is too good to send anyone to hell. Indeed, God is good and gracious and kind and long-suffering. But John chapter 3 verse 18 says that a man who doesn't believe in Christ is condemned already. Can you imagine that? Condemned already in his life. And then John 3.36 says that the person who doesn't have Christ in their life hasn't invited Him into his life. The wrath of God abides upon him like a settled cloud that hangs over his life. So do you see the human dilemma here? The Bible says that all have sinned. You and I, all alike, have sinned. Then it goes on to say in Romans 6.23 that the wages of those sin is death. That is eternal separation from God. But this need not be. I'm reminded of a museum that held a picture, a great picture that was painted. And one day, A young man entered that museum and stared, longing at that picture. It was a picture of a chess board that was between two men. On one side of the board sat a man with a leering smile on his face, gleefully anticipating what he was seeing in that picture. It was the picture of Satan sitting by this chess table. And on the other side was a young man. His face was in pain and suffering because he was anticipating what was on that picture. The chess men were all arranged in such a manner that it looked as though it was hopeless for the young man to win the game of life. And as he pondered this question, An elderly man had entered the museum and stared at the picture. And then with a loud voice he shouted, there is a way, but there's only one move. You must make that move or else you'll lose the game of life. So it is with us. There's only one move and only one way to win. Jesus answered the question that was asked to him by Thomas that day. In the sixth verse of the 14th chapter of John, he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. He's the only way, not a way among several choices, for there is no other choice but him. Peter said this in John 4.12 about salvation, when he said, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. There is a way, but there is only one, and that is Christ. Christ died on the cross. to take your penalty and my penalty, my sinfulness, my offense to God, and took it on himself, and stood where I should have stood, and died the death I should have died, and spend all eternity in condemnation. But he took that penalty and paid the penalty. Do you remember at the end of his life, there on the cross, his last words were, it is finished. Those words are the words that are used by an athlete of old as he ran his race and finally got to the finish line and just as he crossed the finish line, he cried out, talideste. In other words, it is finished. The race is over. So it is that Christ paid the penalty that you and I might receive Him and believe upon Him for our salvation and receive His reward of eternal life, not because of what we've done, but because of what He accomplished. I think of 2 Corinthians 5.21, a favorite verse of mine, where it says of Christ that He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us. In other words, God looked upon Christ when He was on the cross as though He was full of your sin and my sin, worthy of condemnation. He knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ is your substitute and my substitute as we receive him. In Romans 10, 9 and 10, he gives us this admonition in this direction. If we confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Connie made that confession toward the end of her life. Now, how can we know for sure that we have eternal life? I read the other day about a submarine, an American submarine that sunk many years ago off the coast of New England. They sent divers down to see if they could rescue the men. As they were near the submarine, they heard a clicking sound. As they put their ear to the submarine, they heard distinctly In Morse code, the words, is there any hope? Is there any hope? First John chapter five, verse 13, says it this way. These things have I written, that is John had written, to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. No one here needs to guess whether they're going to heaven or not. We can know for sure. He gave us that promise, that assurance, that if we believe on the name of the Son of God, we shall be saved. Believe, putting our faith and confidence fully in Him. So I ask these words in closing. Do you have assurance of your salvation? Your day will come, and my day will come, and we are given the option and the promise of believing on Christ to have that assurance of eternal life. I'm going to ask Van to come and lead us in a hymn, 493, 493.