I do count it a tremendous privilege this afternoon to have the opportunity to bring God's word at this funeral service for George Brown. George, I know, would not want me to say very much about him, and yet there is so much that could be said and perhaps should be said at this time. All who knew George Brown will have found him to be one of life's gentle men, a caring, gracious, unassuming, quiet, hardworking, Godly man, a man who was very content. The Bible reminds us that godliness with contentment is great gain, and that's how it was with George. Gillian shared with me on Thursday morning how he started his working life at 15 years of age in Aitken's garage. His parents had bought a car or a tractor, and part of the deal was that George would be given a job in the garage, and so started his interest in cars and tractors an interest that stayed with him all of his life. Life wouldn't have been easy for a young teenager in those early years of working. And in due course, he moved then to Stinson's, Tractors, and the difference between those two places was day and night. He thrived there, greatly benefited from those who took an interest in him, and all the help that was given to him. In due time, he moved to work in the technical college, teaching teenagers car mechanics, a job He loved, and as you can well imagine, he was not a hard taskmaster, always finding ways to help the young people get on and get through the course that they had before them. As he thought back on those times and often talked with me about his times in the technical college, he often laughed at himself. He had a tremendous sense of humor, and he told me often about the time when he was driving home one winter's evening after a night class, There was frost on his windscreen, and he decided rather than clear the whole windscreen, he would just create a little hole in the windscreen and peer through the frost. He was stopped by the police. They weren't very happy with this driver just peering through this little hole. And they asked him, did he know nothing about cars? Then they asked him, what did he work at? So he told them he was teaching in the tech, young fellows about cars. He just laughed at that. Nothing seemed to trouble George too much. He was very easygoing, loved to be in the company of other people, and loved to help others as much as he could. He married Mary. The Lord blessed them with two daughters, Gillian and Lorraine. And when they married and had families, George was thrilled. The girls were devoted to their father, and especially in these latter years. Following the death of his wife, Julian and Lorraine meant so much to him. And he had nothing but praise for them, extremely grateful for all that they did for him. He loved the farm, appreciated immensely Ethan's interest and help in the farm too. And when they decided to restore the old tractor, his first tractor, it did his heart tremendous good. There were so many who called with George, who helped him on the farm, had coffee with him. He seemed to discover coffee shops in the latter years of his life. He loved that immensely, loved to chat with people, just watch people, and be alongside those that he knew and loved. He was grateful for all of that and felt himself to be greatly blessed in every aspect of his life. The greatest blessing came in George's life in May 1990, when after hearing the word of God, In a gospel mission, God began to speak to him about salvation. At that time, he wasn't in the best of health, but God dealt with his soul, and he called upon Christ for salvation. He would often tell me that he felt so unworthy, and with tears in his eyes, he would speak of his Savior. He was very hesitant as a young Christian to tell others that he had been converted, and he resolved that he would just keep it to himself. Back into work after his time off, he met a colleague in work who told him that he had just been saved. And that gave George the courage and the confidence to tell others of his own conversion too. And that's what made George Brown the gracious, godly man that he was. He knew Christ as his savior. And that Christian experience of his was very real. and very evident in his life. He read the scriptures often, had a very effective and fervent prayer life, and grew as a Christian, witnessing to others of God's grace in his life. And that spiritual character that was maturing in George's life was recognized by the members of this congregation some years ago, and he was elected to serve as an elder in this church. He was an invaluable member of the church oversight here. a man of wisdom, a man of knowledge, a man of great humility. He would greet people with a very broad smile and with a firm handshake and you knew straight away that George Brown was a genuine child of God. He loved the Lord and he loved the Lord's people. Rarely missed a service here unless it was due to ill health and even in latter years when he wasn't able to be out on the evening service or the prayer meetings, He kept a great interest in the things of God in this congregation. Several years ago, he retired from the eldership. He was honored with the title Elder Emeritus. George was held in very high esteem by all who knew him in this congregation, a very important part of our church family here. And we will miss him immensely. We will miss him immensely. We rejoice that he's with Christ, but his seat is empty, and he will be sorely missed. Of course, his family will miss him more than any. His seat at home will be empty. He'll not be there to talk to, not be there to laugh with. He's not there to pray for you, and therefore you've lost a great member of your family circle. May God richly bless you. and comfort your hearts at this time. When I would visit George in his home and would go to read and pray, he very often would bring out his Bible and follow along in the Bible reading. And today I want to turn your thoughts to Psalm 23. It's one of the passages. I read different times with him in hospital, his various stays in hospital, and on one occasion we talked over some of the verses in this psalm. I read part of these verses to him in his latest day in hospital. He'd been in Altena Galvin after he'd broken his hip and then brought back to Oma for rehabilitation and then taken back to Altena Galvin on Wednesday. And from there, the Lord took him home to glory. And while he was in hospital over this time, I read some of these verses to him and we talked through some of the truths in Psalm 23. Psalm 23, as you know, is often called the Shepherd's Psalm. It's interesting to think it was written by David, the shepherd boy of Israel. When you first are introduced to David in the scriptures, that's what he's doing. He's looking after his father's sheep. David knew shepherd life very well. But as he roamed the hills of Bethlehem, as he looked after his father's flock, As he took them down by the streams and searched out green pastures for them, as he cared for their every need, his mind went beyond the flock before him. And his mind went beyond the fact that he was the shepherd of that flock. And instead of thinking of himself as the shepherd, David began to think of himself as a sheep, as the sheep who knew the greatest shepherd. So he writes in verse one, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. And then in verse six, he closes this short Psalm by saying, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And those two verses are connected. It's only those who can say the Lord is my shepherd as George could, who then can say, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever as George is today. So this Psalm is so appropriate. for a time like this. As we come towards the close of this service, I want to mention three things from these verses in regard to the shepherd. So notice, first of all, the identity of the shepherd, the identity. The psalm doesn't open with a word about David. It opens with a word about the Lord. And David says, the Lord is my shepherd. Who is this though? Who is David talking about here? Who is the Lord here in this psalm? He's talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is my shepherd and here he describes him as the shepherd. The truth of Christ as the shepherd is followed up in the New Testament on numerous occasions. You read in John chapter 10 that Christ is the good shepherd. In Hebrews chapter 13, he is the great shepherd. In 1 Peter chapter 5, he is the chief shepherd, all speaking of Christ, the good, the chief, the great shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ is all of that to his people. He is the perfect shepherd. You read through the Old Testament, you discover the Bible is full of shepherds, from Abel to Moses to David and numerous others. But men and women, there's no shepherd like the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ stands apart as the shepherd of all shepherds. And that's what David is speaking of here in this psalm. The Lord is my shepherd. the identity of the shepherd. What can we say about Christ? What can we say about Christ and his sheep? Well, I think about his sacrifice for his sheep. In Old Testament times, the priests offered hundreds and thousands of sacrifices upon the altar. There was a morning sacrifice, an evening sacrifice, every day of the year, sacrifice after sacrifice. And all of those Old Testament sacrifices all pointed to Christ, who in time would come and laid down his life as a sacrifice for sin. He says in John chapter 10, verse 11, the words of Christ himself, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. And that is such a fundamental truth that it is repeated three times in John chapter 10 that Christ the shepherd would lay down his life for the sheep. Such was his love for sinners. Such was his compassion that he laid down his life for them. The shepherd laying down his life for his sheep. And men and women, that's how we must view the cross. That's how we must view the death of Christ. It wasn't just that Roman soldiers took him and crucified him. It wasn't just that Jewish people had called for his death. It wasn't just that Pilate didn't know what to do with him and handed him over to be crucified. What happened at Calvary, what happened on the cross was Jesus Christ the shepherd was laying down his life voluntarily as a sacrifice for sin. When he bore the crown of thorns, when his hands were pierced with the nails, When his side was riven with the spear, it wasn't that men were taking his life from him, and he was a non-willing victim. No, this is why Christ had come. This is why Christ was born. He was born that he would die, the shepherd, sacrificing himself for his sheep. I think of him not only sacrificing for the sheep, I think of his seeking for the sheep. Seeking for the sheep. I'm no farmer, but I know that sheep have a tendency to stray. And so it is with us spiritually. Isaiah, the great prophet in the Old Testament said that all we like sheep have gone astray. Talking about every one of us. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. That's something we need to face up to. We have wandered far from God. We're lost out in the mountains of sin, breaking God's commandments, unable to rescue ourselves or save ourselves from God's wrath. Therefore, we need one to come and seek us and save us. And that one is Christ. That one is Christ. In Luke chapter 15, the Lord Jesus told one parable with three parts and one part had to do with the lost sheep. A man had a hundred sheep, one of them is lost. He goes out to find it. And he searches until he does find it. And Christ making application of that parable and expanding on that in Luke chapter 19 says, for the son of man, another title of Christ, the son of man is come to seek and to see of that which is lost. Why did he do that? Because he loved us and is not willing that any should perish. So Christ left the splendor of heaven, came into this world, this wicked, sinful, cursed world to seek sinners unto salvation. He is, I tell you, he is the perfect shepherd. His sacrifice for the sheep, his seeking of the sheep, his salvation of the sheep, as the true and perfect shepherd Christ really sees. The shepherd in Luke 15 sought for that lost sheep until he found it, and when he found it, he lifted it, put it upon his shoulders, and carried it home again, and came back rejoicing, saying he had found the sheep that was lost. He saved the sheep. And Christ saves. He saves to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. He's able to lift us out of the mass of sin. He's able to deliver us from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, from the guilt of sin. He's able to save us, and he brings those whom he saves safely home, carries us home, as he did with George a few days ago. The Lord is my shepherd. the identity of the shepherd, it's Christ. This is a psalm that is so full of Christ. But I don't only see the identity of the shepherd here, I see the testimony concerning the shepherd. The opening words of this psalm are probably the best known of the entire psalm, where the psalmist says, the Lord is my shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. What many don't realize is that these are words of testimony. This is David talking about Christ. This is David talking about his relationship with the Lord Jesus. He doesn't say the Lord is a shepherd or the Lord is the shepherd. All of that is true. But he says something far more personal, something far more poignant. He says the Lord is my shepherd. And that word my, makes all the difference in the world. David belonged to Christ, and Christ belonged to him. And that's what counts in life. That's what counts in death. That's what counts in eternity. Here's the problem. Many people know the psalm, but they do not know the shepherd. Many years ago in an old country house in Scotland, people gathered together for a night's entertainment. Celebrities, actors, public speakers. They decided they would ask the local minister to come as well, a godly man. And he joined with the family as they had a night together, a meal, and then some conversation afterwards. Following the meal was over, someone said to one of the actors, could you not recite something for us? Someone else suggested, why not recite Psalm 23? So the actor went to the front of the room. He recited Psalm 23, perfect tone, perfect voice. He sat down. He was applauded. And then someone said, maybe the minister should recite Psalm 23 also. He was rather reluctant, but he agreed to do it. Went to the front of that room and the company of all of those people, and he began to recite these words, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Came to the last verse. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. There was hardly a dry eye in the room when he was finished. The actor got back up again. He said, ladies and gentlemen, you'll notice a vast difference here. I know the psalm, but this man knows the shepherd. I wonder today, do you know the shepherd? George knew him. George knew him. That day in May 34 years ago transformed George Brown. He was saved, born again, justified, brought into a new and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. And he could say with as much certainty as David does in this psalm, the Lord is my shepherd. This is the greatest testimony any person could have. To be able to say genuinely what David says in this psalm, what George could say, the Lord is my shepherd. Listen, it doesn't matter how much money you have in this world. It doesn't really matter what kind of home you live in, how big the farm is, how many holidays you have, how accomplished you are in your career, how well traveled you are, what church you attend. All of those things have their place. But they're not really the most important. What really matters is whether you have this testimony or not. The Lord is my shepherd. Christ is mine. And by his grace, I am his. That was George's testimony. It's a testimony of salvation. To be able to say the Lord is my shepherd is to be saved. Because salvation is not in a church, it's not in a charity, it's not by communion, it's not by confirmation, it's not by conduct of any kind. Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone. Isn't that what John 3 verse 16 tells us? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We need to be saved, we need to have Christ because we are sinners. It's a testimony of salvation, it's a testimony of satisfaction. He goes on to say, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Christ would supply every need he had. We sometimes sing here, the king of love my shepherd is. Whose goodness faileth never, I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine forever. It's a testimony of satisfaction. It's a testimony of safety. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the psalmist says, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. And George said on the night he passed away, it was hours when he was in the hospital that he was in the valley. He was in the valley. He's thinking of this verse. and I walked through the valley of the shadow of death. But George was not in the valley alone, because Christ the shepherd says here that he will be with us. David says, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. And nothing can separate the child of God from the love of Christ, not even death itself. Christ was with him. A testimony of salvation, a testimony of satisfaction, a testimony of safety, a testimony of sufficiency. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of all mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. George testified to that. My cup runneth over. I have more than I need. Contentment, contentment in Jesus Christ. The fullness of Christ. Salvation's not a miserly thing. but a wonderful full blessing from the Savior. It's also a testimony of security. He says, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, safe for eternity. This was David's personal testimony about the shepherd. It was George's testimony, too. He had many interests in life, as you know, his family, his church, his farm, his friends. This was the greatest thing of all. George Brown was a saved man. He knew the shepherd by faith. I wonder today, is that your testimony? Are you saved? Do you know Christ as your savior? You ask, how can you be saved? How can a person be saved? How can a person come in to this experience of knowing Christ as their savior, their shepherd, their king, their lord? Well, a man asked that question many years ago in the city of Philippi. He was the jailer in that city, and Paul and Silas were there. And that night when they were in the prison, there was an earthquake, and the man was going to take his own life. And Paul says, do thyself no harm. We are all here. And the jailer comes in and says, sirs, what must I do to be saved? And Paul and Silas said to him, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. Believe, exercise faith in Christ, repent of your sin before Christ and believe on him to the salvation of your soul. We will all die one day. For many of us, this week has been taken up with funerals. In various connections that we have, various parts of the country, it seems in the 30 years of my ministry, this has been a most extraordinary week of funerals. We will all die. But here's the question. Will you die with Christ as your Savior? Or will you die without him? the identity of the shepherd, the testimony concerning the shepherd. Look lastly here at the eternity with the shepherd. With good reason, Psalm 23 has been termed the Psalm of Faith. It's remarkable that it doesn't contain the slightest hint of doubt or fear. It's the simple confidence of the psalmist. And he feels confident even in his weakest moments, and he throws himself upon his savior for every circumstance of life. And that note of confidence runs right through these verses. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. And then verse six. Surely, Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The shepherd here, verse six, is bringing his sheep home. Isn't that what Christ does? He brings his people home to glory, brings them home to heaven so that they dwell with him forever. That's eternity, forever. It's hard for us to comprehend that, isn't it? We deal with time so much. Hours and minutes and days and weeks and months and years. Eternity is none of that. It's just forever. But the child of God goes to dwell with Christ for eternity. That's what happened to George on Thursday morning in Elton Galvin Hospital. He had fought a good fight. He had finished the course. He had kept the faith. and the Lord, the good chief and great shepherd of his soul, brought him home. Goodness and mercy had followed George all the days of his life, and now he's dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. My friend, that's the triumph of the gospel. It's not just for here. It's for the hereafter, because there is an eternity. There is an eternity. and eternity involves two places, heaven or hell. Heaven or hell. And heaven is only for those who know Christ. So I say verse one and verse six of this psalm are connected. The Lord is my shepherd. I will dwell in the house of the Lord. I will dwell in the house of my shepherd. forever. Tell me, where will you be in eternity? Where will you be when you die? For George, it's absent from the body and it's present with the Lord. That's the glorious news of the gospel. It's not like that for those who die outside of Christ. They are separated from him forever. And just as heaven is eternal, so is hell. So I pray in the closing minutes of this meeting that if you do not know Christ as your Savior, that you would come to know him today. Come to experience what George Brown experienced so many years ago. and have this testimony, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Let's bow in prayer. Our Heavenly Father, we draw nigh to thee. In our Savior's precious name, we thank thee for thy word we have read from the New Testament. We think of Christ's promise. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. I go to prepare a place for you and come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. We thank thee for that glorious statement that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto thee but by him. We thank thee for these words of the Old Testament, full of Christ also. Christ the shepherd, Christ the savior, Christ the friend of sinners, Christ the one who saves all who come unto him. We thank thee, Father, today for every remembrance of George. We thank thee for the privilege of knowing him and of having him labor in this congregation for so many years. We thank thee for the gift he was to his family. We pray for Gillian and Lorraine and their husbands and families today that Lord, I will be with them. Comfort their hearts. We pray, Lord, as they make their way from thy house to the graveside, that I will go with them. And then, in the days to come, when the home is empty, and all the friends and others have gone away from them, Lord, we pray they might know thy sustaining grace, and I will come alongside them. We pray for George's grandchildren. The Lord shall bless every one of them. We thank thee for his tremendous interest and love for them. We pray, Lord, as he has been taken from them, that thou would remember them in all their various circumstances, in all their various stages of life, that they would know their grandfather's savior as their savior too. So Lord, part us with thy blessing. Take us to the great side and remember us there. We thank thee for the food that's been provided here, and bless those who will stay. Bless the times of fellowship, the time of friendship too. We ask all of this now in our Savior's name.