Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The text on which this morning's message is based comes from the Bible verses used in our Litany for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed read earlier. (Note: A copy of that Litany is appended to the end of this sermon)

When did your earthly life begin? When did it start? Most of us count our earthly beginnings with our birthday. August 25, 1958 or whatever yours might have been. But did your earthly life really begin then. In a very real way our earthly lives began at conception, some 8-9 months prior to our birthday. I'm told that I came two weeks earlier than expected, so for me, my earthly life began sometime in early December 1957.

Our Synod of congregations believes and confesses that life begins at conception, which is why our church body speaks out so clearly against abortion. Psalm 139 clearly proclaims that God creates life beginning at conception vv. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together …. 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. But this is not a sermon about abortion. The Bible verses used in our Litany are not about Fifth Commandments issue of earthly life and death. I really asked that first question "When did your earthly life begin?", so that I could get to a second, even more critical question. When does your eternal life begin? Of your loved ones who have gone before, when did (or does) their eternal life begin? Of the names we read earlier, when did their eternal lives begin? Does eternal life begin at our death? Or does it begin at some other time? How does eternal life continue? When does your eternal life begin? Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

The verses we read after Frieda Bohnas' name: (Jn 5:24) I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life. And will not be condemned: He has crossed over from death to life. John doesn't say a hearer/believer will have eternal love, but has eternal life. The verses we read after Alberta Sarge's name: (Rom 14:7-8) For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we belong to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

In a very real sense, God's Word from these verses and others like them tell us that our eternal life with God has already begun. Just as your earthly life actually began when you were conceived and hidden away in your mother's womb, so to your eternal life actually began when God's grace began to work faith in your heart. In Christ "we have already crossed over from death to life." In Christ "whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." The Holy Spirit called you to faith through your Baptism. The Holy Spirit continues to keep you in the faith, not by your own strength, but through God's Word. In that Baptism and through that Word we are sealed. As it says in our Revelation 7 text, a seal has been placed on our foreheads, and we have become the servant army of God.

While we are not a literal 144,000, we are his servant army, tribe after tribe of soldiers He uses to spread the message of Jesus.

Now many times we don't feel like our eternal life has begun. We don't feel like victorious soldiers. We struggle with the effects of sin around us. Loved ones die. Relationships become strained, even fail. Planes crash into buildings. Poisons are sent through the mail. We struggle with the effects of our own sin. We neglect God and His Word. We fail our neighbors. We struggle with sexual temptations, temptations that pull us away from our Lord's will for our lives. We gossip and covet. Sin does have a powerful hold on our world and our sinful natures. But our Lord Jesus Christ came and took that sin upon Himself on the cross. He suffered for our iniquities. He took on our diseases. Just as a soldier might step in front to take the bullet meant for his buddy, so Jesus stepped to the cross and took the bullet of sin for us. Because of his sacrifice, we can confidently know how much God loves us and lives in us. His death purchased our eternal life. His resurrection confirms it. We begin our eternal life here on earth so He can use us to tell others about Jesus' love. A heart surgeon was preparing a young boy and his parents for the exploratory surgery he was planning on the boy's weak and damaged heart.

Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "In surgery, I'll look at your heart..." You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted. The surgeon looked up, a little annoyed. "I'll look at your heart," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..." "But when you look at my heart, you'll find Jesus in there," said the boy. The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I'll plan what to do next." "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart." The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well." "You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there." The surgeon left and sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, " here he paused, "death within one year." He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this God? You've put him here. You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?" The Lord answered and said, "The boy, My little lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My heavenly flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow. Then, when my flock is all here, I will repair his heart and give him a new body.

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?" The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall come to My flock in paradise, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb, to retrieve you." The surgeon wept.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?" "Yes," said the surgeon. "What did you find?" asked the boy. "I found Jesus there," said the surgeon. (Original Internet Author Unknown. Story modified by Rev. Marrs)

Our eternal life has begun here on earth, for the purpose of telling others about Jesus. But our eternal life doesn't end there. Our earthly lives begin at conception, but they don't end there. Another phase to our earthly lives begins at birth. In the same way another phase to our eternal lives begins at our earthly death. Hear the words that we spoke after Gerald Davis' name (Luke 23: 42-43): Then he (the repentant thief on the cross with Jesus) said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

The second mode, the second phase of eternal life for Christians is at death. Our bodies are asleep in their graves, but our souls depart to be with God and praise him before his throne. (Revelation 7) Those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, that is those who trust in Christ' sacrificial death for their holiness, sit before his throne and He spreads His protective tent over them. Never again with they hunger or thirst, because the Lamb is their shepherd.

But our eternal life doesn't stop there. God created us to be whole, body and soul together. So unlike our earthly lives that have only two primary phases, our eternal lives actually have three phases. It is all one eternal life, but in three modes. Hear the words of Job (19:25-26) spoken after Leonard Bremer's name: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. Hear the words spoken after Wilma Devenney's name: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. (1 Corinthians 15: 20-21)

Paul goes on to proclaim to the Corinthians: 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.… 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" …. 57 thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, when did the victorious eternal life of our loved ones named here today begin? Their eternal lives began while they were still here on earth among us, just as our eternal lives have already begun. How are their eternal lives continuing? In paradise, with Jesus, in phase two of their eternal lives. If Jesus doesn't return during our earthly lives, we too will have that phase to our eternal lives. But how will their eternal lives, our eternal lives be consummated?

In phase 3, When Jesus returns and gives us all new heavenly bodies, and we go to live with Him in a new heaven and new earth.

1 Corinthians 15: 58 Therefore, my dear brothers (and sisters), stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always. Amen.

Litany for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed
P: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies;
C: And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. (Jn 11:25-26)
+ Clara Settgast +
P: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
C: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col 3:1-2)
+ Leonard Bremer +
P: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
C: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. (Job 19:25-26)
+ Frieda Bohnas +
P: I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life.
C: And will not be condemned: He has crossed over from death to life. (Jn 5:24)
+ Luis Ramos +
P: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
C: Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness. (2 Tim 4:7-8)
+ Alberta Sarge +
P: For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we belong to the Lord.
C: So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Rom 14:7-8)
+ Gerald Davis +
P: Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
C: Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23: 42-43)
+ Wilma Devenney+
P: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
C: For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. (1 Corinthians 15: 20-21)
+ Other friends, relatives and victims of September 11+
P: For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
C: Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5: 4-5)

P: Let us pray...
Almighty God, in whose glorious presence live all who depart in the Lord and before whom all the souls of the faithful who are delivered of the burden of the flesh are in joy and felicity, we give You hearty thanks for Your loving-kindness to all Your servants who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labors, and we humbly implore Your mercy that we, together with all who have departed in the saving faith, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, in both body and soul, in Your eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen