A Godly Woman Raised Alive: Sermon for the Funeral of Hilda Uilk
Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Like most congregations,
Trinity has a church book that contains a running record of all of the
marriages, baptisms, deaths, and confirmations. With Trinity observing its 125th
anniversary this past year, it was a book that was turned to quite often in
order to recall important events and people in the history of the congregation.
At our celebration, Hilda was recognized as our oldest living member and she was
so happy to be able to join us for that day. Little did we know that one of the
names entered into that book during this year would be for Hilda.
With her departure, a
godly woman, a mother and grandmother and great-grandmother is no longer here—a
friend and sister in Christ and faithful member of Trinity is not among us now.
Were it my duty to paint sadness and sorrow, it would be easy to point to the
reality of these mortal remains and let them speak louder than any words. But I
am not here to cause tears of sorrow, but rather to give tears of joy. I am not
here to show the victory of death; but rather the victory of a dear Christian—not
to show the darkness of the grave, but the Light of the world that shines from
the empty tomb on Easter morning into the graves of those who trust in Jesus as
their Savior.
Still, the hurt is
there for you and me who have suffered a great loss. I would encourage you to
look to the Lord for your comfort today and in the days and months ahead. Let
His Word enter into our hearts and soothe our sorrow and heal our wounded
spirits.
For this purpose let us
now go to the Word. This text came to me when it became evident that Hilda was
going to receive the full measure of the blessings of eternal life. Listen to these
words from Acts, chapter 9 as we consider “A Godly Woman Raised Alive.”
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which,
translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In
those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her
in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter
was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So
Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper
room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other
garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all
outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha,
arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave
her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he
presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many
believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a
tanner (Acts 9:36–43).
There she was—a woman
who had done so much in the congregation as she served the Lord. She had been
known by many as one who was a follower of Christ Jesus who trusted Him as her
personal Savior. As a response to the faith which the Holy Spirit worked in her
heart she was a woman who was filled with works of charity. She had been active
and alive in Christ. She was the kind of person who was willing to work very
hard and for long hours in the service of the Lord. No wonder, many church
women’s groups that serve the poor have taken her translated name for theirs—perhaps
you’ve heard of Dorcas Societies.
Yet in the course of
time, Tabitha became sick and this was a sickness which was extremely serious.
After a while she died. Then she was prepared for burial and laid in a room
until the time came for her to be placed in her grave.
In the meantime, they
sent for the pastor—two men went to tell Peter of the news and to ask him to
come to where she was. When he arrived, the widows were weeping and showing
Peter and one another some of the coats, garments, and things which Tabitha had
made.
Perhaps you, like me,
thought about some of the things that Hilda had sewn—quilts, aprons, teddy
bears and many other things she had made for her family, charities, and church
functions. The faith that she & Herman modeled and nurtured among their children
and which has been passed on to succeeding generations. Up until very recently,
Hilda was a regular at Bible study and Ladies Aid. Her children remember that as
they were growing up they had to be at family devotions and even if friends had
come to pick them up they couldn’t leave until they were finished.
Hilda had a great sense
of humor and like to have fun and make people laugh. At family gatherings and bridal
and baby showers Hilda always made sure there was some fun game or skit that
everyone participated in, often something she had written herself. The staff of
Sunrise Village mentioned her quick wit. Whenever I came to visit her, she had
a wisecrack or quick comeback.
For many years, Hilda
was a very busy lady.
But there came a day
when she could work no more—when age had sapped her strength and when needle
and thread could not be picked up. It was at such a time when all the acts of
charity and all the good works must be laid down. It was time for what was
really important. Hilda found joy in her family. Even in the last days of her
life, Hilda still enjoyed the comfort of children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even in her last days, Hilda shared her faith and hope even as her family returned
the favor.
Tabitha and Hilda share
much in common. Just as Tabitha was a disciple, so was Hilda. She became one
early in her life when the Holy Spirit worked faith in her heart beginning on January
6, 1924 with the washing of water and regeneration of Holy Baptism at her home
at Olivet, South Dakota. She publicly confessed that faith in the Rite of Confirmation
on March 21, 1937 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyden, Iowa. She remained
faithful to her Lord—trusting Jesus. Hilda regularly gathered with her brothers and
sisters in Christ to hear the Word of God and receive the blessed Sacrament of
the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of her sins and strengthening of faith. When
she could not longer make it to the Church the Church came to her as I visited
her at Jasper Sunrise Village.
Tabitha and Hilda are
like so many Christians who have been touched by the Lord’s promise of eternal
life. The temptation might be to stop at this point and say no more. But to do
so would be incomplete—it would be wrong.
Let’s go back to the
Scriptures with Tabitha for a moment. She had been prepared for burial, which was
not in accordance with the will of the Lord at the time. God used Peter to make
the command that Tabitha should arise and that is just what she did. Death
could not hold that woman because when Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose
from the tomb, death was defeated and eternal life was guaranteed for God’s people.
As with Tabitha, so
also Hilda’s mortal remains have been prepared for burial. But the grave will
not be able to hold them either. God will send His angel and with the sound of
the trumpet on the Last Day they shall arise. Take comfort in that and know
that those who fall asleep in the Lord will be raised and reunited with loved
ones who also remain faithful.
Keep with you, all you
who are children of the heavenly Father the assurance and the confidence that Jesus
proclaimed in our Gospel: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes
in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in
Me shall never die” (John 11:25–26a).
I began speaking of a
book which our church uses to keep track of the acts of the congregation. Hilda’s
name will be entered into that book and I am quite confident that in the future
more names will be written in the blank lines of that book in the days and months
and years to come. Who will they be? I cannot say. Only that Lord knows that
information.
But I do know this: Unless
the Lord Jesus comes to end all history during our lifetime, then you and I
will most certainly occupy a place similar to the earthly remains of Hilda. Are
you ready for that to happen? I can’t tell you when that will be, but I can
inform you most certainly that it will take place. Is your spiritual
relationship with the Lord such that when your time arrives the Lord will have
your name written in the Book of Life and will proclaim to you: “Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master!”? It was for Hilda and
I pray that it may be for you. Or have you been ignoring the Lord Jesus; doing
your own thing and starving yourself spiritually? Have you been drifting away
from God, or, have you never really known Him? Each day, each hour and each
minute you are moving closer to a time when a group of people will be gathered
around what will be left of you, just as you and I are gathered around the
earthly remains of our departed sister in Christ. I pray that you will be ready
for that day!
Hilda has entered into
her rest—she has been taken from battle to victory, from struggle to triumph,
and from sorrow to gladness. After her pilgrimage here on this earth she has
been called to the eternal city of the Lord. She is in everlasting joy as she
has been taken into the bosom of the Lord. Behold, a godly woman made alive!
May God grant that we
may be aware of the necessity of watching, praying, worshiping, and being ready
for that day as well. Amen
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are
from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
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