Funeral Service
for Harold Knight
2/21/2006
We gather here
this afternoon to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Harold Knight. We also gather seeking an eternal
perspective for our time of loss.
For help we turn
to the Word of God.
Psalm 39:4,5,7,8,12 (NIV) Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were.
2 Cor. 5 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live
in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not
made by human hands, Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our
heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed we will not be found naked. Therefore we are always confident and know
that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
Let us pray: Our Father, we come to you today in our time
of loss because we know that you alone can help us in the way that we
need. Help us to remember and celebrate
Harold’s life. We give thanks for his
service and for his spirit. Help us as
we grieve and as we seek perspective on what lies beyond the grave. We ask these things in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Mr. Harold R.
Knight, was born August 17, 1910 in Salem, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Clara
Carlson Knight. Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked for
the state of Illinois Conservation Department for many years in the Rock Island
area and later in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
He enjoyed being a Game Warden and took pride in keeping the law even if
at times it didn’t make people happy.
On June 12, 1965
he married Marnelle Sights Hundley in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Harold and Marnelle
met at a gun club in the Oak Lawn area.
Marnelle wanted to join the club.
The men (including Harold) didn’t think it was such a good idea. Harold, being the single guy, was elected to
explain the situation to her. Marnelle
was allowed to use the club whenever she desired but she couldn’t be a
“member”.
Harold and
Marnelle dated for 8 years (on and off).
One day Harold was helping Marnelle move out of her apartment and he
said, “It’s about time we got married.”
I guess you would say that he wasn’t a romantic and he didn’t make quick
decisions!
Harold and
Marnelle made many good friends in the Chicago area. They enjoyed traveling. In 1974 they retired and in the mid 70’s
they moved to LaHarpe. A relative of Marnelle’s was selling their home so
Harold and Marnelle purchased it. Harold was a member of the LaHarpe Masonic
Lodge #195 and the Scottish Rite in Moline, Illinois.
He is survived by
his wife, a resident of the Hancock County Nursing Home and a step-son, Gerald
Hundley of Danville, Illinois. He was preceded in death by 1 brother and 2
sisters.
I met Harold
shortly after moving to LaHarpe 24 years ago.
At the time Harold was the custodian at the Post Office and around that
time he also was a custodian at the Methodist Church. The fact that I was from Chicago gave us several things to talk
about. . . frequently it was one of the Chicago sports teams.
Harold was an
active man. He was active with the
Senior Citizens and helped deliver meals for many years. He was always helping someone. Harold had me confused for a little while
because it seemed like every time I saw him he had a different woman in the
car! I believe there were about 13
different widows around town that he helped at various times. He would fix things in their home, take them
to Doctor’s appointments and help in many other ways. Harold was an example of the kind of difference one person could
make. Harold brought life, joy, and
comfort to many people over the years.
It was quite common
to see Harold out in his yard. He was
proud of his flowers and took special pride in his roses. It was years before he purchased a riding
mower. It seems he was always out
cleaning up around the house, weeding the flowers, or cutting the grass. In fact, one of my latest memories was looking
out the window of my home office and watching Harold (who at this time could
barely walk) dragging a big box of leaves to the street that he had raked up
from his yard. He did this several
times and then he burned the leaves.
Harold was simply
a nice man. He always had a smile, a
quick quip, and always seemed to have time to visit. He was a good neighbor and enriched the La Harpe community. We will all miss him.
***********
Death often leaves us empty. We seem to move from feelings of deep sorrow
to frightening numbness. In this day of
strangely mixed emotions we seek God’s comfort and direction. The word comfort
occurs 112 times in the Bible, and Scriptures containing that precious word are
among our very favorites. Let me quote some of them for you:
As one whom his mother
comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who
mourn, for they shall be comforted.
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 …
Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God.
Today we need God’s
comfort. The Creator of life is the One who also brings healing and hope in the
time of death. When others are gone, He
remains.
This is also
a time to address ultimate questions. We
don’t like to talk or think about death.
It is an uncomfortable topic.
However, today we ask the most basic of questions, “Is there life beyond
the grave?” If there is, “how do we
find it?”
To answer the
first question, I do believe there is life beyond the grave. I not only believe that in my soul (because
it is the only thing that makes sense) but also (and primarily) because of the
teaching of the Bible and the experience of Jesus. The Bible tells us over and over that there is life beyond the
grace. Jesus said,
I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live even though he die and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. [John 11:25-26]
And
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son,f that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]
The
Apostle Paul wrote,
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is
destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built
by human hands. [2 Cor 5:1]
There are many
other places in the Bible that talk about eternal life and Heaven.
This is comforting
but we have to ask the question, “Is it true?” I think the resurrection of
Jesus proves that there is life beyond the grave. He died, He was buried, He came back from the dead three days
later. Jesus proved and testified that
there is life beyond the grave.
So, how do we get
this “life beyond the grave?” The Bible does not tell us that everyone goes to
Heaven. In fact, it tells us plainly
that NOT everyone will be in Heaven. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life, no man comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus told us that
only those who put their trust and confidence in Him will live forever in His
Kingdom. Jesus is the only One who can
provide what we need in our lives. He
is the One who provides a payment for our rebellious living and reveals the way
through the “dark valley of the shadow of death.” In other words, Heaven is for those who realize they have no hope
to save themselves.
The true believer
does not look at his or her goodness.
They know that even the best of us cannot earn a place in God’s
house. Confidence at the time of death comes
from trusting what Christ has done for us by dying in our place on the
cross. The person who trusts Christ
realizes that this world is not our home.
Though we love our lives, this is nothing compared to what God has
prepared for us.
In his book on
heaven, evangelist D. L. Moody quotes an acquaintance as saying: “When I was a
boy, I thought of heaven as a great, shining city, with vast walls and domes
and spires, and with nobody in it except white-robed angels, who were strangers
to me. By and by my little brother died; and I thought of a great city with
walls and domes and spires, and one little fellow that I was acquainted with.
He was the only one I knew at that time. Then another brother died; and there were
two that I knew. Then my acquaintances began to die; and the flock continually
grew. But it was not till I had sent one of my little children to his Heavenly
Parent—God—that I began to think I had a little in myself. A second went, a
third went; a fourth went; and by that time I had so many acquaintances in
heaven, that I did not see any more walls and domes and spires. I began to
think of the residents of the celestial city as my friends. And now so many of
my acquaintances have gone there, that it sometimes seems to me that I know
more people in heaven than I do on earth.”
As we get older,
thoughts of Heaven become less theoretical and much more practical. The more loved ones who have died in our
lives, the greater the pull of Heaven on our hearts.
Harold Knight was a
good man. I honestly don’t know where his faith was placed. I don’t know whether he trusted his own
goodness or whether he trusted Christ. I
wish I did know. That is something God
will sort out. He is the just judge. Today
my prayer is that God would grant mercy and grace to my neighbor, Harold.
As we mourn Harold’s
loss we must face the fact that we remain. So today I encourage you to do three
things. First, take this opportunity to
do an inventory of your faith. Are you
confident of Heaven? Have you come to
that point in your life where you have trusted Jesus as the only one who
can save you from your sin and lead you to Heaven? Have you received His gift of salvation and new life? If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to
delay no longer. Use this time of
sadness as your encouragement to get right with God. If you have placed your trust with Christ, then use this time to
think about Heaven. Allow yourself to
smile at the possibility that you will see Harold again.
Second, reach out
to those around you. Draw on the
strength that God provides from others. Be sensitive to the tears and sadness,
and lend a shoulder to cry on when necessary.
Harold understood that there are many hurting people all around us. If we learned anything from him it should be
that caring people do make a difference.
Finally, remember
joyfully. Tell your stories about
Harold. Remember his flowers, remember
him out in the yard, and remember his gentle smile and his playful ways. When
you remember in these ways you are not being disrespectful; you are instead
honoring Harold’s life. Celebrate what Harold has meant to you. Give thanks to God for the difference Harold
made in your life.
In one sense
Harold’s journey is over . . . in another sense, it is just beginning. Keeping perspective is our challenge
today. Draw close to God. Receive His comfort and put your hope in His
life.
Will you pray with
me?
Gracious Father, we
thank you for the life of Harold Knight.
We thank you for his spirit, his service, and all the memories. Harold has touched many of us with his
kindness. Please extend your mercy and
grace to Harold. Welcome him into your
presence through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please comfort
Marnell. Her loss is more profound than
we can understand. Grant her joy and comfort in her memories and strength in
the time of sadness. Help us also, O
Lord, as we take stock of our own lives.
Lead us to a true and saving faith.
Grant that we might face the future free of fear, and filled with the
confidence that comes by faith. We ask
these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus.
Amen.