A Eulogy for Peter

My dear friend, Karen S, shared this with me. It touched my heart, so I emailed the Pastor who preached this eulogy and received his permission to share it on my blog.....

A Eulogy for Peter

You can hear this eulogy by pasting the following URL in your browser:
http://www.familyheritagebaptistchurch.org/Peter_Page/Peter4.html

Peter Constantine was a man who loved people, and I believe that he was a man who loved God. Though Peter couldn’t hear or speak yet he still loved to be with people. Peter was a very out- going man. Some of his ways were no doubt abrasive and many people I am sure shied away from him. But to those of us who knew him well, he was our friend. And if you happened to be driving a Ford then you were really his friend. My first encounter with Peter was positive because of course I was driving a Ford pickup! Our relationship was all “thumbs up” from then on.

Unfortunately for Peter’s his last ride, from his house to this funeral home, was in a Cadillac. I spoke with Richard Gillies the other day, and he told me that whenever Peter saw him driving his hearse, Peter would give him the “thumbs down.” With Peter in the community you would think that Mr. Gillies would have invested in Lincolns instead of Cadillacs. Because in this business a “thumbs up” is always better than a “thumbs down.” But in Mr. Gillies defense, I am sure that Peter has found out by now that every one in heaven drives a GM. Yes… we can safely assume that Peter has traded-in his Mustang for a Corvette. And I’m sure he’s loving every minute of it.

Peter began coming to our church about five years ago, when we were still meeting in the old school house. We at Family Heritage Baptist Church welcomed Peter with open arms. We loved him and he loved us. He was our brother in Christ and he was our friend.

Peter (not being able to hear) was of course very visual. He responded well to things that he could see. And when we put up the proposed picture of our new church on the wall of our old church, Peter was so excited. And when we started the renovation of our new church Peter came out often to help us in the work of renovating of our new church. He loved to help, and he was always willing to do what he could.

Peter also helped us with the building of our new shed this past October. In fact, one of the most exciting days for Peter was when he gave a gift to our shed fund. Once again we had a visual on the wall to chart the giving to the shed fund. With every $100.00 that came in we could place another log on the chart. My brother was explaining all of this to Peter when all of the sudden Peter reached into his wallet and pulled out a $100.00 bill and he bought a log for the Lord. This folks was a very exciting day in Peter’s life. This was the most money that Peter had ever given to our church. And Peter was extremely excited about what he had done. I can still remember his boisterous laughter filling our church. After Peter settled down he then pointed over to my brother and he said how about you. So Tom reached into his wallet and bought another log for the Lord. Peter’s laughter once again filled our church. He was so excited to see another log go up. And it wasn’t long after that, that the shed went up.

That was an exciting day in Peter’s life. For the first time Peter realized the value and the joy of investing in the Lord’s work. The Bible says that “the Lord loveth a cheerful giver.” I don’t believe that Tom or Linda or I have ever seen a more joyful giver than we did on that Sunday afternoon. We could just see the Lord’s working on Peter’s heart. I honestly believe that that day marked a turning point in Peter’s life. Peter was no longer a spectator of the Lord’s work. Peter had become a participator in the Lord’s work.

That day marked a turning point in Peter’s life. From that day on Peter was much more faithful in his attendance. He even started coming on Wednesday nights for our prayer meetings. And Peter began responding more positively to the preaching. I honestly believe that the Lord was getting Peter ready to come home to heaven.

Even last month at our annual mission conference, Peter once again showed a commitment to our church when for the very first time he made a monthly pledge to our missions program. It was apparent to me as a pastor that Peter was becoming more serious about spiritual things in the last months of his life. (Continued below photo of Peter)



There was one other recent change in Peter that I would like to share with you. In the past when Tom or Linda were not at church to sign for Peter, Peter would just turn around and leave. But in recent months he would stay even if they weren’t there. He was beginning to feel like he was a part of the family. In fact the last few times when Tom and Linda were out of town, Peter came up and he sat in the very first row. I believe he did that so that he could read my lips as I preached the Word of God. Yes, I do believe that Peter was developing a true hunger in his life for God’s Word. And so this afternoon, in honor of Peter and his growing love for God’s Word, I would like to share with you some things from the Word of God.

There are two things that I would like to share with you, first The Calling of Christ, and secondly The Compassion of Christ.

First; The Calling of Christ.

(Mt 11:25-27) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

The first thing we see in our passage is that the Lord does not impart spiritual life and spiritual knowledge to the “wise and prudent” of this world. No, Jesus said that these things are revealed “unto babes.” In many ways Peter was just a “babe.” Peter had a very simple and childlike outlook on life. Though we all felt bad about Peter’s handicap, I do believe that it may well have been his saving grace. His handicap held him back from acquiring a sophisticated and cynical view of the world. And his handicap kept him simple and childlike in his disposition. It is what helped to make him a likely recipient of God’s grace.

Jesus said, in our passage, that “these things” would be given “unto babes.” It is sad how many of us become too grown up for God. It is sad how many of us become too smart for God. It is sad how many of us become to busy for God. But with Peter there were none of those distractions. Peter was in many ways just a child in a grown up body.

Jesus said in Luke 18:16, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” In many ways Peter was a child in a grown up body. And Peter did many foolish and childish things, of which we can all attest. But to his credit Peter’s faith in Jesus was also childlike. And of such is the kingdom of God.

A few years back Linda Ruemenapp (my sister in-law) invited Peter to Greenbush Community Baptist Church for some classes that were being given for sign language. It was after one of those classes that Peter began staying after for Wednesday night church. Then on one of those Wednesday nights some time in the latter part of 2001 Peter felt the Lord impressing upon his heart the need to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. So Peter did just that, he received Jesus Christ by faith. Dear people I hope you understand that faith is the only way that one can come to God. (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Peter had learned that he could not work for His salvation. He learned that he could not earn his salvation. For Peter this seemed to be an easy concept for him to grasp. For us who think so much of ourselves it is one of the hardest things to grasp. I would to God that more of us were like Peter in that regard. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Peter confessed his sins and he received Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

Peter had a simple child like faith in Jesus Christ. Shortly after that Peter followed the Lord through the waters of baptism. Though Peter didn’t grow in his faith, as much as we would have hoped, Peter always maintained a great love and reverence for the Lord. He never lost that childlike faith. Jesus had called Peter to salvation. And Jesus had promised that Peter would never lose that salvation. (Joh 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Our second point; The Compassion of Christ.

We have already shown that Jesus chooses to reveal himself unto babes. But now let’s look at how Jesus goes about revealing Himself. Jesus reveals Himself with love and compassion.
(Mt 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In these next verses we see the compassion of our Lord. Not only does the Lord reveal Himself unto babes, He reveals Himself to those who labour and to those who are heavy laden. Certainly Peter was heavy laden. He carried a heavy burden that few of us could carry. Peter was locked in a world of silence. He lost his only brother in a terrible murder. He lost his mother with whom he was very close. And as we know Peter had a very difficult relationship with his father. All of that weight was weighing heavy upon Peter’s heart. But in Jesus Peter found peace and rest for his soul. In Jesus he found a friend who could understand his deepest thoughts. And his deepest hurts. He found a friend to whom he could talk. He found a friend who would listen. Jesus gave eter hope. Hope that Jesus would carry his burden. Hope that he would one day enter the pearly gates of heaven. Hope that one day Peter’s ears would be opened. And hope that one day his tongue would be loosed. Because of Jesus, Peter could continue on, when others would have given up. Because of Jesus Peter could smile, when others would have frowned. Because of Jesus Peter could laugh, when others would have cried.

One of the Lord’s greatest blessings in the life of Peter was his many close friends. Yes the Lord blessed Peter with good and faithful friends. Peter needed friends. He needed friends that he could turn to when he was afraid, or when he was in danger. And his friends were always there for him. I know that Kim Rice was a good friend and a great blessing to Peter. I know that Dave Cook was also a good friend and a great blessing to Peter. Through Dave’s guidance and careful attention Peter could maintain a secure and independent life. But of all his friends perhaps no one was closer to Peter than Linda. The Bible says that “a friend loveth at all times.” Linda was that kind of a friend to Peter. Linda was always there for Peter. And Linda helped Peter in the most important area of his life, and that of course was his spiritual life. As Peter’s pastor I would like to offer you dear friends a very hearty thank you for having made Peter’s life a little brighter and a lot happier. I cannot help but to think of the words of Jesus, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

In closing, let me assure you that for Peter it is all “thumbs up.” Peter is safe with the Lord not because his good out weighed his bad. Not because he followed all the tenants of a particular religious system. No, Peter is with the Lord, because Peter was trusting in Jesus. He had a simple child like faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

My last encounter with Peter was at church on a Wednesday night just two weeks ago. Peter signed to me after church that evening that he loved God and that he wanted to go to heaven. And he made it very clear that he did not want to go to Hell. I assured Peter that if he were trusting in Jesus that he would go to heaven. Peter reaffirmed to me that very night that he was indeed trusting in Jesus. And then he gave me a big bear hug and he told me that he loved me. And that was the last time that I saw Peter.

In honor of Peter’s memory let me ask you this question, what are you trusting in? Dear people if you are trusting in a religious system, it will be all “thumbs down” for you. If you are trusting in your good works, it will be all “thumbs down” for you. If you are trusting in what a pastor or a priest or a church can do for you, it will be all “thumbs down” for you. The only one who is worthy of your trust is Jesus, and the only one that can save you is Jesus. Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. As the hymn writer wrote, “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow…”

When the Philippian jailer asked the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Dear Friend, have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you trusting in Jesus with a child like faith? A child like faith has no “ands” or “buts” behind it or in front it. It is Jesus alone, by faith alone. That is what child-like faith is. You know, it takes a grownup to start adding clauses to the very simple gospel. Let me assure you, that if you humble yourself as a little child, and put your in faith Jesus alone, then for you, it will be all “thumbs up.”

I know that some of us who were close to Peter, felt as though we let him down in the last few days of his life. I know that his friends have been saying if only I had done this or that, perhaps we could have helped Peter. Many of us have worried ourselves sick with the terrible thought of Peter dying alone in a prison of silence unable to call out for help. Let me assure you this afternoon, that Peter did not die alone. His best friend was with Him. Jesus was there holding his hand. Jesus was there to wipe his forehead. Jesus was there to speak comforting words to Peter’s heart. The Bible says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” I have to believe that Peter’s passing was a precious thing. I have to believe that it was a beautiful thing. I have to believe that Jesus was with him. Ethan and Garret played that beautiful instrumental “All The Way My Savior Leads Me.” It is a wonderful hymn. Yes, I believe that Jesus leads his dear children not only in life but also in death. Not only in living but also in dying. So dear friend don’t play the “if” game about Peter’s passing. Just trust in Jesus, He will not fail you, and He did not fail Peter in his dying hour. Jesus the blessed Saviour led Peter all the way. Peter is gone from this world of woe. I will miss his big bear hugs. I will miss his encouraging comments after my preaching. I will miss his great boisterous outbursts of laughter. Yet it is a blessed thought to consider that the first voice to have filled the ears of Peter was the voice of Jesus. And the first words to have spilled from Peter’s lips were words of praise and thanksgiving to Jesus. Me thinks, I can hear Jesus saying to Peter “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” And me thinks, I can hear Peter saying to Jesus “Thank you Lord for loving such a sinner as I.”

(This eulogy message was preached on Wednesday February 13, 2008 at Gillies Funeral Home in Lincoln Michigan by Pastor Ernest Ruemenapp of Family Heritage Baptist Church.)