A Meaningful Life

By Pastor Bob Rasmussen

Good morning to those watching online – YouTube, Facebook, Roku, Christian World Media, and our website. No matter what platform you are on, if you would do us a favor and click that like/love button and the follow button, we would appreciate it.

All of that drives metrics to help get the Word of God out. I work in all kinds of different places. I am amazed when I think of all the places that I have worked at, some of which were with my wife, Diana.

I have worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I have worked at the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

I have worked at almost every quick-serve restaurant, and I can tell you which ones have kitchens that are good, and some that are not so good.

I have also worked at a total of two funeral homes. One of them was just this week, which was in a weird way, the inspiration of this message.

When I arrived on-site, there were 2 impeccably dressed individuals who opened the door and greeted me. They were a little confused why I was there, as there was a visitation going on. I told them it was about security cameras.

And I get why they were confused; it’s not like their guests are going anywhere.

Anyways, I spoke with the people I had to speak with and started my survey. I started upstairs, proceeding very quietly and respectfully as that service was going on. After I got my bearings, I headed downstairs, and wow, I was shocked at how many people were working there.

 I kept doing my thing, and you hear things you know? Employees talking about sales numbers, training on suggestive selling during grief, and then these conference rooms, which were really sales offices. I saw that the rooms had microphones on the cameras, but in these rooms where grieving families are just trying to process what might be the worst moment of their lives, the coldness of recording conversations, it kind of rattled me. Were they used to make verbal contracts binding? Were they using it as a training tool?

The rooms were nice, and they all had a slightly different purpose. Some were focused on something called pre-plan (PIC). Where you pick the things you want at your funeral. “Pre-plan for a meaningful farewell”. Casket materials include metal and hardwood (PIC). You can even pick interior designs or a background.

If you want the other option of being cremated, you can choose different boxes with options for engraving, fonts, and appliques.

I looked it up, the funeral home business is booming in a sense, Covid actually caught the business by surprise when the death rates soared in 2020 and 2021. Things have leveled off and the revenue per year is by my calculations $25,925,000.00.

I know that for Diana and me, we were in the planning portion of funeral services for our dads when they passed, and it is not cheap at all. There are so many difficult decisions that you have to make, and when weighed with grief, it is that much harder. I am sure that many of you have been through the process, and I think that we can all agree that – it pretty much sucks.

As I continued my survey, I walked into a room that had a deceased person lying in state. Being a little creeped out because it kind of surprised me that the room was wide open and anyone could just walk in, I closed the door and got out of there.

I found myself quoting that Bruce Willis movie, saying under my breath, “I see dead people.”

Finally, I was in the last room. It was the crematorium. When I walked in it was in use, with the temperature around 1870 degrees. As I walked out, I stopped in my tracks, literally. There was dust on the mat with footprints on it.

That dust is not from the outside; it was from the inside of the room.

• Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The Bible also tells us something else about our lives.

• James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Now, this message is not doom and gloom, but that visit got me thinking. Thinking about the people in my life – family, friends, people I work with, even store clerks, service people – actually all of them.

And it really hit me hard when I was at that funeral location because they do what they do to make all of it beautiful, and to make it all easy, to make it what it is not – final.

And I was reminded of another Bible verse.

• Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

There is something uniquely powerful about a person’s final words. When someone knows they are speaking for the last time, they do not waste breath on trivialities. They speak what matters most. They speak what is closest to their heart. They speak what they want remembered long after they are gone.

Matthew 28:19 is part of Jesus’ final earthly instructions to His disciples before ascending into heaven. These are not just casual words. They are not optional words. They are not suggestions. They are the orders of our risen King. They are the heartbeat of the church. They are the mission statement of Christianity.

This is what has been called the Great Commission. For me, it is not a great suggestion. It is not a great idea. It is not one of our options. That are matching orders.

This morning, I want us to spend some time considering this verse, this command. Because this command is not just for pastors, it is also not just for missionaries and evangelists. It is for every believer. It is for every church. It is for each and every one of us. It is for every generation that was and will be.

The very first word in that sentence is “Go”. Poreuomai (πορεύομαι) is a Greek verb meaning to go, proceed, travel, or journey, often implying a personal journey, departure, or conducting one’s life. It appears 153 times in the New Testament (frequently in Luke/Acts) and frequently denotes following Jesus, departing, or leading a specific lifestyle.

The implication is that Christianity is not a stationary faith; it is an action.It is not a faith of sitting and waiting. It is a faith of movement, a faith of mission, and of momentum.

When Jesus says “Go,” He is pushing His disciples out of comfort and into calling. He is pushing them out of familiarity and comfort and into faith. He is pushing them out of the upper room and into the world that desperately needs a Savior.

The beautiful thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is not meant to be hoarded. It is not a secret club with special handshakes and decoder rings. And we carry it, we carry it in how we live our lives and how we love people.

The early church, they understood this. They did not stay in Jerusalem. They did not build a monument and wait for the world to come to them. They went. They traveled. They preached. They risked. They sacrificed. They moved.

If we look at Paul, he got the message. Paul traveled over 10,000 miles through Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Achaia (Greece), and Italy. All I can say is great job Paul!

And because they went, the gospel spread like wildfire. But here’s the truth: You don’t have to cross an ocean to obey Jesus. How many here have been on any missionary trips? God bless you! Pastor Jeff went to Romania, which is not on my list, but praise God, he did.

You just have to cross a street. Or walk across the room. It can be just a conversation. It can be as simple as picking up the phone and just starting with listening, amen?

The next part of that scripture is “teach” which means disciple— Not Converts, Not Fans, but Disciples. Jesus does not say, “Go and make church members.” He does not say, “Go and make admirers.” He is saying make disciples.

A disciple is more than someone who just believes. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus’ life and His teachings.

• John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

A disciple is someone who learns from Jesus. One who imitates Jesus. One who obeys Jesus! One who loves Jesus. The commission is to live like Jesus.

The Great Commission is not about getting people to pray a prayer on a Sunday morning and then leaving them on their own. It is about walking with people as they grow in Christ.

Think of how Jesus discipled His own followers:

Jesus Himself modeled discipleship. He spent three years walking with His followers. He spent time with them—teaching them, correcting them, and encouraging them. He invested deeply in them. He shared life with them. And He calls us to do the same.

You do not need a theological degree to disciple someone. You simply need a willing heart and a desire to grow your faith. If you know Jesus, you can help someone else know Him better. Discipleship happens in conversations, in shared meals, in prayer, in accountability, in encouragement, and in the ordinary things of life. It is one believer helping another believer grow into the likeness of Christ.

But Jesus does not limit this mission to a specific group of people, praise God. He said, “all nations.” This is the global heartbeat of God. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan has always been to bless all nations, all peoples, all tribes, and all languages. When God called Abraham, He said in

• Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The prophets spoke of the nations coming to the light.

• Isaiah 49:6 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

The angels at Jesus’ birth declared good news for “all people.”

• Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And we are given a glorious vision of what heaven is like and the inclusiveness of ALL nations.

• Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
• 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus continues: “baptizing them.” Baptism is not an optional ritual; it is the public declaration of a new identity paid for with the blood of Jesus. It symbolizes death to the old life and resurrection into new life.

• Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Baptism marks a person’s entrance into the family of God. In the early church, baptism was immediate. I see churches today having “baptism Sunday” every month or every 3 months. Why wait?

I can tell you that here, if you want to be baptized, we will get to fill that tank right away! We are just as excited as the person is when one is brought into the kingdom. If you have decided to give your life to Jesus, we will help you every step of the way. Now, if you do not want to freeze, it might take a day, but whatever you want.

I just do not understand waiting, because you never know what might happen. Not to sound depressing, but life happens, as I was reminded when I was at that funeral business. Those rooms hear the stories of 100’s of people who were taken too early, in the blink of an eye. And they all thought they would have more time.

 So, if you have not been baptized but want to be, please reach out to us. We will make it happen! You can message us on Facebook or email us at jamjanesville@gmail.com.

But Baptism is not the finish line of faith; it is the starting line. It is the moment when we step into the community of followers and begin this journey of following Christ.

 And Jesus instructs us to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Not “names,” but “name.” One name. For me, that Name is Jesus. To be baptized is to be welcomed into His love. To be baptized is to be covered by His grace. To be baptized is to be empowered by His presence.

 But Jesus does not leave us to carry this mission alone. He surrounds the command He gave us with two promises.

• Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We have Jesus and His authority behind us. We have Jesus and His Presence beside us. The One who sends us is the One who empowers us. The One who commands us is the One who equips us. The One who calls us is the One who goes with us. That is why the Great Commission is not a burden; it is a privilege.

 So the question is not whether the mission still stands. The question is whether we will stand with it.

 Are we obeying the Great Commission? Not “Do we think it sounds good?” or “Do we agree with it?” but rather, “Are we living it?” Are we going? Are we making disciples? Are we investing in people? Are we sharing the gospel? Are we stepping out in faith? Are we letting God use us? God does not need our perfection; He needs our obedience. He does not need our ability; He needs our availability. He does not need our strength; He needs our surrender.

 The world is hungry for hope, desperate for truth, and searching for meaning. And we carry the message that changes everything. This command is not only in Matthew 12. It is also here:

• Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Anytime the Bible tells us to do something more than once, it bears our attention.

• Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 And one last scripture:

• Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

May we be a people who go, who are willing to make disciples, who love the nations and peoples of this world, who obey Jesus, and who carry the gospel with joy. Because the world needs Jesus. And Jesus sends us to the world.

 Like I said, working at this funeral home this week, it reminded me that when it is the funeral, it is too late to talk about Jesus. When it is time for the funeral, it is too late to talk about eternity.

A beautiful funeral, a beautiful casket, special fonts and colors. In the end, none of those things matters. What matters is having a relationship with a Savior who promises life eternal.

I am challenging myself to be more bold, to maybe be willing to be uncomfortable in my skin, to reach out when it is difficult.

And you know, I think the hardest thing is family – we talk to them, they know what we believe, so we let things lie. Don’t let them fade away. Pick up the phone, have a conversation, keep trying – don’t have the words? I never do, until I do – getting the words from the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised us.