I'd like to welcome everyone here this afternoon. It's with tears in our eyes and yet joy in our hearts that we meet together at this time to kiss the hand of God's sovereign providence. Brother John Reeves, pastor of Rescue Baptist Church in Rescue, California, where Brother Gene pastored for nearly 40 years. John sat under Gene's ministry for 19 years. And his wife flew in from California. I've asked John to open the service with prayer. John, if you'd come. Almighty God, Ruler, of all that is, Sovereign Lord, holy, holy, holy is thy name. Thank you, Lord, for blessing all these folks with one of your children.

Judy Harmon. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with her presence in our lives. What joy. This gift. We have enjoyed all this time with her. Lord, we ask that you would Bless us as we gather here this morning, this afternoon, to remember her and consider her belief of your truth. Be with this dear brother as he stands before us this morning, this afternoon, Lord, and help him to speak your truth to these dear folks. That's what Judy would have wanted.

Her confession of faith blesses each and every one of us, Lord. Her trust in her Savior has affected every one of us who knew her well. Bless us, Father. Bless us for your son's sake. From whom all blessings flow. The name above all names, Christ Jesus. Amen.

I could say many exceptional things about Judy Harmon. Honestly, she was one of the sweetest and kindest ladies that I have met in my 70 years on this earth. I've often had folks from other churches that knew her and Jean asked me if Jean and her were really as sweet as they seemed. You know, when someone finds a need to ask that, what they're asking, is it really possible for somebody to be that kind and sweet? And my answer was always a resounding, yes, they really are. And those of you that know them know that so.

Judy was a caring, faithful, and devoted wife to Gene. Judy was an affectionate, understanding, empathetic, and gentle mother to her children, Mike, Scotty, Shelly, Judene, Daniel, and Becky. She was an attentive, supportive, nurturing, thoughtful grandmother and great-grandmother. And that was easy to see. in the response of them to her. Many of you saw the pictures that were playing here and you could just see that love of those children for her.

Judy was a wonderful, faithful, forgiving, charitable pastor's wife for nearly 40 years. You know something that I've grown to know is that when the Lord calls a man into a ministry, He calls their wife also. And Judy was an exceptional pastor's wife.

Always had a smile. I was reminded again as I watched these pictures flow by that she had a smile on her face in every one. That was just Judy. She was a sympathetic and selfless member to her church, and she was always willing to serve in whatever capacity she could.

She was an amazing pianist. I'll never forgive one time Shelly, her daughter, our church pianist, responding to a compliment I gave her after church one Sunday morning. And her words to me were, you ought to hear my mama blurt. And when I did hear her mama play, she was right. She sure could play.

I was in a Bible conference one time after Gene and Judy had moved here, John put it on, and I found out shortly after I was there that they had recorded Judy playing several of the hymns And they still used those recordings for their worship service. Still do. Still do. That Sunday that I was there, Gene was preaching here for me in Madisonville, and Judy was playing the piano, and I later told Judy that she was the only piano player that I ever knew. talented enough that she could play in two states at the same time. And she got a kick out of that. I could just go on and on about Judy.

I'm not telling any of you anything that you don't know, those of you that knew her. But I can also tell you that that's not what she'd want. She wouldn't want me bragging on her. She'd want me to brag on her Lord and Savior. She'd want me to eulogize the one who loved her and gave himself for her. So by God's grace, that's what I'm going to try to do just for a few minutes. And today, instead of what's typically called a funeral service, people promote what they call and advertise as a celebration of life, which is focused on honoring the person's life instead of their death. But I can tell you, Judy wouldn't want that. If Judy was here, I can just hear her say, in that sweet voice of hers, what was there to celebrate about my life? She would say, let's don't do that.

She would tell you that her life began in sin and didn't change much. She would say that with the psalmist, behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. She would go on to tell you that the wicked are estranged from the womb and they go astray as soon as they're born, speaking lies, and that she was no exception.

She would tell you that according to Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9, that her heart was deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, and that only God truly knew it. You see, dear friends, God had divinely revealed to this sweet lady a truth that not many believe today.

And that is that she was a sinner. A sinner in need of a Savior. Judy would tell you that there's none righteous, and she would add, no, not one. And she would tell you that there's none that doeth good, and add again, not a one. That's straight from Scripture. She would tell you that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And this she would add, especially her. Paul said this is a faithful, sane, and worthy of all exultation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And Paul added, of whom I am chief. And Judy would have added that too.

She would reiterate to you that we're here today and should not be celebrating her life, but this should be a celebration of her departure into the next life. Life for Judy has just begun. And that's something to truly celebrate. This isn't fairytale stuff. This is reality.

After all, in this life, she was conceived in sin. She was born a strange and alienated from God. She was corrupt in her heart from youth. Practiced sin all the days of her life. But that's not what she would tell you. That's not what she would want me to tell you. She would also tell you that it is a faithful sin.

Faithful saying. Worthy of all acceptation. That just simply means worthy of everyone's acceptance. That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners just like her. That was her hope. That was her confidence. That was her assurance. And that's why she smiled so much.

Oh, she loved Gene, she loved her husband, but she loved her Lord and Savior. She would, without reservation, declare that God had saved her before she had ever done any good or evil. And then she would tell you that it was the purpose of God that He did so, according to election, that it might stand not of works, but of Him that calleth. She would tell you it's not anything I've done in order to merit, earn, or deserve this salvation. Christ did it all for me. She would tell you that God had predestined her for adoption. Before she ever sinned, she had a Savior who knew her and chose her and called her and saved her and now has glorified her.

Friends, Judy has departed from this world of sin and she lives forever without sin where God has wiped away all her tears from her eyes. No more tears. and there be no more death, and neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." Why? Because the former things are passed away, and He, God Almighty, has made all things new. Judy was in eternity past chosen.

And at the cross, her redemption was secured. And during her life, she was called and regenerated. And after her conversion, she was justified and adopted. And last Thursday, January 26, she left this body, this tabernacle that she lived in for 83 years. And she was glorified. She was given a new body, and we don't know much about this. But it's without sin. And that's a good, good thing.

I was with the family just minutes after Judy departed. Gene, with tears in his eyes, said, I can't imagine what life's going to be like without her. Then he spoke some words I'll never forget. He said, knowing where she is, it'd be a sin to want her back. And it would. It really would. Speaking of mankind, men and women alike, in Job 14 verse 5, it's said that our days are determined. They are.

Who determined them? God did. He goes on to say that the number of our months are with God, that God has appointed our bounds, our limits, our time on this earth that we cannot pass. We cannot go past what God has determined and ordained for us. Judy's days were numbered. So are ours. The number of her months were with God, so are ours. God appointed Judy's bounds, her limits, her time, and He's appointed and He's determined ours too.

We're not born early or late. You know, we say things like, well, they were born premature, they were born early, or they left this life way too soon. No, sir. Right on time. Right on time. Judy did not depart before her time. She didn't pass into eternity too soon. With God, it's always, always, always right on time.

To the best of my calculations, and I don't claim to be a mathematician, but best of my calculations, God determined and appointed unto my dear sister in Christ 1,400 months and 15 days. And you say, well, that's going a little far, preacher. No, it's not either. That God determined those, every one of them. Right up to the minute she left. And she departed according to the time and the will and the purpose of God Almighty. The God with whom we have to do. You've heard me mention that word departed several times so far.

That's exactly what Miss Judy has done. She's departed. The body of flesh that we lay in the ground this day is not Judy Harmon. This is not Judy Harmon. I told Daniel right before the service started, I said, that's not your mama. Your mama's already gone. She's departed.

She's face to face with Christ our Savior. This was just a shell, just a tabernacle, so to speak, a dwelling place for all these years. A thousand and four months and fifteen days. In 2 Timothy chapter 4, Paul writes to Timothy at the end of his life. And he says, for I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Physical death is not extinction. This is a departure. It's not destruction. Death is not the end of existence. Not for the unbeliever and not in a special, special way for the believer. What is it then? It's a relocation. It's a relocation. To the unbeliever it's a departure to a place called hell. A place where it says the worm doth not. A place where the fire is not quenched. But for the believer? It's a departure to a place that the Lord Jesus has prepared for them. The Lord said so Himself in John chapter 14.

He said, let not your heart be troubled. Our hearts are troubled. They're troubled today because we loved her and we're going to miss her. But the Lord said, be not troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, and if it were not so, I would have told you. See, God doesn't lie. He's not a man that He should lie. He's not a man that He should repent or change His mind.

He said, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, now listen, this gets good. He said, I'll come again and receive you unto Myself. That's what He did last Thursday. And then it just keeps getting better. And where I am, you shall be also."

We can't see it, we can't fathom it, but she's experiencing it. Listen, heaven's not going to be heaven because of the mansions, and heaven's not going to be heaven because of pearly gates and streets of gold. Heaven's going to be heaven because Jesus Christ is going to be there. And heaven will be heaven because the believer will be face to face with Christ their Savior. I've often thought, what must that be like? If she could, she'd tell you right now. She'd tell you. That's where Judy Harmon has departed. And I know, brother, as much as your heart is broken, that's the thing that gives you the most confidence and hope going forward yourself. And it won't be long. We'll all be there, all God's people. This is a fight worth fighting. Paul went on to say, I fought a good fight. He didn't say that it was going to be easy. He didn't say that it was going to be comfortable. He said it was going to be a fight.

It was a fight. It was a struggle with sin. It was a fight. It was a struggle against doubt. It's a fight. A struggle against discouragement. It was a fight. A struggle to remain faithful. But it was a fight of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's why it's always a successful fight. For the believer, it's a good fight. Why? Because Christ fought it for her. Judy Harmon fought the good fight. This is a race that must be finished. Paul added, I finished the race. Not everyone that starts finishes well. Many begin with enthusiasm and stumble. This is not a race about speed. This is a race about perseverance.

And the only reason that any believer perseveres is because God Almighty preserves them in Christ. Judy endured to the end. Why? Because God loved her and kept her to the end. That's the only way any of us endure. He that endureth to the end shall be saved." And the only way we endure is if God keeps us to the end.

She finished the race. She remained faithful. She endured hardship. She trusted Christ to the very end. Teresa and I were talking about that the other day. She finished that race. And friends, this is a trust. that must be kept. Paul said, I've kept the faith. Paul guarded the Gospel.

He didn't abandon it when the world opposed it. You're going to receive opposition if you believe this Gospel. If you believe this truth that we as believers believe, you're going to face opposition. Paul didn't dilute the Gospel when it was unpopular to hearers.

He held fast to Christ. Listen. So did Judy. She sure did. This is the question of the hour to you. This is the question of the hour to me. This is the question of the hour to all of us. What do you think of Christ? When it's all stripped away, when it all comes down To it. That's the question. What do you think of the Lord Jesus Christ? Whose son is He? Have you trusted Him? Are you ready for your own departure?

It's coming quickly. Coming quickly. How many times, Gene, have we sat around and talked I turned 70 not long ago, and I tell Gene, I can't believe I'm 70 years old. And he goes, I can't believe I'm 80. Nobody can believe the age that they are. Especially after you hit 40, they just start flying by, don't they, Jud? This life is truly like a vapor. It's here for a moment, and it's gone. What do you think of Christ? That's all that matters.

There's a crown awaiting. Paul speaks in these verses of a crown of righteousness that awaited him. And that crown is not earned. You can't earn it. That crown is not merited. Nothing you deserve. It's given by a righteous judge to those who belong to him. And here's the thing, it's a free gift. You can't buy it. You can't deserve it. It's a free gift. For by grace are you saved through faith. And Paul adds, that's not of yourselves. And then to reiterate that further, he goes, not by works. And then to drive it even more home, that you may boast." There ain't no boasting in this.

God gets all the glory. The Lord Jesus Christ gets all the glory. And listen, the believer is glad for Him to have it. And here's the amazing thing, and I just can't get over this. Still, I just can't get over it. that if I didn't do anything to get saved, and if my salvation depends 100% on the Lord Jesus Christ, then I can't do anything to be lost. And everything's going to be alright. Everything's going to be fine. Because of what Christ has done for us. The crown of righteousness. This crown is for all who long for Christ. And this crown is for all who trust in Christ. This crown is for all who are ready for His return.

And she was. She was ready. Are you ready? It's a question I know you are. And I'm right on your shirt tail. You see, friends, this is not wishful thinking. This is eternal hope. This is not sentimental optimism. This is Christ in you, the hope of glory. What's my hope of glory? Christ in me. Me in Christ, Christ in me. I am my Beloved's, my Beloved is mine. That's my only hope. That's your only hope. What do you think of Christ? For the child of God, death has lost its sting. How? Because Christ has already died for our sins. He took the sting for us. Christ has already faced death and He conquered it. And, O death, where's your victory? And, O, where's your sting? And, O death, where's your grave? O grave, where...

You know the verse, I'm sorry. It's gone. Gone. Christ took it away. The grave could not hold our Lord, and because of His finished work of righteousness, it can't hold us either. Sure couldn't hold her. Lord, help us to rejoice in this departure. This is a celebration of her departure. And yes, we're going to be sad. We're going to miss her. My, we're going to miss her. I'm going to miss her. Today we grieve for ourselves, but don't grieve for Judy.

Life is the way to a departure. It's not an easy fight. It's a race of endurance and preservation. And we run on a road called trust. God requires perfection for me. I cannot provide what God demands, but Christ did for me. And beyond that road, there's a crown. And the only way for anyone to face death with peace is to belong to the one who defeated death. So I encourage you, fight the good fight. Finish the race.

Keep your faith. Fix your eyes on Christ. And don't look within. Don't say, well, if I was a true Christian, a true believer, I wouldn't do this, I wouldn't do that. It doesn't have anything to do with that. It has to do with what Christ did for you.

And by His grace, over time, you'll begin to see that you want to do right because of your love for Him and what He's done for you. So keep the faith. Fix your eyes on Christ. Trust in Him alone. And if God enables you to do so, and that's what it's going to take. God enabling us to do so.

When your departure comes, and when my departure comes, we'll be able to say with confidence as Miss Judy did. Now I can just hear, I and my Beloved's. And my Beloved's mine. And, my, that came to fruition. There was no doubt about that. When you're looking face to face in the eyes of the one who loved you and gave Himself for us, boy, it's a reality. It's a reality for her. And it's a reality for every true believer. And what's God going to say? Same thing He said to her. Well done. I didn't do anything. Well done. Yes, you did. In Christ your Lord and by your union with Him. What He did, you did. Well done thou good and faithful servant. Me? Faithful servant? Yep. Yep.

Enter thou into the joy of the Lord. What precious words those are. Enter in to the joy of the Lord. You see, that's what it's going to be. It's going to be joy. Forever. Forever joy. Eternal bliss. However you want to say it. We can't truly fathom it in our minds because it's too wonderful for us. That's what the psalmist says. It's too wonderful for me.

Let's bow together in prayer. Our Father in heaven, we come before You as frail people. We stand in the shadow of death, yet not without hope. And we thank You, Heavenly Father, for those who are in Christ, that departure is not destruction, but it's an entrance. And it's not loss, but it's gain.

You appointed our days, You numbered them, and You numbered them, and when the time comes for Your children to depart, they depart into Your presence. We thank You, Lord, that to be absent from this body, which our dear sister now is, is to be present with You. And we thank You for the testimony of the Apostle Paul, and we thank You for the testimony of Judy Harmon, who could say along with the apostle that she had fought a good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. Lord, we thank You that Judy's competence was not in her performance, but in the righteous one who gives the crown of righteousness to all who love His appearance. She looked forward to it for so long. Lord, comfort this family. This heartache is real. This separation is painful. But let your spirit remind them that Christ has conquered the grave. Because He lives, those who die in Him live also. Let the promise of resurrection be steady in our hearts. And those of us who remain, teach us to number our days.

Lord, we know wisdom comes from You. Make us wise. Prepare us to live faithfully and to die ready. Lord, we beg You to strip us from false hopes and anchor our souls in Christ alone. We beg of You, Lord, let none of us lead this life trusting in our own righteousness, but in the finished work of the righteous Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That's our only hope, Lord. We acknowledge that. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. It's in Christ's name and for His sake that we ask these things. Amen.