Saying goodbye to someone you love can be difficult and can lead to misunderstandings. Consider the goodbye of Marge and her dearly departed Norm. She recounted their last moments together: "It was a life and death emergency. He needed a blood transfusion, but his blood type was not on record, so the ER doctors asked me if I knew what it was to save my Norman's life.” She continued, “But, I am sorry to say, I've never known his blood type. So, I only had time to sit and say my goodbye. I'll never forget how supportive my Norman was. Even as he was fading away, he kept whispering to me as he squeezed my hand, "Be positive, be positive!" That was my Norman! Always thinking of others."
Can you say “misunderstanding”. Pardon the humor. It’s entirely appropriate at this moment to stand here with a little bit of sadness as you say goodbye as Woodland Christian Church after 69 years, but you can also laugh a little today. Things are not as bad as you might think. Like Norm, you can be positive but in a greater way because you’ve got the right blood type.
As Christians, you must know how to handle goodbyes because moving on is part of signing up as Christians. Church, as you say goodbye after sixty-nine years, you want it to be a fitting farewell, a “good” goodbye without misunderstanding. We have an example of a “good” goodbye when Christ said goodbye to his disciples.
Why should Christian have a “good” goodbye. In Acts 9:11, we see a “good” goodbye as two angles and the disciples witness Jesus ascending on a cloud leaving a group of his disappointed followers behind, but not without encouragement.
We see in Jesus’s farewell, the certainties that make it a good goodbye. First, you have the certainty of Christ’s good character. Second, you have the certainty of Christ’s glorious next assignment, and third, the certainty of Christ’s spectacular family reunion. Church, don’t misunderstand the moment. You don’t have to stand here sad. This is not a “goodbye” goodbye. It’s a “good” goodbye. You have the right blood type of Christ to: Be positive.
First, be positive because Christians have the certainty of Christ’s good character. While locations change, our genuine relationship doesn’t change because Jesus does not change. We see the certainty of His character in Acts 9:11a:
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
What is the unchanging character of Christ who is—according to Hebrews 13:8, “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow—love.
This same Jesus had love for the untouchable like the leper in Mark 1:40. When no one would touch him, Jesus was willing.
“This same Jesus” had love for the lost. When Jesus was in a remote place for rest, he had concern for the destiny of people’s soul. He taught them according to Mark 6: 34.
“This same Jesus" had love for the hungry. When he saw the hungry, he didn’t shake his head saying what a shame, he did something. He took the lunch of a liked-minded little boy—seven loaves and five fish—fed them in Mark 8:2.
Church, you are going to help me preach this morning. Recall a moment in the life of Woodland, an example of love for each other like when Nancy needed a ride from the doctor’s office and the Bynums dropped everything and obliged.
Church, don’t misunderstand the moment. You don’t have to stand here sad only. This is not a “goodbye” goodbye. It’s a “good” goodbye because of the love of Christ you have fore each other. Keep loving. You have the same blood type of Jesus: Be positive.
Second, be positive because Christians have the certainty of Christ’s glorious next assignment—the glory of God. Jesus’ next assignment was a better place: heaven. We see the certainty of Jesus’s better assignment in Acts 9:11b:
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Christ’s next assignment was heaven. Heaven declares the glory of God according to Psalms 19:1. So, His next assignment—and yours—is what it has always been: to glorify God, on earth as it is in heaven.
Abraham glorified God with his faith, leaving Ur, his idolatrous home, and taking another assignment—a city whose architect and builder is God”.
Joseph glorified God when he kept his faith even when he went from the pit, to prison. But his faith was rewarded with a better assignment: vice president of Egypt in charge of food distribution during a worldwide famine. He saved his family and the lineage through which Christ could come.
Jesus glorified God when He prayed “not my will but Thy will”. God’s will for Christ was to die on the cross so the yoke of the slavery of sin would be broken like bread. He died on the cross so the payment of our sin would be paid by His blood. When you come to the table of broken bread and shed wine, you glorify God.
Help me preach this morning. Recall a time in the life of Woodland you glorified God with your faith like the time you moved from your first home to this home at the top of the hill on Road 1844 with Nancy atop a bull dozer. It took faith to get you there. Faith always glorifies God.
Church, don’t misunderstand the moment. You don’t have to stand here and be sad only. This is not a “goodbye” goodbye. It’s a “good” goodbye. Keep glorifying God with your faith, greatest assignment. You have the same blood type of Jesus: Be positive.
Finally, be positive because Christians have the certainty of Christ’s spectacular family reunion. Jesus promised a glorious reunion with his disciples in the air. We see the certainty of Jesus’s promise of a reunion in Acts 9:11c:
"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
As much as journey is a part of being a child of God, so is reunion is also a part of the family of God.
Jacob was reunited with his Esau. No family feud can keep God’s children apart from the family of God.
The prodigal son was reunited with his father, even though he squandered his inheritance. No personal disappointments can keep God’s children apart.
Peter and Jesus were reunited on a beach at breakfast, even though Peter denied Christ three times. No betrayal can keep God’s children apart.
Help me preach this morning. Recall a time in the life of Woodland, an example of family and fellowship. Remember the home-goings of Jackie Russell and Mary Lou McNeel, and the spiritual nurturing of Angelina and Natasha when you put your arms around each other as one family.
Church, don’t misunderstand the moment. You don’t have to stand here be only. This is not a “goodbye” goodbye. It’s a “good” goodbye. Keep hugging each other as family. There will be a reunion. You have the same blood type of Jesus: Be positive.
CONCLUSION
In Jesus’s farewell as angels and disciples stood looking on, we see a “good” goodbye because of the certainties of Christ. First, you have the certainty of Christ’s good character. Keep loving each other. Second, you have the certainty of a Christ’s better assignment—the glory of heaven. Keep coming to the Table, glorifying God with your faith. And third, you have the certainty of the Christ’s family reunion in the air. Remember your relationship with each other through Christ. You will be together again.
Marge misunderstood Norm in their goodbye, but make no mistake about it. Church, don’t misunderstand the moment. You don’t have to stand here in sadness only. You can be encouraged because you’ve got the certainty of Christ. If anyone ask you how you can you be so positive. Tell them it’s your blood-type—the blood of Christ.
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