"Dad Can Fix It!"

This week, I visited with a grieving family prior to their funeral visitation and graveside services. This is something I do every time I’m called upon to officiate a funeral, whether I know the deceased or not. I like to personalize my remarks by hearing stories and memories from family and friends. This practice has been well received over the years of my ministry. I have found the “one size fits all” approach to grief ministry impersonal and less than comforting!

Image: istockphoto.com

On this occasion, I was a casual friend with this man. But I delighted to hear short memories about how he was an eager “problem-solver” and “fixer” of all things involving his unique skills. His youngest daughter told me about the time she had an embarrassing accident with her car. The fender-bender had left some unsightly scratches upon the finish of her vehicle. Later that same day, she was surprised to find out that her dad had stealthily come by, repaired the damage, and buffed out the imperfections, leaving the finish like new!

I spent some time today doing the same thing with my car! There was an accidental light scratching that marked the trim just above the passenger door along the windshield. I suspect it may have occurred as a passenger, carrying a handful of items, tried to hurriedly negotiate a tight place. Accidents happen! A little wax and some serious “elbow grease” erased the marks and restored the finish. Just as the daughter acknowledged, at the recent family funeral visit, “Dad can fix it!” Or at least in my case, sometimes! 😊

Israel’s King David found himself in the throes of grief because he had committed adultery and murder. The tragic story is told in 2 Samuel 11-12 and 1 Kings 1-2. After the prophet, Nathan, confronted him, David repented of his sin, but God’s judgment upon his house would result in the loss of a newborn son.

The emotional prayer of confession in Psalm 51 has been cathartic for others throughout history who have needed to repent of their sin. The plea for God to “blot out” sin is used prominently in verses one and nine. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions… blot out all my iniquities.” (Psalm 51:1,9 ESV). The words “blot out” mean “to erase” or “utterly wipe away.”

This is a picture of what Jesus has done for each of us on the Cross. The Scriptures remind us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22). As we confess our sins, put our faith and trust in Jesus to forgive us our sins, He does what only He can do! He blots out and wipes away all our sins! Not only does Christ “purify us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), God removes our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west!” (Psalm 103:12).

The past two Sundays, we have had the privilege of receiving the Lord’s Supper. One as guests in another church, and last Sunday, with our own church family. Although the means of sharing were a little different, the meaning was the same. As we take the bread and the cup communally, in our tradition, we hear these familiar and personal affirmations, “The body of Christ broken for you. The blood of Christ shed for you.”

You and I need to hear and often be reminded in our hearts that “The Lord can fix us!” God the Son came to “seek and to save the lost!” As the hymn writer, Merrill Dunlap, exclaimed, “If I trust in His redeeming blood, my sins are blotted out, I know!” Praise His Name!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
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