Memorial For John…

What is a man and what will be the number of his days? For John James Olson his life spanned 32,848; May 17, 1925, to April 22, 2015.

For seventeen years of his life, or 6,205 of those 32,848 days, John suffered from Alzheimer’s. During the past 1,590 days, John was a resident of memory care facilities; most recently Highline Place. I want to thank those who came today and provided John such wonderful care while he was there with you. Thank you.

John is a Christian man and is surrounded today by family who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the One and Only Son of God. I say that John ‘is’ a Christian man because God is God of the living; not the dead. Because this is true, we believe that John’s life, as our own, has a set number of days. We all have an appointed day to die and a future appointment to stand before our Lord and King.

While his old earthly tent is lying there in the casket, his soul is not. Within moments after his final breath, he was whisked away and one day we shall joyously join him. He shall not return to us. We know that from life and scripturally, from King David. After David learned of the death of his first born son with Bathsheba, he got up, washed his face, and asked for something to eat. Life went on; even as it will happen for us.

We also believe, because we serve a sovereign God, that what John faced during those 6,205 days of his life with Alzheimer’s, that too was in accordance with God’s will, and yes, even for his good. In Isaiah 46:10 it is written that God acts, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Well, today for John what was declared by God from the very foundation of the world for him is finished on earth. God’s counsel stands and His pleasure is done.

John has gone home and has left the building.

As for what I said regarding John’s affliction, you might wonder how such a scourge as Alzheimer’s can be good for anyone. Well, I must confess it is a mystery, but I can say confidently that God is One who works all things for good in each of his children; for those that love Jesus and are called according to His purpose.

His purpose. Not our purpose. Many, who are fortunately physically well, believe their will establishes their relationship with God; whether He exists or not, and if He exists, they determine His purpose for their lives. However, John’s affliction tells a different tale: Man does not control what happens. Our bodies betray us just as much in sin as they do in service.

Again, God works everything for His pleasure. But what is His pleasure? It is to bring to Himself through the counsel of His Own will all of the resplendent glory and honor that He rightfully deserves as our Creator… by showing His eternal wisdom and goodness to us despite; and through, our fallen condition and the consequences of our sin. If we believe in a God of infinite, omnipotent and everlasting ability, then it should not surprise us to find how He worked through an infinite number of ways to deliver us through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son. No wonder the angels marvel! For them there was no intermediary; no redemption, but for man? This wonderful message of salvation is presented to all men of every tongue and nation; every color; of every generation; physical and mental state; whether educated or illiterate… the call of God is a voice heard within the hearts of men; changing hearts of stone to flesh; pliable in the hands of the Potter.

As for John’s salvation? I can say now that I have no doubt that during those 6,205 days of John’s affliction that our heavenly Father brought his salvation to closure. Somewhere in the passing of those days; in the quiet of his mind, God’s Spirit appealed to his heart; a heart that we could not readily see. What appeared to us from the outside as John’s memory disability and loss, was in the eternal sense, his ultimate gain. You see, the mind is merely the dance partner of the heart, but the heart leads, and John’s heart; beloved of Christ, brought him home.

How do I know what I’m saying is true about my father-in-law? It’s not so much what I know about John as it is the character of God. Again from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 57, verse 15 we read:

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones”

In this verse, we learn that God dwells both in eternity; where time does not exist but also in the revived hearts of those possessing humble and contrite spirits. The other day when I spoke to my brother in law, Larry, about John, I spoke of him as I remembered him as he was during his first 26,643 days; not as he came to be over the last 6,205 days. During the most recent years as a memory care resident, John was a strikingly humble and contrite man. He was always helping the caregivers. In some of the pictures that you’ll see, he was repositioning chairs at tables. I heard that he swept or vacuumed the floors. According to the staff, John was a caring and giving man.

My wife, Nancy, and I prayed with him on a number of occasions. He was always prepared and eager for prayer. He was genuinely and sincerely appreciative; humbled by the kindness shown for the time that we spent with him.

Most recently, while he was at Littleton Hospital, Nancy; my daughter Lauren, and I experienced what was truly a remarkable; if not miraculous, moment. For a couple of days John had lain in bed; eyes closed except for several brief moments. He had barely said a word; much of that gibberish. However, before we left that evening, we gathered around John to pray. As I prayed, he opened his eyes and looked at Nancy and Lauren; and then to me. I was on the other side of the bed. As he looked at me, I leaned closer and said, “God bless you John.” He then answered, “God bless you.”

I believe in that moment God allowed us to know that all was well with John’s soul, and while his natural mind was wasting away by his terrible disease, he still possessed the mind of Christ, and it was from the mind of Christ that he unexpectedly answered “God bless you.” To that I answer, God did bless us, John, for in that moment God gave us the testimony of His presence in your life so that now I can now share that moment here with his family and friends gathered here today.

God meant that blessing for your comfort and hope.

As for those of you who have found that what I’ve said today drawing up your affections as if from a deep well… inclining your heart to know more, allow me and our family to invite you to get to know our Savior, Jesus. It’s a simple message really. We all have an appointed day when we shall stand before a holy, righteous and gracious God; for all of us have sinned and have fallen short of His glory. However, if you find yourself yearning; wanting to repent and confess your sins, God has provided a Savior. Jesus will represent us as our legal counsel when we go before God and stand in judgment. There, Jesus will present His hands and feet; show His wounded side and will tell His Father; this one is mine… ransom paid. This was exactly what he did for John, for me… my family; and hopefully, for all of us here today.

Let us pray.