Pray: we are thankful that Jesus was exalted in the life of Jerry Link and we are hopeful that through the example of his life that Jesus will be exalted in our lives as well

Opening: Right now we are in the middle of series entitled "The Tell of 2 Stories" and what we are doing is we are going through Scripture and looking and learning from the passages where 2 ways to live are found and we are comparing and contrasting those so that the path for our lives would be clear and Christ magnifying. The first week we looked at Jesus invitation to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13-14 and heard that Jesus encouraged His hearers to take narrow way as opposed to the broad way. Last week Molly took us on down a little to Matthew 7:24-27 and we heard the story of 2 different ways to listen and respond to the words of Jesus: a wise and a foolish builder.

The Tell of One Story
This week is a special week, a sad and joyful week and this week I want to tell you of one story, the story of Mr. Link. If you don't know, my mentor, Mr. Link died this past week with a grin on his face and on the other side of his last breath was received by His First Love. So, I think one of the best things I can do this morning, is share with you the life of Mr. Link.

Even to Old Age and Gray Hairs He Proclaimed the Might of God
[Psalm 71:18] "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come."

I'm not sure if this was the prayer of Mr. Link, but I do know that this is the outcome. God kept breath in his lungs and blood flowing through him until old age and gray hairs and in his old age he faithfully proclaimed the might and power of God to another generation and this morning I want to tell you the story of his life to set before you an example of how to live.

1. A Humble Man: Isaiah 66:2 says, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." There's no doubt about it: Mr. Link had the look of the Lord because he was a humble man. I'll get to the trembling before God's word in a second. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Once again, this is true of Mr. Link and if you knew him, humble is a word that adequately describes him. When I asked him if I could meet with him every week and he be a mentor to me, he was shocked. Now I figured it was pretty obvious that I needed some help, but he couldn't get over it. He would always ask, "I don't know why you want to meet with me or hang out with some old guy like me..." Well, that was my reason. He is humble and I'm very proud and I need all the help I can get and Mr. Link set the example bar exceedingly high in regards to humility. Those are just a few of the reasons he is a humble man and an example to us all that we would do well to follow.

2. A Passion for God's Word: In Isaiah 66:2 it also speaks of the man that trembles at the word of God...well I'm sure he did this. He was a lover of God's word and held it as extremely important. I would venture to say it was the most important part of his day. He always read the Bible, and he knew it well. One day I was asking him a question about something in the Bible and asked his thoughts on it. At first, he didn't have an answer but he called me back later on the phone with tons of verses and said that he had been studying on it all day long. We met from 8-9am and he called me around 3pm. That's 6 hours of studying and reading God's Word! In my Christmas Card this year, there was the card and then there was a piece of paper filled up with Scripture about Jesus being the light of the world and us shining our lights and what he was doing was answering a question I had for him earlier in the week about those things. He made no comments, he just answered my question with Scripture and after that I knew what the answer was.

3. A Man Who Knew His Place: Most people want recognition and most people think that they can do everything...not Mr. Link. He knew his place. He knew his limits and he never wanted to exceed those and he didn't try. He always admired pastors and what they did. He always admired teachers, but knew that wasn't his place. For example, for a while he was a deacon and then he wasn't a deacon, and then he was a deacon again. The reason for the break in the middle is that he knew he couldn't serve to the best of his ability due to health reasons. He wanted to give his all and he knew that is what those he was serving deserved and he didn't want to give a half-hearted effort. He knew his place. It would serve us well, if we knew our place too. So often we think we can do so much more, but we never do anything. We talk as if, "I was in charge I would do this or that." And what happens is we become useless where we are. Mr. Link was useful and useful in a great way and He love God and loved others right where he was and in that found happiness and joy.

4. A Loving and Truthful Man: Mr. Link told the story of one of his friends who was a young convert along with him who was playing piano at lady's house. There were kids running around and making a lot of noise and the mother kept saying, "If you don't stop..." "If you don't quit..." Well, finally his friend had enough and responded, "She's a liar! Let's go! She's not going to do anything, she is just going to keep saying, "If, If, If..." He was right...but a friend immediately confronted him and said, "That was not loving!" The young man's heart broke and there in that moment he learned life long lesson shared with many others: you must be loving and be truthful and these go together.

5. A Man Who Would Not Participate in Sin: When someone would complain he wouldn't participate. He actually had people get mad at him for these kinds of things and he wasn't sure, but was afraid that he lost a friend because he rebuked his friend for being divisive. He told the man, "I'm not going to hear it!" We need to do that more often. So often we just give in or we're indifferent and we get caught up in sin. We need to stop listening and tell our friends to stop talking.

6. A Man Who Always Cared for Others: If what John Piper said is correct: "True humility is self-forgetfulness." Then Mr. Link was the most humble man I've ever known. Every day he always asked about my family, he was always checking on me, even when he was in the hospital. He always had a concern for others and at our last few meetings together he continually spoke of encouraging people and the importance of helping others out. He not only spoke in this way, he lived in this way. The way he cared for others is something we would do well to follow.

7. A Worshipper in the Last Year of His Life: Now this is one of the most amazing things about the life of Mr. Link and completely goes against the stereotypes most young people have of older people. Mr. Link didn't waste his life in old age. He invested it and learned what worship was. He explained to me that throughout his life he never understood worship until this past year. I think God was just getting him ready for this day.

And what is the result of his life? Eternal joy in the presence of Christ!

Close: Maybe in someway you have been challenged this morning. Maybe for you these qualities can't be found in you and you need to repent and set your hope in Christ. It is my prayer for you all that should you die this week, I would be able to say the same things about you.