St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church

Funeral for the comfort of the mourners of

Cpl. Matthew Zindars

Friday, August 3, 2007 Revelation 2:10

Be faithful even unto death and I will give you the crown of life!

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God—especially you who mourn:

Matthew knew that there was a garden named Eden halfway around the world. A garden where there were animals of every kind—lions and tigers and bears—that held no danger for people. There were fruit trees of every kind—full of the sweetest fruit. Every day the weather was wonderful. It was never too hot. There were never sand storms. It was never bitter cold at night. Sweat never got in your eyes. In this garden named Eden lived two flesh and blood people who loved their Heavenly Father. Into that garden slithered a serpent from Hell. He tempted Adam and Eve and they ate forbidden fruit and plunged this world into sin. The devil is to blame. The devil is responsible. Adam and Eve had sinned. They were to blame, too!

Matthew knew that our Heavenly Father loved Adam and Eve so much—he promised to send his son Jesus—to crush that serpent Satan—to pay for all our sins—to rescue and redeem us from our sins and the eternal destruction we deserve! Matthew knew God’s plan to save us. On Christmas Eve when he was little Matthew used to sit on a wooden bench in the front of Church—singing—“Away in a Manger—no crib for a bed—the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head!” Matthew knew how that first Christmas Eve angels told humble shepherds watching their sheep and their goats on rocky hillsides—“Fear not! For behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord!” Matthew knew how Jesus grew up to preach law and gospel—to teach his students, followers and imitators—“I am the Good shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” Matthew knew how in the dark in the Garden of Gethsemane Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss. How Jesus was put on trial before the High Priest—then Pontius Pilate—before King Herod—then back to Pilate where he was scourged condemned and crucified. On a Friday afternoon when the sun stopped shining Jesus suffered and died on the cross—to wash away all our sins. On Sunday morning an angel told a group of women—whose cheeks were stained with tears—“Fear not! For I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen—just as he said! Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples he is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you!” Matthew knew and believed that. And now Matthew is safe by Jesus!

Be faithful even unto death and I will give you the crown of life. There are people here today who understand faithfulness. Semper fidelius—always faithful! Matthew was faithful to his Savior. Jesus kept him faithful through the power of the Gospel—through baptism and Scripture and Lord’s Supper. Matthew was faithful to his Savior. And Matthew was faithful to his country. That’s why he trained and studied and practiced to do what soldiers do. They fight for their country. They sweat and they bleed. Sometimes they lose parts of their bodies—a hand or a foot—an arm or a leg or more. And sometimes they make the ultimate sacrifice—when they even die for their country. Matthew was faithful to his Savior—faithful to his country—faithful to his friends. Faithful to his friends is why Matthew was in Iraq a second time. Because if his friends were going to be there—they were not going to be there without him! That faithfulness—a willingness to lay down your life for your friend—the Son of God said—there’s no greater love than that! That’s just part of what made Matthew Zindars a hero! He was willing to give up his life for his friends. Matthew did not die in vain. He died for his country. He died patrolling—keeping little children safe near Ramadi. He died to keep the peace. He died to keep us safe.

The disciple Jesus loved—the apostle John wrote down God’s Word-- Be faithful even unto death and I will give you a crown of life! I have said many times before—people are very breakable. People die on battle fields thousands of miles from home. People die on highways all around Watertown. You can see the small wooden crosses and flowers just past the gravel of the shoulder—whatever road you take out of town. People die in the Emergency Room and in intensive care. People die in nursing homes. People have heart attacks and strokes and aneurisms at work and at school and in their daddy chair watching the Brewers or the Packers. Farmers die in the barn and on the land. Mommies die in the kitchen or cleaning the bathroom. Little children get sick and before doctors can figure out what’s wrong—they are gone! Few people wake up in the morning thinking—today—this day—my soul may be required of me! Matthew knew that whenever Jesus called—he would be ready. Matthew lived in a state of grace. Matthew knew in his heart of hearts—that Jesus loved him and was watching over him. Matthew knew that when the time was perfect—Jesus would send his holy angels to carry his immortal soul home to heaven. Matthew was always faithful. Matthew was always prepared. Matthew is safe by Jesus in Heaven!

Be faithful even unto death and I will give you a crown of life! Down through history there have been wars. I buried a little grandpa named Alfred--whose skin and throat were literally burned by the mustard gas that blinded and killed our soldiers in the trenches and the tangled barbed wire of the Great War—the War to End All Wars—not yet called the First World War—because no one ever thought there would be another war as terrible as that. My Uncle George was at Normandy. He waded onto the beach and up the hills—taking out machine gun nests—fighting so bravely they pinned medals on his chest. Uncle George was wounded—deep inside—in his heart and in his mind from the horrors of that day—so that many years later—if there were sudden loud noises—he would be an a panic—like he was on that beech again. My uncle Paul had so many pieces of shrapnel in his arms the doctors couldn’t cut them out. His arms ached every day. And every once in a while—a little piece of sharp metal would finally work its way out. Uncle Paul had scars, too. As did those who fought in Korea. Do we remember the war in Korea? Colonel Blake says—the first thing they teach you at command school is that in war young men die. And the second thing they teach you is doctors can’t change rule number one? My friend Mickey fought in Viet Nam. And when he came home—people spit on him! And that was wrong! They spit on Jesus, too. And Jesus was so strong—his forgiving love so determined—Jesus endured that—and died on a cross to save us. Jesus died so that this is not the sad and tragic end. Jesus died and rose again—so that Matthew is safe by Jesus in Heaven. Jesus died and rose again—so that one day we will see Matthew and all believers—as Jesus takes hold of us in his nail marked hands. We will be safe by Jesus where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Jesus will make everything new! We will never forget the sacrifice that Matthew made. We will be very proud of him. We will see Matthew again—and when we do—we will never ever have to say good-bye again—because we will all be home with Jesus in Heaven by grace alone—faith alone—Scripture alone! God bless America! Amen!

To God alone all glory! Rev. Anthony E. Schultz