Introduction:

Arthur Heiden, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, brother, neighbor, and friend.

Arthur Heiden, a man who loved his family, who loved children, and who was loved by them in turn.

Arthur Heiden, a man who had a unique sense of humor that touched all of us and made us laugh on many an occasion. His ready wit and accompanying smile that still was present even though he didn’t feel well and was in a great deal of discomfort.

The memories of this man that all of us have! I remember the many visits to his home, sitting in the living room or on the front porch discussing all kinds of things from his childhood days growing up across the road, to current world situations, to his family and how proud he was of them. Things were rough at times, especially when “we first got married” he would say, “but I had a good life." He was always thankful for what he had.

His family and his home were very important to him. In fact, he made reference to that only a couple of weeks ago when, in his witty manner, with a slight smile upon his face, he said to the doctor in Monroe, “I’ve got a nice home and I sure would like to use it!”

As we well knew, he didn’t get to use that earthly home again. As wonderful as that home was to him, he has entered a far grander and more glorious home that has been prepared for him...the Heavenly Father’s home that has been prepared for all those who, knew and love the Lord.

I share this with you because I am sure that with Arthur Heiden, God’s promises never failed. Jesus’ promise of a home in heaven were quite real and quite close to him. On more than one occasion he said to me, as he said to his wife and family, that he wasn't afraid to die. In fact, he was ready and willing to depart this life and be with the Lord.

Those of us who knew and loved Art Heiden, who were acquainted with the suffering he experienced, especially in the last few years, and more so in the last year and past couple of months could not really wish him back. Yes, we will miss him, but far more important is what he has gained, the new life that is now his, the heavenly home that he now enjoys.

Sometimes, at the death of a loved one, our sorrow becomes a self-centered, selfish kind of experience. The loss is ours...and frequently it is a rather bitter one. We find it easy to recount all the good times we had together, the joys and moments of happiness that we share, and feel bad that these are now ended and will be no more. That’s normal. That’s human. That’s a part of our earthly existence. Sometimes we think more of what we have lost than of the one we have lost.

The time has to come, as it had to come to me when my father died, that we think of what our loved one has gained, that he is now in the Father’s house with his Savior whom he loved and looked forward to meeting face to face.

There is no human word that can adequately describe what heaven is like. Jesus gave us a little glimpse of it when He said, “In my Father’s House are many rooms...” That is, there is room for everyone who knows and loves him.

St. Paul in I Corinthians 2:9 pictures some of its glory in these words “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those, who love him.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of it as a place where we will surely want to be when He said, “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven.”

The Book of Revelation is rich in figurative, symbolic language describing the glories of that life, but the reality no doubt far exceeds what the lang¬uage of earth can convey. We knew that there shall be no more suffering and death, no more sin, no more sorrow. We knew that the burdens and cares and toils of this world are laid aside. We knew that Art’s sufferings are over.

When Art said that "I've got a nice home, and I sure would like to use it” those words had an eternal and heavenly ring to them.
More than once He said, “I’m ready. I’m ready to die.”

And Jesus said:

“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you may be also.” You...Art Heiden...and all the rest of you who know and love me.

Amen

Hymn No. 439 — “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”