I used to speak of the older generation at Bethlehem, which I don’t do anymore because I am the older generation. But it’s still true that the generation just before me ministered to me in very significant ways as a young, green, inexperienced pastor — those many years ago (like 1980).

Arnie and Doris Lindberg were here when I stepped into the pastorate. And they were here when I stepped down from the pastorate. That is symbolic of the staying power and sturdiness of their lives and ministry. They provided, along with so many others, stability and strength for our church. And for me they were a constant source of encouragement and persevering help.

There are so many little ways that Doris and Arnie wove their way into our hearts. Let me give you one small example that even relates to the grandchildren. This is an excerpt from my journal on Friday, December 15, 1995. The background is our daughter Talitha’s arrival:

Then we went upstairs. Eventually, there must have been 75 people or more, counting kids. . . . We sat in chairs while some testimonies were shared. Phoebe spoke of how she felt Talitha was meant for us and that the Lord had told her that. Rod said that miracles still happen, because [Pastor John] said yes to this adoption; Ben Peterson said that the other miracle was that two weeks ago there was $400 in the Micah Fund but last Sunday there was $7,000. Arnie Lindberg stood to say how happy he was with his three grandkids in Germany.

That was pretty brave and very significant, because he and Doris did not stand up very often. They were happy to serve quietly in the background. But showing up that night as we received our adopted daughter was symptomatic of their quiet support and affection.

So, it is a great honor to be asked to bring a word of hope here at Doris’s memorial service. Thank you.

Words for Our Encouragement

I want to share with you a very precious word from the apostle Paul concerning Doris and concerning all of us who are in Christ Jesus. I say it’s a precious word because it is — in and of itself, as you will see. But it is a precious word also because of my personal experience of it. The text is 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10:

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

And then he adds, to tell me what to do with this text,

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

That is what I hope to do for the next few minutes.

There are four glorious statements about Doris Lindberg in those two verses — and about you if you are in Christ Jesus through faith in him:

1. God has not destined her for wrath.
2. Rather, God destined Doris Lindberg for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Christ died for Doris Lindberg.
4. Therefore, whether she lived till Jesus comes or died before he comes, she will live with him.

1. Not Destined for Wrath

God has not destined us for wrath . . .

What did that mean? Does it mean he’s not the kind of God that gets angry and shows wrath? Is he saying, “You don’t have to worry about being destined for wrath because God is not a God of wrath, so relax”? That’s the way millions of people think — even some Christians

Chuck Steddom told me a few years ago that he went to a worship-leaders conference where they said explicitly, “We will not sing the song ‘In Christ Alone.’ It’s a wrath song. We hate those wrath songs.”

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love, this righteousness,
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
’Til on that cross, as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

They were saying, “We’re not singing that!” So, is it right to say, “The reason you are not destined for wrath is because there is no such thing. God is not a God of wrath. Doris is safe because God does not treat anyone with wrath”?

We don’t have to leave 1 Thessalonians to get an answer from Paul. In 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, he says,

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

And yes, the coming wrath is God’s wrath, God’s anger. Paul says in Romans 2:5,

Because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

And Romans 5:9 says,

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

And Jesus said in John 3:36,

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

There was a book written some years ago called The Denial of Death, and it was a book about how Westerners especially are totally devoted to denying death. We will do almost anything to not confront our own dying. Why? Part of the reason is that there is a deeper fear — namely, judgment beyond death. In a sense, Hebrews 9:27 is written on every human heart: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

2. Destined for Salvation

We can try to solve the fear of death several ways.

1. Deny that there is anything after death.
2. Deny that God is a God of wrath.
3. Embrace biblical reality: Yes, there is wrath, but you don’t have to experience it.

There is another way, the way of Doris Lindberg and the way of this text — your way, I hope. First Thessalonians 5:9 says,

God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation . . .

Damnation was not her destiny; salvation was her destiny. God has not destined Doris, or us, for wrath; he destined us for salvation. What makes that word so powerful is that it is delivered in such absolute certainty. It doesn’t say, “You might reach salvation,” or “You might escape wrath,” or “Maybe you’re not destined for wrath,” or “Maybe you’re destined to be happy with God forever.” Rather, it says, “You are destined. You are appointed for salvation. That decision has been made in heaven. It’s over. It’s fixed. You are safe. It’s destined and it’s appointed. Your salvation is sure.”

Chapter 1 is the great preparation for this word about God’s destining us for salvation, not damnation. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5, Paul says to these Christians,

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you . . .

Paul knows that. Isn’t that amazing? He looks at these people (at Doris Lindberg) and says, “I know you are elect. God has chosen you. You’re his. You’re not appointed for wrath. You’re appointed for salvation. God chose you.” How does he know that? He continues,

. . . because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

He saw it in their responses to the gospel message about Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul saw it, and he knew that faith — authentic, genuine, ready-to-suffer-with-joy kind of faith — is the mark of election. That’s what he saw.

If you are a Thessalonian pagan, you have zero Christian influence, and you love having a religion that gives vent to your sexual appetites and promises to make you rich and healthy — and then suddenly you believe in a messiah who calls you to come and die and deny yourself in order that you might escape the wrath to come, and you are so thrilled that your sins are forgiven and your condemnation is removed that you rejoice even in the midst of suffering for Jesus. Paul saw that, and he knew — we saw it in Doris Lindberg, and we knew — “You’re elect. You are not destined for wrath. You are destined for salvation.”

And what is salvation? It is everything that an omnipotent God can do for you if he is no longer angry with you.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31–32)

That all things is salvation. It is infinite blessing flowing from the infinite heart of God, who is for us and not against us. In his presence is fullness of joy; at his right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). That’s what Doris has entered.

3. Through the Death of Christ

But how can that be? Was Doris perfect? Had she no sin? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). She and you and I in our sin stand condemned under the just sentence of God. He is just. He does not sweep sin under the rug. This is what is so gloriously realistic about the biblical solution to our guilt and our fear of death. First Thessalonians 5:9–10 continues,

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us . . .

Doris Lindberg’s sin was not swept under the rug; it was laid on Jesus. Jesus died for Doris’s sin.

He was pierced for our transgressions;
     he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
     and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
     we have turned — every one — to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
     the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5–6)

Doris Lindberg’s escape from wrath and her enjoyment of salvation is not based on wishful thinking or sentimental views of God’s niceness. It is based on the solid historical reality that Jesus Christ died for her sins — to pay her penalty, to bear her sin, to endure her condemnation, to absorb God’s wrath. That is a true and solid and sure foundation for saying that she was not destined for wrath but salvation.

4. Always with the Lord

Finally, Paul specifies one particular aspect of salvation that Doris enjoys and will enjoy forever. First Thessalonians 5:9–10 says,

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether [she is] awake or asleep [she] might live with him.

This is the way the Bible talks again and again:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)

Doris Lindberg did not live in this world to see the second coming of the Lord Jesus. But she lives with him and will join us in that great day.

Hope for Today and Always

So, in summary, there are four great realities about Doris Lindberg (and you?):

1. God has not destined her for wrath.
2. He destined her for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Christ died for her, to bear the wrath she deserved.
4. Therefore, whether she lived till Jesus comes or died, she will live with him.

And Paul concludes: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Maybe you’ve heard somebody say, “Preach the gospel to each other,” and you say, “That’s weird. I’m not a preacher. That’s what John’s doing now from the pulpit.”

What that means is that a husband comes home one day and says to his wife, “I heard some amazing news today. It is so wonderful I can’t get it out of my mind.” And she says, “Really? What is it?” And he says, “You, Noël, are not appointed for wrath. You’re appointed for salvation through Jesus Christ, who died for you so that whether you’re awake or asleep you’ll live with him. Isn’t that amazing news?” Every wife needs to hear that from her husband, and every husband needs to hear it from his wife. And single people and young people need to say it to each other.

And when you are old like me, you will need to say it as you go to sleep. My heart may stop tonight. But that’s okay because God says to me, “I have not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for you so that whether you are awake or asleep you might live with him.”