I have no reason to be here except that Jack loved me beyond what I deserve. Now isn't that just like Jesus? Isn't that just like Jack?
As I reflected on Jack, I recorded the following Scripture:
Isaiah 35:10
and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 96:1-4
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth
Sing to the Lord, praise His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among the people.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
Psalm 98:1,4
Sing to the Lord a new song;
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn--
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
Psalm 149:1
Praise the Lord.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the saints.
Bertha Munroe
Charles Strickland
Verlin Long
Edith Cove
Esther Williamson
Marvin Lunn
Jack White
William Taylor
Jack Cove
These are but a few names in a long list of people who had one thing in common: They lived for God.
The heritage that we have is rich and full. Look around you, young people and take note of the hoary-headed ones, whose experience in the Lord is a beacon for us to follow. Advancing age scoffs at us all, and our bodies begin to crumble, and it betrays the value that lies within. We have stage classes (age-oriented), and that is wonderful for our fellowship, but be so ever careful not to neglect the fellowship of the elders, who can help us as we progress along the same time line towards eternity. The body is not who we are, as we well know. We shall put on incorruptible bodies, and immortality. I encourage you young people to seek the guidance and company of your elders.
I had known Jack for a mere seven years. I wish I had known him more. One Sunday evening, after we all met around the altar and we getting ready to depart, Jack caught me by the arm, and looked me square in the eye (as he always did, probing the soul beneath) and said, "Mark, I love you." At the time, I responded, "I like you, too, Jack." For you see, at the time I had not yet gotten to know Jack well enough to say that I loved him. But then that was the way of Jack; to always warm up and love someone first. It didn't take me long to come to love Jack.
Many of us have been blessed by the music that Jack brought to us. I was privileged to sing with him in the men's quartet. And the choir was bolstered by his presence. As he led the music of the church into praise and into worship, he brought us into a greater sense of the Almighty. It was my privilege and an honor to join him in song.
One of my fondest recollections was our duet we sang several months ago. When Jack became bound to a wheel chair, I knew he thought perhaps his days were on the wane. I asked if he would sing a duet with me and I think I surprised him. I told him that just because his legs wouldn't support him that his voice should be silenced.
Ah, that sweet voice. As many of you know, I prefer to sing some of the older songs. (I think this as much as anything endeared me to Jack.) I asked him to select the song, which he did, and I was amazed at how many of the old songs he knew. He taught me the duet we sang. I shall miss the rich and valuable resource of musical inspiration Jack was to me.
Jack also delighted us with his piano playing, at times playing on music night, or for a special offertory. But moreso we knew his distinctive and clear tenor, bringing us the message of the Grace of God. I am sure Jack had many favorite songs and he sang each with a passion as if the words were penned by himself expressly for giving God the glory. But his all-time favorite song, I am told, was He Giveth More Grace.
He giveth more grace as the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as the labors increase,
To added affliction he addeth his mercy
To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.
His love has no limit
His grace has no measure
His power has no boundary known unto men
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
You know, the more the Lord God inhabits his servants, the more they
become like Him. And this is the testimony of Jack's spirit; the
Spirit of God that dwelt inside a man who gave of himself tirelessly,
and the giving of himself even when he was tired, as Jack often did.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." If I knew Jack at all, he would not want our grief for him, for he is with Christ. "To be absent from the body is to be with Christ," says the apostle Paul to those who believe on Jesus. But we do grieve for ourselves the loss of one so dear as Jack.
His parting leaves a void in us because Jack was a part of our experience; part of our lives; part of us. We grieve for ourselves because of the emptiness he leaves. However, when we recognize the hope we have in Christ Jesus, we can say, while clinging onto life on earth, because it *is* dear, "Even so, Lord Jesus, Come." Because of this, I actually enjoy a good Christian funeral (please understand me) because it is a sort of celebration; a home-coming.
I know Jack didn't want to die; to leave the earth so soon. He would have preferred to stay around a little while longer to see Evan grow another year, to sing another song, and to see another saved; perhaps even a loved one. Although the Christian steps into timeless eternity with Almighty God, we enjoy the finite life that He has created here on earth, and eternity is not diminished if our finite lives are lengthened.
But this I also know. Jack was ever ready to answer the call of His Lord Christ Jesus, even the call to come home.
In Jack's final days on this earth, we had a couple of talks, and I told him that he would merely precede us and would be surprised one day and turn around in heaven to ask, "Are you here so soon?" Each day we live is a day towards eternity. Those of us whose hope is in Christ Jesus will see Jack again and rejoin our friendship and fellowship.
Jack's cancer was tragic, but the blessings of the Lord were these: that he wasn't taken from us suddenly; that he was able to give us a few more precious songs; that he was able to spend a bit more time with his family, despite the pain. Yes, we can find blessing in sorrow. We can see joy in tragic circumstances. We can be thankful to God for allowing us a few more days before He called Jack for his command performance before the King.
Jack left behind a few things. He left behind a legacy of Christlikeness that touched many of us, and many about whom we will never know. He left behind many an area of ministry that will keenly feel the vacuum he leaves. He left behind a dear and beautiful wife in Irene. He left behind his family and extended family (all of us) with the burning concern that we would all come to know the Lord and unite again in heaven to sing the praises of our King.
And He left behind the pain of the cancer that caused his suffering. To be absent from the body is to be with Christ, of this there is no doubt about Jack.
People who come to the church after Jack, may not know how much he meant to us, except by the testimony of those whom he has touched. People, like me, who have been touched by Jack, will always remember him as a man of God. And there is no greater tribute any man can have than to say, "He was a man of God." Jack Cove was a man of God.
And you can be certain beyond all doubt that Jack, as he passed from this life into eternity, has heard the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy I have prepared for you."
I would venture to guess that the gift of song that Jack had, whose blessing and talent was multiplied here on earth, now rings clear and perfected with the heavenly host. And he shall sing this song among many others:
Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne.
Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own
Awake my soul and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
Jack now is in the presence of God, joining in the chorus of glory
singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God
Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Jack Cove lives forever with the King. And when we all get to heaven (and I know it was Jack's prayer for you that you do), what a day of rejoicing that will be! No, we do not grieve as others who have no hope, for our hope is in Christ Jesus who conquered death to give us life.
Mark Metcalfe, November 1991