In Philippians (1:21) Paul writes:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
If ever someone could say Amen! to that verse it is Noel Agnew.
Today I joined with other close family for a Thanksgiving Service for Noel's life, grateful for the opportunity to do so, fully aware that many, many others who wanted to pay their respects were unable to do so at this time due to COVID restrictions.
For all of us, whether we were we in Whiteabbey Presbyterian in person or via YouTube, today is a day of sorrow and mourning.
It is also a day of deeper joy.
Noel has been called and welcomed home.
His work is finished.
His race run.
He is with His Lord,
His Saviour,
His friend,
Christ Jesus the King,
in Glory.
Oh, what joy!
His gain is our loss, and that's the sorrow.
Noel is my dad's cousin so I was doubly blessed to not only be a brother in the LORD but family on earth to Noel.
From time spent at the family home in Kilrea, to calling in at the manse(s), dropping into the apartment for soup or Noel calling in to our house any time he was passing, I got to see Noel fairly regularly from as long ago as I can remember. When lockdown happened we talked often on the phone.
In the past I spent time as a Youth worker, working for churches within PCI and the CoI.
Noel was the best youth worker I ever met.
Don't take my word for it though, ask anyone who got to see him in action at Youthreach, or in YFs, or coffee shops up and down the land.
I'm pretty sure the bikers will say he was the best race chaplain they ever met.
The trawlermen? They will tell you they loved having him on board too and I know countless ministry students at Union enjoyed the times over the years they spent drinking coffee with Noel the most! Indeed, amongst all the warm tributes I've read about Noel in the last few days there was one which said he was affectionately called 'Uncle Noel' by many ministers with whom he shared a cuppa.
Why all this love and deep respect for Noel?
For me, it is this simple:
When you got to spend time with Noel you just knew that to him YOU mattered more than he did. And you mattered more to Noel because Jesus Christ mattered most!
Noel had this uncanny knack of locking on to YOUR passion and being interested in it. And interested in hearing what you had to say about it.
No matter what (or where, or when) that was, or even if, as it often turned out, he already knew more about it than you did! You always left Noel's company encouraged, enriched, and challenged in equal measure.
And now, with his passing on into glory Noel leaves us who remain with one final profound challenge, and it's this...
Do we merely know about Jesus, or do we really know Jesus as Saviour and LORD?
If your answer is "No I don't really know Him," don't let today pass without changing that.
If you can say 'yes!' ... Halleluljah!
"And as I close...." Like all Presbyterian addresses there is actually a part B to Noel's final challenge, which is simply this...
Are we/am I living for Christ?
Totally?..
100%?..
Completely sold out?...
Being salt and light, not just salty and lightweight?
Are we making the most of every opportunity? Have we always got an answer for the hope that is within us?
In these 'cancel culture' days, of 'relative' and contested 'truth,' are we, Christians, ready and active, willing to risk 'offending' people in the short term - the here-and-now - by speaking out the truth with conviction, clothed in love and compassion, fully convicted that it is better to have others take offence at what we say while there is time for them to listen and act upon it, than to have them offended for eternity by us, because our silence, having been too proud or scared, or not caring enough to speak up while there is still time, held us back?
As Matthew Henry comments It is better to bear trouble in this world than to be miserable forever. So, speak up!
For those of us who know Christ as Saviour and LORD, Noel's reality today WILL be ours on due time. We will, one day, also be in Christ's nearer presence but for now, there remains, for us, work to be done and yes, quite likely, flak to be endured.
If Christ is not the LORD of your life yet, if he's not the captain of your ship, I would urge you right now, just as Noel spent his life urging people, most recently through his wonderful, simple and so impactful, daily talks on Facebook, to acknowledge your sin and your need of a saviour and to submit your life to the authority of Christ.
Noel Agnew was many things. First and foremost he was, and is, a child of God.
Right to the end he was pointing people to Jesus. The last email I along with many others received from Noel was the daily prayer from Scotty Smith. The scripture it was based on was 1 Thessalonians. 5:9-11
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. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Noel was an encourager right til the end. But now, his race is run. The chequered flag has come down. He has received his victory garland. Our flag is yet to wave but none of us can guarantee the luxury of a 'final lap' pit board warning.
Commit today to being full throttle, giving it 100% for the cause of Christ.
May he be your first and only true passion. Yes, by all means, get on trawlers or bikes or sportsfields or shop floors or whatever it is you do but do it for Jesus….
Just as Noel did.
