Toward the end of every funeral message I’m privileged to share, I attempt to use a story about the loved one who has passed to point everyone to the hope of the Gospel of Jesus. I call it, “The Last Page.”
What follows is from the funeral of James Fogle, Ryan Fogle’s father, which was held in Williston, SC on March 5, 2026.
Scripture: At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. – Matthew 25:1-13 [NIV]
When James was just a little guy, one day he crawled under his Mom and Dad’s house and set it on fire … yes, you heard that correcctly, he set his home on fire! Why? Because his Mom would not buy him the BB Gun he wanted from the Five and Dime over in Orangeburg.
In James’ young mind it was like, “I want that BB Gun so bad – and if I have to burn down the very house I live in to get it, so be it, I can live in a tent – I want it and I want it now!” To him, to little James, giving up the comforts of home was worth it, so worth it, to get what he longed for, that BB Gun.
Please hear me: You and me … we are Jesus’ BB Gun.
Just as James was willing to do whatever needed to be done to get it (and I certainly do not recommend using his approach, haha!), Jesus was so willing to do whatever it took to get us, to get you.
He didn’t burn down His home in Heaven, but He left it and all of its comforts behind – and while he was here on earth He didn’t even have a tent to live in; the Bible says He had no place to lay His head – Jesus left home to come to earth to die a cruel death on an old rugged cross to pay the price for your sins and my sins, for James’ sins. Jesus did what it took to be able to get you!
You are the BB Gun Jesus wanted! And if you’re not in a saving relationship with Him, the good news is, He wants you to be! He – regardless of what you’ve done or haven’t done – still wants you!
So why would you, why would anyone, put off for another second His offer of an intimate, loving relationship with Him that alone makes you ready for His return?
I love these verses from 1 John 4:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world … (and the angels must have gone, “The world? You’re not going to send Him there? O.K., wait, wait, wait…don’t send Him now…wait until about 2026 because the medical facilities are going to be way better than the first century…If you’ve got to send your Son into the world, at least wait until penicillin and morphine. You’re not going to send Him to the world, are You? I mean, look at them, they’re a wreck. And You already know they’re going to crucify Him. Please don’t, don’t send Him there…”) You know how we know that God loves us? Not just because He said it, but because He showed it when He sent His Son to the place and people that needed Him most … He sent His Son into this world for us) … that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. -1 John 4:9-10 [NIV]
Are you ready?
James Fogle was.
Some of the bridesmaids were.
But some were not.
Please, don’t be unprepared.
Please don’t be left outside, unable to enter.
Today is the day.
Now is the time.
Please let Jesus have His BB Gun.
[Note: I purchased the BB Gun in the picture above and at the conclusion of the message gave it to Mr. James’ grandson, Aiden Fogle, whom James dearly loved.]
Jody Flowers 