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 Harold “Jody” Steen [my wife’s uncle] which was held on March 25, 2026.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:27, 29 [NIV]
27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you … 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jody Steen was a man’s man, a family man, a Chevy man. And he was …
Nolan’s man
Nolan is a 7-year-old little guy who, along with his 4 year old brother, moved from Rockingham and lives with his grandmother in a house up above the Steen’s. Mrs. Bit [Jody’s wife] noticed that back when Nolan first moved there (about 2 years ago), that he would come out and kind of ease down a little ways towards their house. He would wave but never would come all the way down to Jody & Bit’s.
Well, one of Jody’s chickens had laid an egg up near Nolan’s. And so Nolan brought the egg to give it to Mr. Jody. Well, that one trip down the dirt road is all it took. A truly amazing relationship had begun!
They started hanging out together. They worked together – if Mr. Jody would ever feed up (feed the chickens) before Nolan got home from school, Nolan would not be very happy.
They ate together.
They played together.
And this little guy quickly grew to look up to Jody as a father figure in his life. So much so you could tell he wanted to be like him, even look like him. Jody loved wearing his plaid shirts, well one day Nolan shows up wearing him a plaid shirt and said, “Call me Little Jody.”
Despite obvious differences, Mr. Jody was having that kind of impact on Nolan. So much so, one day Nolan said to him: “You’re white. And I’m black.” Jody said, “I still love you.” Nolan replied, “I love you too.”
So beautiful. So powerful.
Nolan’s grandmother summed it up so beautifully and so powerfully on Facebook: “… We never knew when Nolan returned that egg 2 years ago, it would change so much. You [Mr. Jody] became Nolan’s best friend, his mentor, his Papa Jody. Thank you for everything you did for that little boy … You definitely changed his life for the better!!!…”
Mr. Jody, no, Papa Jody, was Nolan’s man.
Do you know that in the same but in a much greater way there is someone who wants to be your man.
His name is Jesus.
- He is the penultimate man’s man – He climbed up on an old rugged cross and stretched out His arms and willingly took the nails our sin had earned us and He died in our place!
- He is the perfect family man – His love can never be questioned; it doesn’t have to be earned and it can never be lost – He meets our every need!
- He didn’t have Chevy’s to choose from but in Uncle Jody’s eyes I’m sure he believes Jesus would’ve been a Chevy man too
- Jesus is THE MAN Himself – there is no one like Him, no one comes close, He has no rival and He has no equal – and He wants to be your man
If you don’t know Him as your Savior, as your King, you probably have some excuses like Nolan could have had …
But … I’m black … But … I’m not your grandchild, you’ve got amazing grandchildren … But … But … But …
It doesn’t matter.
Just like Nolan heard his father-figure say it that day, hear the Heavenly Father say it today to you, “I still love you …”
But – “I’m a sinner … I’ve done so much … we’re so different … I could never be like some of the others You love … ” – I still love you … and I will forgive you and change your life for the better … let’s just start hanging out together.
The amazing privilege of being loved by the One who wants to be your best friend, your mentor, your Papa God/Father God is yours today. No one greater to look up to, no one better to be like/look like/act like – over time that’s what happens. You can be with Him all the time – now and forever – held close, embraced and loved, encouraged and strengthened, taught and corrected and changed.
The scripture I read earlier said that if from there [your there can be anywhere … a place of addiction, a place of pride, a place of indifference toward God, wherever …] you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
There at his house, where he was comfortable, little Nolan [soon to be, Little Jody] needed to be brave enough to come down a dirt road –– and when he took those courageous steps that little fella found what he was looking for, actually way more than he was looking for, never knowing things could and would change so much!
For you, maybe you need to take some courageous steps and come down an aisle to an altar, or just get down on your knees and humble your heart and surrender your life ––
We all need this man Jesus in our lives
He’s said, “I still love you.”
How about today, right now, say back to Him, “I love you too.”
Jody Flowers 