Sinner and Saint

Worship the King

Christ The King Sunday, 2007

Revelation 22:6-13

“Worship the King”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

            The Apostle John had seen so much when he was given the revelation. He saw the joys of heaven, the worship, bliss, saints, angels, the river of life, the jeweled streets, and the Lamb of God on his throne. He saw the torment of Satan in this world, false prophets, warfare, hatred, violence, idolatry, wrath, and judgment. In one revelation John saw more than many do in a lifetime. John was so overcome with the revelation that he kneeled before an angel and was told “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:9)

It’s not hard for us to understand John’s confusion; after all the book of Revelation is one of the hardest books of the Bible to understand. Much has been said of John’s revelation. There are some televangelists that have it so confused that they believe that it is talking about the war in Iraq and that locusts really describe helicopters.

Truly in Revelation we view the consummation of God’s grace. God’s plan of salvation is brought to eternal fruition, conquering all its civil and religious opponents. The entire book is centered around Christ; it tells of his glory, wisdom, power, authority, righteous wrath and return to judge the living and the dead. In the end it speaks of Jesus receiving all true believers into paradise with all the saints.

             Many find it hard to see all of that in Revelation. For many Revelation is only about doom and gloom; about God’s judgment and wrath. It is a scary book, a law filled book, a hopeless book. But that isn’t entirely true. John writes to encourage the faithful to resist the demands of idolatrous worship. He informs his readers that the final showdown between God and Satan is imminent. Satan will increase his persecution of believers, but they must stand firm to the end. John warns that earthly persecution, torture, and death may occur but that in the end we shall be victors and be heirs of everlasting life in heaven.

            Revelation is doom and gloom for non-believers for it tells of their final judgment to everlasting condemnation. But for the Christian, Revelation is a book of warning and comfort. It warns us of what will happen…that we will face strong persecution, even death, for having faith in Christ. But it is comfort for it tells of our eternal life in paradise with all the saints, angels, and with our Lord himself.

            But why was do we need to hear about all this stuff anyway? Well, because as the angel said to John, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” (Revelation 22:6) The Book of Revelation, like all of Holy Scripture, is trustworthy, true, and God’s own inerrant Word. More importantly we need to hear this stuff because Jesus tells us, “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Revelation 22:7)

            When was the last time you read the newspaper? There are new wildfires devastating parts of California, there are wars and rumors of war, there are students murdered on college campuses, fights in our schools, abortion, euthanasia, kidnappings, abuse, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, persecution of Christians and so much more. The papers seem to resemble much of the doom and gloom of Revelation…don’t they?

            The devil is working hard in this world and he is trying to get to you…to your faith. The devil is trying to cast doubt through trouble and heartache. The devil is trying to lead you into a life of sin. We have troubles in our marriages, we fight our loved ones, we have doubts of God when we lose our home, our jobs, and our loved ones. We question all of the violence and destruction in this world and wonder if there is a God out there. We get caught up in our own wants and desires and begin to worship earthly things instead of our God. As Churches appear empty on Thanksgiving…there are people beginning to line up, camp out, and prepare to shop the next day.

            These are sad times. On Friday morning I got up at 3:30AM and got in line at Circuit City at 4:30AM in an attempt to purchase a laptop for my nephew. Even being there that early I missed out as I was about the 200^th person in line. How sad it is that we can get up, and wait in the cold for a measly laptop, TV, game system or some other thing and yet we struggle to get up to hear God’s wonderful news of forgiveness and life eternal. How many of you would get up extra early, wait outside in the cold, to get into Church? Worship God, the angel said.

             Take heart my brothers and sisters in Christ. Your sins are forgiven. You have been clothed in Christ and your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. No matter how you might stumble and fall, no matter what sin you may have committed, Jesus has died for you. God loves each and every one of you so very much. He promises to help you in every time of need, he gives you all you need in this world and the next.

There are many times the devil tries to convince us that God doesn’t love us, care about us, or help us. There are many times we wonder if God listens to us. God always answers our prayers…with a yes, no, or later. This may be so hard for us when we think we know what is best; but God knows all things.

God certainly knows what you need. God knew we would be lost without his help and he sent us His Son. He knew we would need strength so he sends us His Spirit, His Word, and His army of angels. He knew we would need encouragement, forgiveness, strength for the day, and so much more and He gave us His Church. He gave us the place where we would hear His Word of truth and love, the place where we would be forgiven, the place we would receive the Body and Blood of Christ. If there is ever a time you feel that you need Christ, his strength, his help and you need to feel it, see it, and touch it; it is here as we see and touch Christ by faith in His body and blood.

The greatest gift this Christmas is not at Best Buy, Toys R Us, Menards, or any other department store…but here. Christ Jesus was born to die for your sins. You are forgiven for Jesus sake. Christ the King is coming soon…He is coming to take you home to heaven where we may worship him with all the saints. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Give generously

Thanksgiving, 2007

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

“Give generously”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tomorrow is the wonderful day we know as Thanksgiving. For some its just a day off from work or school, for others it’s a day of watching football, for others its just the day of preparation for a long day of shopping on Friday known as “Black Friday.” For those curious the day is called black Friday because it traditionally a day when businesses will go from being in the red from lack of sales to being in the black. Maybe with all the shopping that’s going on people really are thinking about giving generously.

Giving; when it comes down to it the Church is always talking about giving. I imagine it gets kind of old quickly when you constantly hear about giving. Let’s face it we like to talk about getting. With that in mind…lets talk about getting! Lets talk about what we have been given.

This year over 250 million turkeys were raised in the United States, 690 million pounds of cranberries were grown, 1.6 billion pounds of sweet potatoes, 1 billion pounds of pumpkins (of which 492 million pounds were grown here in Illinois), 294 million pounds of cherries, 1.8 billion bushels of wheat, and for all you that grow corn the U.S. is expected to have produced a record 13.1 billion bushels of corn. Look at that bountiful harvest. Look at what we have received from God.

But these things are often overlooked. During the week I received an email that contained a letter attributed to Jay Leno. Whether or not Jay Leno wrote this or not, the letter has a very bold statement to make. The letter points out that the overwhelming majority of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is going. He asks the question, “What are we so unhappy about?”

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. 

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.'

    ^“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

    This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

Church really is about giving. It’s about all the things God has given to us. It’s about the best things that God continues to give to us. It’s about God giving His Son to die for you, it’s about God giving you faith in your baptism, it’s about God giving you forgiveness and strength in the body and blood of Jesus, it’s about God giving you life everlasting in paradise. Church isn’t about us giving but God giving.

Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever. As Christians we give thanks to God for what He has given us. There is nothing we can truly give God for it is all his, but we can share it with the rest of God’s creation. We can share our time, our money, and our faith. We can share the most important thing there is in this world and the next…Christ Jesus our Lord. Why give generously? Because God gave us His Son, because through our gifts others may know Jesus. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

See by faith

2^nd Last Sunday of the Church Year, 2007

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

“See by faith”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

            Years ago an S-4 submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts. It sank immediately. The entire crew was trapped in a prison house of death. Every effort was made to rescue the crew, but all ultimately failed. Near the end of the ordeal, a deep-sea diver, who was doing everything in his power to find a way for the crew's release, thought he heard a tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he realized it was the Morse Code. He attached himself to the side and he spelled out in his mind the message being tapped from within. It was repeating the same question. The question, from within was: "Is…there…any…hope?"

             The world today continues to struggle as they ask this question “Is there any hope?” It is no wonder why the world struggles; there are many who have died due to war, there are many without jobs and homes, we have brothers and sisters in Christ that have been devastated by the fires in California, there are thousands that still have not rebuilt in New Orleans, violence everywhere with murders, rapes, and abuse. Is there any hope?

            Sometimes it’s not so easy, even as Christians, to say “of course!” We often have doubt in our own lives as well. It’s hard to have hope when we live in a time we are forced to worry about bomb threats in our schools. It’s hard to have hope when good friends stop coming to church anymore because of their own doubts. It’s hard to have hope when you lose a loved one to death. It’s hard to have hope when loved ones, yes our very own members have no job, have cancer return, get a divorce, have a fight, lose a friend or any other kind of heartache. It’s hard to have hope when it seems everything is going against you. In this sinful world it is hard to have hope!

            “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-4)

            We know that there is something wonderful to look forward to…and that is heaven. This life will, no matter how much we struggle with it, come to an end. We will all die but we look to eternal life in heaven. Yet even while we look forward to heaven, even though we have hope in our future, we live in a sinful world as sinful people. Even with so much to have hope in and look forward to…we have problems, issues, complaints, and heartache. We have problems at home with our loved ones, we have problems with our friends and neighbors, we complain about work, and on and on and on. Interestingly enough we want life to be fair; that is according to what we deem to be fair. I’m no different…I do plenty of complaining and wanting…just please don’t ask my loving wife what she has to go through with me. It seems that no matter how much good is in our life, how many blessings we receive…we still have more than enough to complain about…sometimes with a just problem but very often we complain for the wrong reasons.

            Thankfully God forgives us for all of our sins and we are able to look forward to heaven and a life that will be perfect for all eternity. God knows all of our shortcomings and this is why as our text tells us that “it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:5) God knew we would have struggles in this life and sent us His Spirit as a guarantee. Do you feel like you have that guarantee? Did you receive that guarantee? You have. You were given this blessing at your Baptism. In Luther’s Works you can find the rite of Holy Baptism that Luther used. In this rite the guarantee is even more uniquely proclaimed when the Pastor says, “Depart thou unclean Spirit make way for the Holy Spirit.”

             The Holy Spirit is alive and well in the heart and mind of the believer always helping, prodding, and renewing your faith. If you think this was too long ago…don’t worry it is God who fulfills the promise through Baptism; it is God who continues to encourage, strengthen and even rebuild our faith through His Holy Word and Jesus body and blood.

            Jesus took all of your sins and died on the cross out of love for you. In baptism God unites us in Jesus death that we may share also in Jesus resurrection. God gives us the guarantee through the Holy Spirit living in you. You have been given faith. You have been promised life eternal. You have been given hope. As Jeremiah proclaims to us: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

            Because our faith and life are built on God’s promise and the truth of God’s love for us that we see in the cross, Paul proclaims in our text “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

            As long as we live in this world we look forward to being with Christ and all the saints in heaven. We also, as Christians, joyfully serve the Lord. Out of thanksgiving and love we share the wonderful news of God’s love and forgiveness through Christ with all people. We joyfully share and support each other. We joyfully serve our Lord as we serve all our neighbors. We live by faith in Christ…in faith that looks forward with hope to life eternal not by what we see in this sinful world.

            All of us will stand before God…but while there may be very very much good we have done…that would never be enough. We have confidence before our God not because of our works but because we are seen perfect and loving without sin or blemish through Christ. The Father looks upon us Christians as forgiven for Jesus sake and remembers our sins no more. Our hope for salvation and life eternal is found in Christ. Christ who loves you.

            Jesus will never abandon or forsake you. He is with you always. He will lead, guide, and need be carry you home to paradise. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

What does that sound like?

3^rd Last Sunday of the Church Year 2007

Exodus 32:15-20

Luke 17:20-30

“What does that sound like?”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

            How often do you have the opportunity to take a step back in life and just look around and listen to what’s going on? What would you see and what would you hear? These are pretty general questions and there are zillions of answers out there. But that might just be the problem.

            Yesterday I was able to sit back and watch most of the Illinois football game. I’m sure many of you either watched or listened to that game as well. What I am more sure of, is the celebration that took place after Illinois beat Ohio State 28-21. It was great watching the game and certainly something to celebrate.

             This is a wonderful time of the year for seeing and hearing. First you see and hear the harvest taking place around you. You see and hear loved ones with Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. You see and hear friends as you bring in the New Year. This certainly is a joyous, happy, and celebratory time for all of us. I for one am looking forward to the celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can’t wait to see friends and family that I haven’t seen in quite a while. I look forward to the meals and the conversations. I’m sure you all feel the same about this.

            But if you take a step back…what is it that you really hear? “When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp." Moses replied: "It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” (Exodus 32:17-18) Ahh, the sound of singing…of celebration is a wonderful thing. There is much for us to sing about during the holidays isn’t there. But the sound that Moses heard was a terrible sound…the sound of worshipping a false god.

            So very often during the “holidays” we get caught up in celebrating for the wrong reasons and our focus is out of place. Thanksgiving turns into Turkey Day and Christmas turns into just any other “Happy Holiday” where you get together, eat, drink, and be marry. It’s not that getting together with friends and family is wrong…it’s a very good think actually. It is when we forget about the true reason for the holiday to begin with.

            Some of you might be thinking “why such a fuss, Pastor?” The reason is that there are many looking for the Christ in all the wrong places and are led to false gods. When we look and listen and seemingly don’t hear anything we go somewhere else. This world is in desperate need of a Savior. This town is in desperate need of a Savior. Many of our friends and loved ones are in desperate need of a Savior…and when they take a step back look and listen they don’t hear our praise and celebration for our Savior…they see and hear us celebrating ourselves.

            “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30) It is now that I hope all of you remember our Lord may return not tomorrow but today and realize the importance of sharing the wonderful news that Christ has died for our sins and rose from the dead that we might have eternal life.

             There is much that we ought to be thanking and praising God for. It seems in years gone by that the holidays are when you would expect attendance to really jump…and while it still goes up…it isn’t the same anymore. The holidays are all about family and not God. Yet God still provides us with all that we need food, clothes, home, and family. God continues to provide for all that we need on a weekly basis with Jesus very body and blood. God provided a Savior to take our place and save us…now that is something worthy of thanks and praise.

            Watching the Illini game yesterday made me think about college life and how many continue to live like they did in college. Weekends are times of partying and celebration. How often people enjoy themselves on Friday and Saturday nights only to use Sunday as a recovery day. We get the concept right but miss out on its true benefit. Sunday is a day to recover…to recover from the sinfulness of this world; to recover from our own sinfulness. But it is not in bed that we recover…its here in Church. It is here that we come face to face with our Lord. It is here that our Lord forgives us and strengthens us for another week. It is here that we come together and give thanks and praise to God for all that He has done for us.

            As I take a step back myself this Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year…I pray to hear the members of this congregation, my family, and my friends bearing witness to our Lord through songs of celebration, and words of love and joy. I pray and look forward to worshiping with you and your families…not out of guilt that we “need” to be here but out of the desire to thank and praise God for a bountiful harvest, food, home, and family and most importantly the birth of our Savior.

            This holiday season let us as faithful witnesses of Jesus’ love proclaim and put back the Thanks in Turkey Day and Christ in Christmas. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

All Saints Day, 2007

Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27, 22:1-5 and Matthew 5:1-12.

Grace, Mercy and Peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

            All Saints Day is a terrific day to think about what it means to be a saint here on earth and what it will mean to be a saint in heaven. Some people think of saints only in terms of Christians who have died and other people think of saints as people who have led really really good lives, but both definitions are off the mark. The Bible teaches that there are only two kinds of people in the world – those who are dead in their sins and those who are alive in Christ and have been declared holy. Saints have been forgiven. Their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Either you still bear the responsibility of your sins or you have been forgiven for Jesus sake. As the saints of God gathered in this place today, we want to learn again what it means to be Saints Alive!

            Here and now we are in the church militant; we are in a church that is at war with a sinful world and the devil that do there best to destroy God’s word and our faith. When we die we will be in the church triumphant surrounded by angles, arc-angles and all the company of heaven worshiping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here and now we live by grace. In another place in the future we shall live in glory. Grace now; Glory yet to come.

            Today’s Gospel lesson gives us a description of true blessedness here and now. When Jesus spoke the beatitudes, He was not telling his disciples how they could merit blessings from God. He was telling them what they already possessed by virtue of their God given faith. What Christ would teach us now is absolutely opposite of what the world would teach. The world teaches us to be confident in ourselves and to be bold in demanding what we think is fair but Jesus says that blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. As we come to God in utter helplessness, as we admit our sinfulness, as we reach out for God as a beggar pleads for a morsel of bread…then and only then the kingdom of God comes among us.

             The world would say that the truly happy people are those who are rejoicing in their own accomplishments and achievements. But Jesus says, “blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” As we come to the foot of the cross with eyes that are moist and hearts that are breaking and knees that are weak and hands that are trembling…it is then that we find comfort. True comfort is none other than the forgiveness of sins.

            The world and our sinful flesh like to tell us that we have to take care of ourselves and that it is the survival of the fittest out there and that we simply cannot let people take advantage of us. But Jesus says, blessed are the meek (who are humble before God) and blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (for they seek God in his Word and Sacraments) and blessed are the merciful (for they show mercy towards others just as Christ has shown mercy on them). They shall be inheriting the earth and they will be filled and they will be shown mercy. In her magnificat, Mary said it this way, “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich empty away.”

            This is an amazing truth that has the potential to absolutely change the way we think about life. Every day that we come to God full of ourselves He will be unable to help us. Perhaps you heard about the mechanic who left a note to his customer. It said, “I couldn’t repair your brakes so I made your horn louder.” The Law of God is like a power brake for us fast moving “we want results and we want them now” Americans. But instead of paying attention to the Ten Commandments, we just keep going faster and faster and our horns get louder and louder.

            The world says that we will be blessed if our hearts are full of steel and strength and determination but Jesus says, blessed are the pure in heart. The world says that the blessed are the powerful and the persuasive but Jesus says, blessed are the peacemakers. The world says that the happy are those who get along with everybody and whose lives are smooth sailing. Jesus would teach us today to give up the idea that we can follow God and have smooth sailing at the same time. Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake. Blessed are those who are insulted on account of me. Blessed are you when people falsely say all kinds of evil against you because you are following Jesus Christ.

            Do you know that the more we are challenged and tested the more alive we will be. The more we are rocked by the storms of life and shaken by the winds of trouble the more we have to depend on God. Physical demands will help us to grow physically.  Emotional stress can help us grow emotionally. Spiritual testing will produce strength of character and a spirit of endurance.  We all know this to be true but we still don’t like to experience it. That’s just the way we are. What an amazing lesson we could learn again today if we could learn what James writes, “Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

            I don’t know about you, but when I think of pure joy, I think of paradise. And that is what God would have us think about today. In every circumstance of life He would have us rejoice in the simple truth that our names are written in the book of life. This was done at our baptism; in fact we have seen this done this with the baptism of many of our children here at Christ/Zion. This was done with my baptism. This was done at your baptism. And one day we will also see what (Irene Barrett, Mary Drake, Michael Drake, and Harriett Buckley and all of our loved ones who have died in the faith) are seeing this very moment. At each of their appointed times, they saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. They found themselves no longer living by grace but now in glory. They saw that there was no temple in heaven, just the Lamb of God in full splendor. They now see that the gates of heaven are never shut because saints are filing in one by one. They know fully what we only know in part. They see now what we can only imagine – a river of life clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the great street. On either side of the river stands the tree of life bearing fruit in every season.

             All Christians that have died before us are in perfect peace yet we must still struggle. The saints in heaven don’t have to contend anymore with troubles or tempests and temptations. We do! They don’t sit in nursing homes or trailer homes gasping for every breath. Some of us do. They don’t have to drive to the hospital for chemotherapy and radiation and treatment for a thousand and one ailments. Some of us do. They don’t live with arthritis and old age and aches and pains and broken marriages and broken hearts and broken fences. Many of us do.

            The blessing that we have as Christians is that every Sunday we share in being with Christ. Every Sunday in worship we are lifted up to heaven. We speak the words “with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven…” What do these words mean to us. It is with joy that I may say that I worship with all my loved ones that have passed away. When we worship with all the company of heaven we worship with all the Saints that have left this world to be with Christ. As Christians we lead lives that tempt us often, that make us struggle, that try to destroy us yet we respond in faith saying  Life is good and its going to get better. LIFE IS GOOD AND IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER. REAL SOON! IT’S GOING TO GET BETTER IN CHRIST JESUS ON THE LAST DAY! Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.