Easter 7, 2017
"Resistance is Futile"
1 Peter 5:6-11
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
On September 28, 1987, my ninth birthday, Star Trek: The Next Generation made its debut. I was hooked. Space travel on cool looking space ships exploring the unknown, defending human existence, battling other species... it was all great for the imagination of a nine year old. Other than Klingons... my favorite "species" and "bad guys" were the Borg. It didn't seem like anything could stop them! And their famous line, spoken every time they were encountered, "you will be assimilated; resistance is futile." Those words were spoken with certainty. It wasn't a matter of if...but when. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Sin, death, and the devil are much like the Borg. They too tell us that resistance to sin is futile. Resistance to Satan and his minions is futile. Trying to stave off death... is futile. So give in to sin. Follow the devil's lead. Accept that death will come and your time to enjoy life is short. These ideas are popular and even used as advertising gimmicks. "Life is short...play hard." "Just do it." (Thank you Nike)
Looking at the world around us you would think we are living in a "post-assimilated world." We are all sinful. We confess this. We are all going to die one day. We know that. So Satan tempts us to just give in. Give in to our "natural" inclinations... resistance is futile after all.
And so we often give in and give up. We tell ourselves that something couldn't be a sin...or at least... that bad of a sin if it's so enjoyable. We tell ourselves that some form of behavior is only natural... "boys will be boys..." "that's just locker room talk..." "its normal to have those kinds of feelings..." Sometimes we acknowledge that we should be doing something or feeling some way...but also think it's going to happen anyway... so we might as well enjoy the ride. Many Christians will go ahead and sin with the attitude that it doesn't matter God will forgive me anyway. So yes... we often give in to sin and give up our resistance to sin, death, and the devil.
And once assimilation has taken place...Satan goes from the promiser of false enjoyment...to the Accuser of souls. He goes from encouraging you to enjoy yourself to pointing out your wretched wickedness. He goes from promising the world and everything in it...to accusing you of giving up on God and His Word. Satan pulls out all the stops... he lays your sins in front of all to see...tells you that you couldn't possibly be loved or forgiven by God...and hopes you'll give up forever. Satan hates God and us so much...he will do anything to get you to reject Christ and end up damned like him.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Resistance isn't futile. Assimilation is not a foregone conclusion!
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever." (1 Peter 5:6-11)
Our Lord tells us to humble ourselves and cast all of our anxieties upon Him. Stop thinking that you can go it alone through this life. Stop thinking that you have all the answers. Humble yourself. Admit your sinfulness; repent of your sinfulness and ask God for His help. Cast your anxieties upon Him. Tell the Lord your struggles. Lean on Christ when you are weak. And Jesus will exalt you and help you. God will forgive you and strengthen you. All because He loves you.
Be sober minded and watchful. Be aware that Satan is around us looking to strike. Be alert that Satan isn't just looking to strike you...but your loved ones as well; friends and family...neighbors and those far off. So be on guard. Resist him! Resist him just as others are doing in the faith. Remember that you are not alone. You are not alone in your suffering or your temptation. Stop right now and look to your right...and left...in front of you and behind you. Your brothers and sisters here...and around the world in Christ...suffer and are tempted as well. You are not alone...you have others to lean on. You have Christ. He has been tempted by Satan. He has suffered on the cross. And He is with you always. And Christ will Himself restore you, confirm you, strengthen you and establish you.
Jesus does all those things right here in this Church. At this font Christ established you as His own. At this altar Christ comes to you in His body and blood to strengthen you and forgive you. Through His Word and Sacraments Jesus restores you and your relationship with God. And before this altar...as you confirmed your baptismal faith...Jesus confirms you before His Father in heaven.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God loves each and every one of you. There is no person that God does not love. There is no one that Christ did not die for. There is not sin that God cannot or will not forgive. God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His begotten Son to die for you. Christ loves you to His very own death on the cross.
Are there times you will stumble and fall? Yes. Does Satan still attack Christians? Yes. Daily. Hourly. Minute by minute. Do the strongest of Christians have doubts? All the time. So Jesus gives us Himself. Jesus reminds us that we are made children of God in baptism. Jesus reminds us that we belong to Him and that He will never let the Devil pluck us out of His hand. So be watchful. Resist Satan. For resistance is not futile. Satan cannot assimilate us. Yet one little word can fell him. That word is Jesus. That name was placed upon us at our baptism. Victory has already been won. Paradise is ours. And in that place we shall be restored for eternity. There we shall have no more pains or problems, sickness or disease, hurts or conflicts. There we shall be reunited with all the saints.
Thanks be to God for He gives us victory over sin, death, and the devil. 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.
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