Sinner and Saint

Seek the Lord while He may be found

Pentecost 16, 2030

"Seek the Lord while He may be found"

Isaiah 55:6-9

 [Video Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLidERiYlmg]

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

 

            Tragedies affect each and every one of us. Tragedies occur every day. We have lost loved ones to many different tragedies...but they all have the same characteristic: you can't plan for them. They cause pain, heartache, and hopelessness. They cause us to question our faith.

          It has been 19 years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Do you remember the pain and suffering? Do you remember how many people felt the need to be in church? They needed to be with God and receive His comfort. There were also many others that used September 11^th as a reason to remain or become an atheist. Many people were quoted as saying that if there was a God this wouldn’t happen. Others said that “they don’t want a God that would let tragedies happen.” “Where was God?”  Many people have since drifted away from the church thinking there is no answer.

            So where is God during tragedies? Where was God when our brother or sister was killed? Where was God when our son or daughter was taken from us? Where is God during war and turmoil throughout the world? Where was God on 9/11? But if we ask these questions, shouldn’t we also then ask, “Where is God” when we act sinfully throughout the week? Where is God when we hurt those we love? Where is God when we ignore His will? Many people on 9/11 rejected God. While others were pulled, pushed, and carried by Christ into everlasting life we continued to question God’s love.

            The nails ripped through Jesus’ flesh. He hung on the cross praying for our forgiveness. He yelled “Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani” “My God My God why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) Do we still ask where is God? Jesus said, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) gave His last breath and died. Where was God? God was there at the cross mourning the death of His innocent Son. God raised Christ from the dead and forgave us all our sins. Where is God? The answer is always the same. God is with us! He is here in His Word. He is here in with and under bread and wine.

            An email I received from a dear sainted past member of mine Hubert Stoll was entitled “Meet me in the stairwell” puts it this way: You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK…I am ready to go.' I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night. I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.' I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them. I was in Illinois, West Virginia, Arizona, Texas, New York and Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face…I knew every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there. I did not place you in the Tower that day…You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.      

            “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

          The opportunity to repent is now. Repentance and faith are not something to be procrastinated. Faith saves us from sin, but faith does not come after we die. The tragedies we encounter in this life are wake up calls to faith. God does not cause these terrible events. Sin in the world cause these tragedies. We have seen with horror how quickly death may come and without notice. God is calling us to repent and believe now. God is also using us as His witnesses; witnesses of His love and mercy; witnesses calling out to the lost.

          God continuously offers us forgiveness, faith, and salvation. We may begin to think, “If it is continuously offered, why then is there such a rush to ask for forgiveness.” The rush occurs not because the gift of forgiveness is taken away, but because we do not know when death shall come. God always wants to be near us.

          "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts." (Isaiah 55:7) We are all guilty of sin and we are called to forsake our ways. We know that sin demands punishment. This punishment was paid for by Christ hanging on the cross. The text then says, “Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)

          In 9/11 we saw God act in the lives of many. He worked through firefighters, police officers, Iron workers, teachers, stockbrokers, farmers, construction workers and pastors. We don’t want tragedies to happen, but they do and God will work in the world despite all of our sin. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

          We have had great tragedies affect us...some national...many within our families. Each and every day someone dies without faith is also a very great tragedy. Yet God continues to work for the good of His people. He works through you and I sharing His love, His presence, His mercy and His forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is at hand…and you my brothers and sisters in Christ are forgiven. Where is God? God is with us here. He is with us in His Word. Jesus is with us in His body and blood. God is with us through all our tragedies. God continues to be with all His children; He is with you to the very end of the age. Amen.

 

Now may the Peace of God which passes all understanding keep our Hearts and minds with Christ Jesus. Amen.

Act like a child!

Pentecost 13, 2014

"Act like a child?"

Matthew 18:1-5

[Video Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p3kKL1YFF4]

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

            Little children can be so very adorable. The way they giggle or smile...the way they learn to wave or give a high five. Even their clothes can be adorable...the cutest dress or the most dapper suit and tie. This week is my Aaron’s birthday and Facebook reminds me of his past birthdays. The memories of his first birthday bring so many smiles. He was the center of attention as he opened gifts and started clapping. It was cute and entertaining as he ate and smashed his first birthday cake. His smile, giggle, and clapping lit up the room.

          While little ones are cute and cuddly and entertaining...they don't offer any practical help. Babies can’t change their own diapers...wouldn't that be nice. Little ones need constant reminders to get tasks accomplished. They don't cook or clean...they can't get a job. They really can't do much for themselves yet...they rely on adults for their needs. They need time to grow up and learn. That's just the way that life is.

          The 12 Disciples were most certainly adults. They came from many various backgrounds...some were fisherman, another was a doctor, and one was a tax collector. They were hard workers. They were also known to be a little hard headed. Two of the disciples came with their mom who asked Jesus to let them sit to his right and left in heaven...the most important seats next to a King. Peter would proclaim that he would follow Jesus even when the others would fall away in fear only to deny our Lord three times. Here in our text the Disciples came to Jesus with a question...a selfish question...a vain question...a childish question.

          "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1) Maybe they thought it would be one of the great Patriarchs... Abraham, Joseph, Noah, or David. Maybe they hoped that one of them would not only be the greatest Disciple...but the greatest in heaven as well. One might have been the most learned, another the best preacher, another the best evangelist. Who could it be? Was it one of them?

          "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4)

          Become like a child? What is Jesus talking about? They can't go out and teach and preach! They haven't studied God's Word or learned at Jesus very own feet. They can't even cook or clean or take care of themselves. They can't do much of anything...especially a baby or toddler! They need someone else to take care of them. Why would you want us to become like that?

          Okay Jesus...let's go with your plan here...become like a child...how hard could that be? The truth is that it's very hard. Growing up we've been taught to be self dependent...to rely on ourselves to get things done. We live in a dog eat dog world...it's the survival of the fittest...and we have to strive to be the best at what we do! We dare not show any sign of weakness. We dare not open our lives to others and risk being let down or betrayed. Trust no one but yourself.

          But that's not the only problem we have at becoming like children. We even struggle with God's Word...with "Doctrine" of the Church. We need to have mature faiths. We need to do things to strengthen our faith. We need to do this and to do that. We need to choose to go to church, to believe, and to grow. All that stuff about becoming like a child just doesn't make sense. And for many...a child being able to have faith makes even less sense...along with that old idea of baptizing children; babies. What good could that do...a child can't choose to believe...or do anything else. They need to mature like us. Then they can choose to be baptized and believe.

          How hard can it be to become like a child as our Lord says...it's impossible for us to do on our own. Truly, we are in need of being transformed by God's Word. It is only in Christ that we can become little children. And that is what He says we need to be!

          When I was little I would often fall asleep in the car or on the couch downstairs. It was usually my dad...but one of my parents would pick me up, cradle me in their arms and carry me up the stairs to my bed. Without them...I would have never made it to my room.

          Each one of us...no matter how strong or smart we think we are...are truly weak and helpless babes that are dependent upon God. Truly our Lord cradles us in His loving arms and carries us through baptism to salvation. How important it is to remember that in Baptism we are born again from above and made CHILDREN of God. In baptism we are made children! Regardless of your age...you are made a child in baptism...and baptism is for all...even little children.

         Jesus, the only Son of the Father, makes us children of that same Father by Holy Baptism. Infant Baptism is the most beautiful display of the Gospel, because it visually demonstrates our complete dependence on God and his grace: Every Christian is beloved by the Father. Every Christian is carried in the tender arms of the Heavenly Father. Yes, we are sinners and thus totally dependent upon God. But we are loved by our Heavenly Father. We are saved by the death of His Son. We are carried home to eternal salvation in those tender arms.

         By God's grace you have been made a child of the Heavenly Father through the waters of Baptism. Salvation and life are yours...for you are a child of God. By grace you may act like a child…in a good way… by having faith and trusting God completely like a child; a child-like trust that doesn’t waver or forget; a trust that  God will always keep His promises. A trust that God will take care of your every need and carry you in His loving arms. 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.