"WHAT WE ARE _AND_ WILL BE!" Sermon Text - 1 John 3:1-3 All Saints' Day Sunday & Wednesday, November 1 & 4, 2009 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL 1st Reading - Revelation 7:9-17 Epistle Reading - 1 John 3:1-3 Gospel Reading - Matthew 5:1-12
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [Amen.] Dear friends in Christ Jesus, Let's face the truth. Some days when we come to the divine service, the appointed Scripture readings, the selected hymns, and, yes the preacher will admit it even the sermon might not be all that memorable by the time midweek rolls around! This is because what was read, sung, and described in the sermon didn't seem that much different from what was observed on most of the other weeks of the church year. But today, as we gather in the name of our loving Lord, we gather around Scripture readings and hymns that most of us find to be gorgeous and quite fascinating. Today, for many of us, at least, today will be one of those days where the readings and hymns will go with us when we leave this holy house to resume our lives on this side of eternity. We'll reflect on the readings and the melodies of the hymns will resonate within our minds for longer than usual this coming week because today is one of those "mountaintop" moments. It's that way because today we speak and sing of that which is awaiting us when our time on this earth is completed! Today we consider with unencumbered awe and joy what St. Peter calls "the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Pet. 1:9, NIV) Today we consider what's been realized by those saints of God who have gone before us and that which is awaiting us to dwell in perfect peace with God, Himself in heaven! For most of us, the journey to dwell with God began as it did for little Mark and Paige a few minutes ago, when they were Baptized into the life, death, and eternal life of Jesus in those holy waters. In Baptism, we Christians take on a new identity as was described in the Epistle reading. We come to be "called 'children of God.'" (1 John 3:1) From that point forward " we are God's children now" (1 Jn. 3:2) as Scripture tells us. And as one of His very own, a rich inheritance is awaiting us; that is, to live in the "sheltered" presence of God for eternity! Dear beloved, it's literally impossible to have anything greater than that in one's future! As His own, God calls you to follow Him throughout your life. He calls His people to reject the "impurity" of the world that goes against His call for holy living. For Scripture tells us that to reject the way of righteousness will lead to embarrassment and shame on the Day of Judgment. Perhaps this story will help explain what I mean Several years ago, our son and I went to the Packers' summer training camp. On the way there we discussed the possibility of getting some player's autographs. So we stopped in a sporting goods store in Milwaukee and bought two autograph footballs. So far so good. The trouble was, as we found out, the players really aren't that interested in providing autographs and if they do stop to give an autograph, the usual recipients are girls aged 5-9 years old. Following them are boys about the same age then teenagers regardless whether they're boys or girls. Let's just say, that men aged 50 and over well they're dead last when it comes to the "pecking order" of those who will receive an autograph! Even knowing that (and I'm embarrassed to admit it now) even knowing that the odds weren't in my favor, I found myself literally running after players as they made their way to and from the practice field. I managed to obtain four signatures... all rookies each of whom had about a 1% chance of making the team. Finally, as I was running after still another wannabe pro football player, it dawned on me that I was being ridiculous. I was shaming myself groveling for signatures of people who had no interest in me whatsoever. I stopped running dead in my tracks turned around and went to find my son. He'd been seeking autographs on his own and I must point out he was having greater success than me, since he was higher on the food chain! I told Steve that I wasn't going to seek any more autographs. I was no longer going to belittle myself and run after over-paid boys pandering for the signature of those, most of whom, I could be their father! I'd live just fine without their autographs! Dear friends, the greater point that I hoped to make with that story, is that we as Christians can sometimes lose track of who we are and what we have. In our Epistle, St. John reminds us: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us " Our gracious God has given us nothing less than the status of being one of His own children. But just as I for a time lost my dignity and groveled for signatures from those who had no use for me, so do we all so often drop our noble status of being a child of God in order to gain things of no value. This autograph football that I now hold before you well it contains the signatures of four players and one coach. None of the players remains on any football team in the NFL anywhere! I keep this ball as a reminder of two things: 1. It reminds me of the nice time that Steve and I enjoyed with each other that summer. 2. I also keep it as a vivid reminder of how easy it is to lose track of what's important in life! And now, I ask you. What is it in your life that tempts you to throw away your status of being a noble child of God and to replace that with things of no value which, in fact can put your inheritance in heaven in jeopardy? What it is that could cause you to be embarrassed and ashamed on Judgment Day when all people must stand before almighty God and give an account of their life's conduct? And what is it that you are running after that might prevent you from taking part in the "great multitude [in heaven] that no one [can] number standing before the throne" (Rev. 7:9) of Christ? Whatever it is repent of it turn your back on it and embrace with renewed strength your status as one of God's very own! In faith look anew at the cross of Jesus Christ and see there right there He who gives your life purpose and meaning. For "in Him you live and move and have your very being." (Acts 17:28) For in Him, all your sins of thought, word, and action are washed away and a robe of righteousness is graciously put around you. For in Him, the "mountaintop" experience is yours forever! In a few minutes we'll read the names of those who have received a Christian funeral through the ministry of our congregation since we observed All Saints' Day twelve months ago. By God's grace, these brothers and sisters now rest from their labors. They "stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and cry out 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!'" (Rev. 7:9-10) In other words, they've reached that "mountaintop" experience, and it doesn't last for only a day or two. No! For them it will never end! But for each of us, we must keep John's words in mind. Let us remember that "we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see him as he is." (1 Jn. 3:2) That is God's promise to us. That is the hope that we have that God will honor His promise to us, His Baptized ones that even though we still live "in the great tribulation" on earth, that in God's perfect time and by His grace we'll dwell forever in the presence of God side by side with that "great and noble throng " (LSB 941, v. 2) those who have gone before us and those who shall follow us! Dear people of God, you who are made holy by the blood of Jesus shed for you, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven!" (Mt. 5:12) Thanks be to God! [Amen.] May the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen. ____________________________________________________________ Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=iXC7AJ5I3nGjGelsYY9bNQAAJ1Ata3nV55KFmsSNzPEXRdIvAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA=
