We Are Living in a Whole New World
As the church year draws to a close, we think of things to come, including the goal of joining saints who have gone before us into everlasting glory. That is not day-dreaming. It has a direct impact on our attitude and actions as we deal with the everyday, work-a-day world around us. The first lesson for this day, from Isaiah chapter sixty-five, shows us how that happens. As saints of God, "We Are Living In A Whole New World." November 14, 2010.
“You can almost smell the garlic on their breath and the stale stink of perspiration wafting from all around. You can hear the impatient pawing of horses’ hooves, the snort from their flared nostrils, and the creak of chariot wheels waiting to charge. You can see the glint of the sun off their spear tips like thousands of rows of sharp icicles. Just look over the city wall, Elisha! We’re surrounded by the enemy. We’re doomed. We’re trapped in this little town like mice in a baited trap!” “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he … saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around (2 Kings 6:16-17). Things aren’t always what they seem.
As our annual church-year journey draws to a close, we set aside these last few Sundays, to think of things to come – the end of time, the end of our lives on earth, and the goal of joining saints who have gone before us into everlasting glory. All of that is not just day-dreaming. All of it has a direct impact on our attitude and actions as we deal with the everyday, work-a-day world around us. The first lesson for this day, from Isaiah chapter sixty-five, shows us how that happens. It happens when we understand that things are not always what they seem because, as saints of God, we are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe; a reality that is, positive, permanent, protected and peaceful.
Don’t those negative campaign ads bug you? As if that isn’t enough negativity! If you like the cooler fall temperatures, someone will hate the leaves. If you get a kick out of the first snowfall, someone is sure to complain about shoveling. If you like the spring thaw, someone will say, “Too much mud!” If you like summer sun, someone will say, “It’s too humid.” But it’s not just the weather that brings out negativity. How about the lack of a benefit package, no raise, a husband with more interest in ESPN than in his wife, a wife who’s too fast on the draw with the credit cards, kids who cost a fortune for braces and college tuition and still get in trouble? And if that’s not enough negativity, then there’s that not-so-fine day when we run smack dab into the elephant in the room … maybe it lumbered in through a Scripture passage that was read in church or at the tail end of a comment meant to be constructive … but we realize, “I’m a goof-up with nowhere to hide, worth about as much as a two-cent piece of chewed dog meat. In the whole universe, I’m less than a speck of dust. If there’s one thing that is really negative, it’s my record with God.” Nothing positive!
The Israelites of old found it hard to be positive. When Isaiah wrote his message, Assyrians had wiped out half the country and had the other half surrounded. Yes, God shooed those bad guys away, but a century later, folks who recalled the poetry of Isaiah’s message did so from memory while far from home because a different enemy army had done them in and destroyed Jerusalem. Nothing positive!
But God announced through the prophet, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy”. Only God could create the world out of nothing, and only God can create saints out of sinners. It took a miracle of his almighty power to make the world by using only his words, and it took a miracle of his all-merciful pardon to grant us the status of being saints by crediting us with the holiness of the Word made flesh. So, how can we have a positive outlook on cloudy, cold day in November? How can we be positive when we’re not sure how the bills will get paid? How can we be positive about surviving the flu season? How can we be positive with the thought of standing before a holy God knowing that we have offended him by our self-centered attitude and ripped him off with chintzy offerings? The answer is in what Jesus did for us. In spite of our sinfulness and unworthiness, we are God’s joy. You see, things not always what they seem. As saints of God, we are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe, a reality that is positive.
Permanent
It doesn’t take long for kids to learn that the Lego tower will fall, the favorite doll will get a dislocated arm, “Blankie” will start to stink from edges getting chewed at nap time. Muscles that reached new heights and speeds in high school now have a layer of hard-to-lose flab. Cars rust. Lead-painted garage doors have to be replaced. Sump pumps back up. Nothing lasts!
The Israelites who lived after Isaiah saw the collapse of their once proud nation. Their homes were gone. Their families were scattered. Even Solomon’s gorgeous golden temple was a pile of rubble and dust. They looked around and realized, “Nothing lasts.”
But God announced through the prophet, “Never again will there be … an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years”. This is picture language for the great reality God has created. Whether a saint of God lives on earth just a days or lives on earth for a century, his or her soul never dies. When we physically die, we go right on living with God in perfect love – no intermission, no waiting around, no halfway house. His love endures forever and so will we. You can stand by the incubator of a dying newborn or alongside the casket of grandma and sing the same thing:
Death, you cannot end my gladness; I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine. (737:4)
You see, things are not always what they seem. As saints of God, we are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe, a reality that is permanent.
Protected
The power goes out for a few hours, and we have to deal with the disappointment of losing a couple hundred dollars worth of food and the irritation of hoisting the garage door by hand. All it takes is one fender bender, a flooded basement, and high winds to remind us that we need protection. But what insurance can we buy to cover us when temptations come storming into our mind? It seems like we have no protection.
The Israelites who lived after Isaiah learned what it was like to work and sweat to build a home for the family only to have it seized and occupied by Babylonian storm troopers. They plowed and planted, hoed and hoped for good crops and fruit, only to watch foreigners grab their grain and gobble up their grapes. Then the winds of time blew in other world powers who threatened them. How could their nation survive? What would happen to God’s promise to send the Savior of the world through them? No protection!
But God announced through the prophet, “No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people … they will be … blessed by the LORD”. When you think you’re left all alone, exposed to every whim of the devil’s devices, and when challenges to the truth seem to threaten the core of your beliefs, stick to God’s precious truths. For what God said to Abram he says to you and me, “I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:3). You see, things are not always what they seem. As saints of God, we are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe, a reality that is protected.
Peaceful
The schedule is out of control. How can you be in three places at once? How can you have any time to put your feet up and catch your breath? Everybody’s coming at you from all directions. End-of-the-semester projects are coming due. The kids are screaming for attention. The boss gives you a deadline. The calendar is shouting. Is your laundry done? Did you get your oil changed? Did you remember to send the “Thank you” note? So much noise! No peace!
The Israelites who lived after Isaiah tried to get their lives back to normal while living in Babylon. But godless neighbors and the never-ending push to keep their noses above water made them feel like animals, scratching to get ahead, clawing at each other. So much noise – like wolves howling, sheep bleating, lions roaring, and oxen bellowing all at the same time and in the same cage! No peace!
But God announced through the prophet, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain”. The serpent who brought restlessness and turmoil in our relationships, especially in our relationship with God, has had his head crushed by Jesus. No matter how hectic the schedule and no matter how tumultuous our relationships, we are at peace with God. You see, things are not always what they seem. As saints of God, we are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe, a reality that is peaceful.
Whether eyes open or closed, I see my weaknesses, failures, and sin. Not till the grave will that change. But things are not always what they seem. God sees me as I am in Christ, covered by Jesus’ holiness. Say it with Martin Luther and all the saints every day when you wake up and every night when you lie down to sleep, “Alone and apart from Christ I am a sinner. In Christ I am no sinner.” Say it. Sing it … because you and I are living in a whole new world, a parallel universe, a reality that is ours. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on November 14, 2010
Related Sermons
Branch Out, but Not on Your Own
Jesus declares that he is the Vine—and we are his living branches, connected to him. And like grapevines, we often need to be "pruned" to be "productive." Through that, how do we stay connected to Jesus, our Vine? John 15:1-8 encourages us to "Branch Out, but Not on Your Own." May 6, 2012. Read on
Jesus Strengthens Faith
We see in Matthew 14:22-33, in the midst of a storm, Peter tried his best to follow Jesus and when he faltered, he learned a valuable lesson about his faith that we need to learn about ours. "Jesus Strengthens Faith." September 4, 2011. Read on
It's All About Trust
Even though our lives can often seem like they are spinning out of control, there is a constant in our ever-changing world: Jesus. Let's learn from Joseph's great example in Genesis 41:41-49 that "It's All About Trust." August 28, 2011. Read on