7th Sunday of the Resurrection 05/27/09 Text: John 17:11-19 Title: He has the whole world in his hands.
Seventh Sunday of the Resurrection
05/27/09
Text: John17:11-19
Title: He has the whole world in his hands.
The video that we just got through watching brought to light a question that we all, at some time or other ask of ourselves. “God do you really have the whole world in your hands?” We are told in Genesis that God created the world and all that is part of it and that it was good. In 1 Samuel 2:8 we are told that “The pillars of the earth are the Lord’s” and in that he has the entire world in his hands. In Psalm 24 1 that, “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” There are many more verses that state that God made and sustains the world.
Where is God then, for as the film shows there is destruction, depression, sickness, and evil in God’s world, the world he made and sustains? We have to go back to Genesis again; for it is there that we find the reason for all the chaos in the world. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. They were not satisfied with living under the perfect guidance of God and because of their sin they were booted out of the Garden before they could eat the fruit of everlasting life from the other tree in the Garden.
They were booted out and the world, as we know it, will never be the same again; that is until God creates the new heaven and earth. It became corrupted because of their sin and we now face all the chaos caused by the fall today. We face evil, terrible diseases, depression, terrible weather, war, and death. It is the way of life and so, if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we too like the people of old sometimes cry out to God, “Where are you God?”
Maybe the answer lies in Jesus leaving the world, as we celebrated in worship Thursday. Maybe if Jesus had stayed we would not be going through the troubles of today. Maybe there would be no more sickness, war, terrible storms, and death. But we don’t have to look to far to see that even while Jesus was walking the earth doing his ministry there were still people getting sick and dying. There were murderers, thieves, and the Roman government still crucified those who opposed them. Jesus himself was murdered. It would not have made any difference if Jesus would have remained alive, for the world did not and continues to not recognize him as God.
In the chaos of the world we have only one sure hope; God’s love and his purpose for entering our human existence. In our Gospel reading this morning we find the answer to the question, “Where are you God in all this chaos?” Listen to Jesus words and take them into your heart. In verse 15, “I did not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” And then in verse 20 which is not part of our reading this morning, Jesus says, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe (That is us and all true believing Christians) in me through their word, that they me be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
There it is; Jesus came to save the lost; that is you and me from the evil one. He did not come to take us out of an evil and corrupt world where there are terrible things going on. He came so that we, who are living in the world, but not of the world, may share the Good News of Jesus with those of the world.
We, who still fall sick, who get terrible diseases, who are victims of wars, who fall victim to terrible storms, evil, terrorism, and die are to share the Good News with those of the world, in all the chaos of the world who do not know of Jesus and his salvation. We who are one with the Jesus and the Father are to be one with each other, so that as long as we live in this fallen and corrupted world we can show others by our love that we belong to God.
You see those of the world are watching. They are watching to see how we live our lives. They are watching to see if we really love God, if we, who are in the world, but not of the world are doing what Jesus’ tells us to do. They are watching to see if we really do love the poor and the unlovable. They are watching to see if we really do honor marriage. They are watching to see if we really do consider others of different races and skin colors to be of equal worth. They are watching to see, if we will speak up for the unborn and those at the end of their lives. Simply put, they are watching to see if we practice what we preach.
Will this congregation make a difference in the chaos of life? We will if we truly believe what we profess, for in our faith we know that, even as we live it, that life is not chaos, for God holds the whole world in his hands. We know that even in the storms of life, the diseases and problems of life that God is here. Not behind us picking up the pieces, and not beside us just watching us fall into the problems of life, but ahead of us preparing the way for us. And knowing this we do what God tells us to do, not because of the command, but because we want to share the love of God with others.
This life, as we know it is not the end. It is, for those who follow Jesus just part of our life, for we are living in eternity right now. Jesus through his death and resurrection has opened the door to eternal life with him. What we see as death, is life, life without sin, for, as scripture tells us, a dead body cannot sin. We die, so that our bodies are rid of sin, so that when Jesus comes in his glory our presently sinful bodies will be free, fully restored to the way God originally intended his human creation to be. What a time that will be, for in our resurrection we will be with God and all true followers of Christ.
Take heart people of God. Do not fear what can destroy the flesh. Trust in the Lord. He is your Savior, your ultimate protector, for he has the whole world in his hands. In closing, please turn to the front of your service folder so that we can read the Introit together before we sing our sermon hymn.
05/27/09
Text: John17:11-19
Title: He has the whole world in his hands.
The video that we just got through watching brought to light a question that we all, at some time or other ask of ourselves. “God do you really have the whole world in your hands?” We are told in Genesis that God created the world and all that is part of it and that it was good. In 1 Samuel 2:8 we are told that “The pillars of the earth are the Lord’s” and in that he has the entire world in his hands. In Psalm 24 1 that, “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” There are many more verses that state that God made and sustains the world.
Where is God then, for as the film shows there is destruction, depression, sickness, and evil in God’s world, the world he made and sustains? We have to go back to Genesis again; for it is there that we find the reason for all the chaos in the world. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. They were not satisfied with living under the perfect guidance of God and because of their sin they were booted out of the Garden before they could eat the fruit of everlasting life from the other tree in the Garden.
They were booted out and the world, as we know it, will never be the same again; that is until God creates the new heaven and earth. It became corrupted because of their sin and we now face all the chaos caused by the fall today. We face evil, terrible diseases, depression, terrible weather, war, and death. It is the way of life and so, if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we too like the people of old sometimes cry out to God, “Where are you God?”
Maybe the answer lies in Jesus leaving the world, as we celebrated in worship Thursday. Maybe if Jesus had stayed we would not be going through the troubles of today. Maybe there would be no more sickness, war, terrible storms, and death. But we don’t have to look to far to see that even while Jesus was walking the earth doing his ministry there were still people getting sick and dying. There were murderers, thieves, and the Roman government still crucified those who opposed them. Jesus himself was murdered. It would not have made any difference if Jesus would have remained alive, for the world did not and continues to not recognize him as God.
In the chaos of the world we have only one sure hope; God’s love and his purpose for entering our human existence. In our Gospel reading this morning we find the answer to the question, “Where are you God in all this chaos?” Listen to Jesus words and take them into your heart. In verse 15, “I did not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” And then in verse 20 which is not part of our reading this morning, Jesus says, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe (That is us and all true believing Christians) in me through their word, that they me be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
There it is; Jesus came to save the lost; that is you and me from the evil one. He did not come to take us out of an evil and corrupt world where there are terrible things going on. He came so that we, who are living in the world, but not of the world, may share the Good News of Jesus with those of the world.
We, who still fall sick, who get terrible diseases, who are victims of wars, who fall victim to terrible storms, evil, terrorism, and die are to share the Good News with those of the world, in all the chaos of the world who do not know of Jesus and his salvation. We who are one with the Jesus and the Father are to be one with each other, so that as long as we live in this fallen and corrupted world we can show others by our love that we belong to God.
You see those of the world are watching. They are watching to see how we live our lives. They are watching to see if we really love God, if we, who are in the world, but not of the world are doing what Jesus’ tells us to do. They are watching to see if we really do love the poor and the unlovable. They are watching to see if we really do honor marriage. They are watching to see if we really do consider others of different races and skin colors to be of equal worth. They are watching to see, if we will speak up for the unborn and those at the end of their lives. Simply put, they are watching to see if we practice what we preach.
Will this congregation make a difference in the chaos of life? We will if we truly believe what we profess, for in our faith we know that, even as we live it, that life is not chaos, for God holds the whole world in his hands. We know that even in the storms of life, the diseases and problems of life that God is here. Not behind us picking up the pieces, and not beside us just watching us fall into the problems of life, but ahead of us preparing the way for us. And knowing this we do what God tells us to do, not because of the command, but because we want to share the love of God with others.
This life, as we know it is not the end. It is, for those who follow Jesus just part of our life, for we are living in eternity right now. Jesus through his death and resurrection has opened the door to eternal life with him. What we see as death, is life, life without sin, for, as scripture tells us, a dead body cannot sin. We die, so that our bodies are rid of sin, so that when Jesus comes in his glory our presently sinful bodies will be free, fully restored to the way God originally intended his human creation to be. What a time that will be, for in our resurrection we will be with God and all true followers of Christ.
Take heart people of God. Do not fear what can destroy the flesh. Trust in the Lord. He is your Savior, your ultimate protector, for he has the whole world in his hands. In closing, please turn to the front of your service folder so that we can read the Introit together before we sing our sermon hymn.
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 7:43 PM
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