The Last Sunday of the Church Year - November 21, 2010

The Church Season of Trinity
The Last Sunday in the Church Year, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 21, 2010)

“Present and Future”

Readings:   
    Psalm 149
    Isaiah 65:17:25
    1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
    Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon Form    Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 65th chapter of Isaiah, especially the following verses:

Isaiah 65:17-25 (ESV)

[God said to Isaiah]17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

This is the last Sunday of the Church Year, so this day we set aside to look forward to the end of the world.  And the odd thing about looking forward is that we are already living at the very end of the world.  So some of what the text describes is already, it has been done by Christ and some of it is not yet, because it looks past the end of this world and into the eternal realm.

It is also very awesome that what God told Isaiah of the world in our Old Testament lesson, is exactly what St. John said he saw in his words recorded in the Book of Revelation.  Confused?  Well listen again to Gods word in which He speaks of a reality which Isaiah would see, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”(Is. 65:17)  Now listen to what St. John saw, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” (Rev. 21:1)

One reality was looking from the here and now, another looking at the there and eternity.  So what can we learn from this?  Heaven is not only a future reality it is a present reality for us too.  But just as soon as I say that you have heaven now, I’m sure that most would think that this life just doesn't always feel like heaven, does it?  It doesn’t it look like heaven either.   Because we have in our minds that Heaven is where God is, and where His people are, yet heaven is also where God’s Word is preached and the heavenly gifts of God are handed out - gifts like Holy Baptism, the Holy Absolution, and the Lord's Supper.  So, this is heaven, right here.  Heaven is in the Church, whether it be here in the world in the Church Militant or there in heaven in the Church Triumphant.

It is while describing the realities of the coming age that Isaiah, and we too, need all of the pictures, all of the words to describe heaven and really none of them help us to see anymore than a faded glimmer of what will be.  But, God does tell us that this His heavenly place will be a new place a, “new heavens and a new earth.”(v.17)  And when it comes, the sorrows and the troubles of our past and present will be forgotten.  Those who wonder how they will feel about their family and friends who do not join them in heaven can find comfort here, "the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." (v. 17) We will not know, nor sorrow.  All of God's people will be there, and it will be right and it will be right for us. The promise is that in this new earth, "There will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying." (v.19) There will be no sorrow.  The New Jerusalem is for rejoicing!  Nothing will interrupt our joy!  

But joy is not always what we feel in our lives.  We pin ourselves down in this world by our sin, whether it be by our own actions or inactions the result is the same. We fail to see heaven in this world because we are too busy trying to make it from day to day here on earth.  The body fails, the mind is attacked, and so our first inclination is to attack at God.  So what about this new heaven God? Where is it, why not now, why so much pain, why me, why my family, why?  Well the why is a question blinded by our sin and when we repent our eyes are opened to see that why question is really better answered by the where reality. And that where reality is the new heaven and earth, and that new heaven and earth became a present reality in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  He came from heaven to earth, to make a new earth and  a new heaven, for you.

And that new reality is for you sheer bliss.  Peace shall be the rule in your hearts and minds.  God tells Isaiah that even the creatures of the wild will be calmed, and there will be no violence or death.  Lions will eat hay like cattle.  Wolves will graze next to rather than upon the lambs.  The powerful will not hurt or take advantage of the helpless.  And the part I like the best is that the serpent who deceived the Old Adam will have dust for his breakfast, lunch, and supper. 

All of these wonderful promises, eternal life and happiness and peace and joy and contentment, all of these promises are because of the victory over the cross by Jesus Christ, and His promise given there for us.  He has won the battle.  He has paid the price!  He has done all that needed to be done.  Jesus made us His people, and pours out all of the heavenly riches for us.  Your sins, whatever they may be, are forgiven.

And because we have been given such a rich reward, we are called to share that Good News with those who are around us.  And that focus and message is upon our new banner too as a reminder.  Witness.  Share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.”(1 John 5:7-8)  Because you when heard you received the free gift of faith, let all the world hear of the love of Jesus Christ. Mercy.  Have mercy on those who are around you, because your Father has had mercy on you, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give Hs life as a ransom for many.”(Mk 10:45)  Life together.  We are called to have fellowship with one another, to live out our lives in our vocations proclaiming Christ by what we do and by what we say, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”(1 Cor. 1:9)  Witness, Mercy, Life Together, these phrases illustrate how the church lives and works together to proclaim the Gospel and to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregations, in our communities, in our state, in our country, and throughout the world.   And in all we do, Christ is at the center, leading us, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission.  This will never change.

So as we look at our lives now and see things which are not what they could be, challenged by life, by our thoughts, and our actions.  Do not forget the comforting promises God has given to you in His Son, and revealed Holy Scripture for you.  The entire Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament tells you that all of God’s gifts, are for you.  God put His Son into this world for you.  And Christ puts Himself into you in your Holy Baptism, He puts His body and blood into you in Holy Communion for you.  In Christ your old sinful Adam has died and you are given the promise that you too will see the new Jerusalem and that new heaven made just for you.  And there in the New Jerusalem God tells us that, “no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.(v. 19)  The tears of a life of todays will give way to an eternity of joy and gladness.  Today you heard of what one day you will see with your own eyes, and you heard of what your loved ones who have died in the faith now see with their own eyes.  And that is the present and future reality of your eternal life. 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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