The God of the Living - Message given 11/11/07
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, today on Veterans’ Day we thank you for the selfless service of those who risked their lives to protect our nation, preserve our freedoms, and restore peace in the face of brutal aggressors. Grant relief to those who continue to experience emotional or physical agony from their days of combat. Give us a sense of responsibility for their welfare. Comfort those who mourn for loved ones who died while performing their duty to our country. Enlist all who are in our military forces into your church militant, that they may pledge eternal loyalty to Christ, our King, and know his peace. I pray that each heart here be open to your word this morning and that my words become truly yours in spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight oh Lord our rock and our redeemer. AMEN
Recognize children, spouses, parents of veterans. Recognize veterans of WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Grenada, Desert Storm, Kosovo & Balkan States, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom and those who served in non combat areas.
For many pastors days like Veterans’ Day Sunday pose a bit of a problem. That’s because many of them see it as a purely secular holiday. Many feel that any special recognition of the country has nothing to do with God, and a few will not allow the American flag to be displayed in the sanctuary. They feel that national patriotism has no place in the Lord’s house. I am not one of those pastors.
We have been blessed to live in a country that was founded on Christian principles. Although folks can certainly make a case that the connection has been weakened in recent years, there is no question that our country is still one that makes an effort to govern in a positive moral environment. We are certainly not a theocracy, a government formed to foster a certain religious faith as many in the near east are. However, do you know how long it’s been since we have been led by a non-Christian president? Never, that’s how long.
We live in a country that has defended our freedom of religion, no matter what religion we choose; but even in today’s secular environment we retain our Christian underpinnings. Each session of the Senate, the Congress and the Supreme Court begin with prayer. And even with secular state, we Christians can thank God for a government that has fostered national peace and stability for 231 years. It’s in that framework that I’d like to share our Scripture passage for today:
Luke 20:27-38 -NLT
27 Then some Sadducees stepped forward, a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. 28 They posed this question: "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir. 29 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children. 30 His brother married the widow, but he also died. Still no children. 31 And so it went, one after the other, until each of the seven had married her and died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died, too. 33 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!" 34 Jesus replied, "Marriage is for people here on earth. 35 But that is not the way it will be in the age to come. For those worthy of being raised from the dead won't be married then. 36 And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life. 37 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised, even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. They are all alive to him."
The Word of God, written for the people of God - Thanks be to God
Just to put things into perspective, at the time of Jesus, there were basically three, maybe four types of Jews. The zealots wanted to fight for independence from the Roman government and establish an autonomous state. The Pharisees were the teachers of the law, kind of like our Sunday School teachers. They attempted to obey the law to the letter and felt that if anyone could live a sinless life, the Messiah would come and bring the Hebrew kingdom to flower once again. Generally, they believed in a life after death. The Sadducees were ones with the power and cooperated with the Romans to insure that the Jews would continue to have the freedom to worship in the temple. They generally did not believe in heaven. As you probably learned in Sunday School, that was why they were Sad U Cee. Oh, and the fourth group were the essenes, who were ascetics who tried to live a perfect Biblical life in monastic communities in the desert.
The Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus or at least make him look foolish with their question regarding a rather outlandish marital possibility. However, it wasn’t quite as ridiculous then as it appears now. Under the levirate law the sort of marriages described by the posers would have been the correct thing to do. A man was required to marry the widow of his brother if she was left childless. The ancient Jewish tradition held that immortality was achieved only through the blood that coursed through someone’s sons and daughters. To die childless was a horrible fate. Further, widows could find few ways to make livings and would become destitute if the brother did not marry them. The story of Tamar in Genesis 38 and the Book of Ruth talk about the levirate law of widow marriage.
The real wonder in the story told by the Sadducees is that the latter brothers would even consider marrying this woman. That would have been a death wish!
Jesus responds with one of the few glimpses of heaven to be found in the Bible. He says that in heaven people will be like angels and they will not be given in marriage. Notice that he didn’t say they would BE angels. He said they would be LIKE angels. There are quite a few folks who are confused on this point, mostly because of cartoons that show folks who go to heaven as having wings, halos and harps, sitting among the clouds. That illustration just doesn’t have basis in the Bible.
But for us married folks and especially those of us who have lost loved ones, perhaps more disturbing is Jesus comments that indicate there will be not marriage in heaven. However, we must remember that our wedding vows are “till death do us part.” Death releases us from the marriage vows and allows us to remarry; but that doesn’t happen in heaven. (Tell joke if you dare!) What Jesus was getting at is that we will not have the same relationships in heaven as we do on earth.
Does that mean we won’t be with our loved ones, that we won’t be able to enjoy the presence of our parents, spouses, children or even Aunt Matilda? I don’t believe so. There is plenty of support that people will be in heaven, and that they will still be themselves. In Luke Jesus tells about Abraham being in heaven with Lazarus. He further tells that the rich man who didn’t make it could see and recognize him.
However, the point Jesus was making is that the whole riddle was pointless because heaven will not be about earthly relationships. We will be in constant relationship with God and will enjoy everyone’s presence; but it won’t be like here on earth. It will be marvelous and wonderful; but it’s not about the earthly relationships we have here.
So what does this have to do with veterans? Let’s contrast Memorial Day with Veterans’ Day. On Memorial Day we remember the military folks who lost their lives in defense of our country. On Veterans’ Day we celebrate and thank those who served, risked their lives; but made it back. Gen George Patton once said that he did want his men to give their lives for their country; he wanted them to get the other guys to do that! He wanted to bring ‘em back alive, and that’s where our Scripture comes in. Jesus tells us we serve a God of the living, not a god of the dead.
Now please hear this. In Christ we are alive. That’s critical to our Christian being. Following Christ is not merely about going to heaven when we die (although I certainly want to do that.) It’s about living an eternal life of freedom in Christ. That life-eternity-begins the moment we let Christ into our hearts and surrender our lives to Him. We don’t have to wait until we die to experience the grace of Jesus Christ. Each day, we Christians get to experience a little piece of heaven right here in Trussville-or wherever we are!
Jesus offers us new life, new life from a living God. When we were and are wallowing around in the mess we keep making of our lives, Jesus is there offering us a hand to help us out. All we have to do is claim the grace. And then when we get serious about walking on his path with Him, I promise you that you WILL experience that heaven on earth.
I don’t know about you; but I NEED a living God. I can’t wait until I die. I NEED His grace right now. And Jesus assures us we will have it! That gives me what I need to make it until the next round-in heaven! In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN
MAY WE PRAY? Almighty and gracious God, one this special day we thank you for our country and for those who went to serve it and came back alive. But we thank you even more for a Savior who still lives and the promise He gives that we will live also both now and for all eternity. In Jesus’ name AMEN.
Recognize children, spouses, parents of veterans. Recognize veterans of WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Grenada, Desert Storm, Kosovo & Balkan States, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom and those who served in non combat areas.
For many pastors days like Veterans’ Day Sunday pose a bit of a problem. That’s because many of them see it as a purely secular holiday. Many feel that any special recognition of the country has nothing to do with God, and a few will not allow the American flag to be displayed in the sanctuary. They feel that national patriotism has no place in the Lord’s house. I am not one of those pastors.
We have been blessed to live in a country that was founded on Christian principles. Although folks can certainly make a case that the connection has been weakened in recent years, there is no question that our country is still one that makes an effort to govern in a positive moral environment. We are certainly not a theocracy, a government formed to foster a certain religious faith as many in the near east are. However, do you know how long it’s been since we have been led by a non-Christian president? Never, that’s how long.
We live in a country that has defended our freedom of religion, no matter what religion we choose; but even in today’s secular environment we retain our Christian underpinnings. Each session of the Senate, the Congress and the Supreme Court begin with prayer. And even with secular state, we Christians can thank God for a government that has fostered national peace and stability for 231 years. It’s in that framework that I’d like to share our Scripture passage for today:
Luke 20:27-38 -NLT
27 Then some Sadducees stepped forward, a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. 28 They posed this question: "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir. 29 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children. 30 His brother married the widow, but he also died. Still no children. 31 And so it went, one after the other, until each of the seven had married her and died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died, too. 33 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!" 34 Jesus replied, "Marriage is for people here on earth. 35 But that is not the way it will be in the age to come. For those worthy of being raised from the dead won't be married then. 36 And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life. 37 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised, even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. They are all alive to him."
The Word of God, written for the people of God - Thanks be to God
Just to put things into perspective, at the time of Jesus, there were basically three, maybe four types of Jews. The zealots wanted to fight for independence from the Roman government and establish an autonomous state. The Pharisees were the teachers of the law, kind of like our Sunday School teachers. They attempted to obey the law to the letter and felt that if anyone could live a sinless life, the Messiah would come and bring the Hebrew kingdom to flower once again. Generally, they believed in a life after death. The Sadducees were ones with the power and cooperated with the Romans to insure that the Jews would continue to have the freedom to worship in the temple. They generally did not believe in heaven. As you probably learned in Sunday School, that was why they were Sad U Cee. Oh, and the fourth group were the essenes, who were ascetics who tried to live a perfect Biblical life in monastic communities in the desert.
The Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus or at least make him look foolish with their question regarding a rather outlandish marital possibility. However, it wasn’t quite as ridiculous then as it appears now. Under the levirate law the sort of marriages described by the posers would have been the correct thing to do. A man was required to marry the widow of his brother if she was left childless. The ancient Jewish tradition held that immortality was achieved only through the blood that coursed through someone’s sons and daughters. To die childless was a horrible fate. Further, widows could find few ways to make livings and would become destitute if the brother did not marry them. The story of Tamar in Genesis 38 and the Book of Ruth talk about the levirate law of widow marriage.
The real wonder in the story told by the Sadducees is that the latter brothers would even consider marrying this woman. That would have been a death wish!
Jesus responds with one of the few glimpses of heaven to be found in the Bible. He says that in heaven people will be like angels and they will not be given in marriage. Notice that he didn’t say they would BE angels. He said they would be LIKE angels. There are quite a few folks who are confused on this point, mostly because of cartoons that show folks who go to heaven as having wings, halos and harps, sitting among the clouds. That illustration just doesn’t have basis in the Bible.
But for us married folks and especially those of us who have lost loved ones, perhaps more disturbing is Jesus comments that indicate there will be not marriage in heaven. However, we must remember that our wedding vows are “till death do us part.” Death releases us from the marriage vows and allows us to remarry; but that doesn’t happen in heaven. (Tell joke if you dare!) What Jesus was getting at is that we will not have the same relationships in heaven as we do on earth.
Does that mean we won’t be with our loved ones, that we won’t be able to enjoy the presence of our parents, spouses, children or even Aunt Matilda? I don’t believe so. There is plenty of support that people will be in heaven, and that they will still be themselves. In Luke Jesus tells about Abraham being in heaven with Lazarus. He further tells that the rich man who didn’t make it could see and recognize him.
However, the point Jesus was making is that the whole riddle was pointless because heaven will not be about earthly relationships. We will be in constant relationship with God and will enjoy everyone’s presence; but it won’t be like here on earth. It will be marvelous and wonderful; but it’s not about the earthly relationships we have here.
So what does this have to do with veterans? Let’s contrast Memorial Day with Veterans’ Day. On Memorial Day we remember the military folks who lost their lives in defense of our country. On Veterans’ Day we celebrate and thank those who served, risked their lives; but made it back. Gen George Patton once said that he did want his men to give their lives for their country; he wanted them to get the other guys to do that! He wanted to bring ‘em back alive, and that’s where our Scripture comes in. Jesus tells us we serve a God of the living, not a god of the dead.
Now please hear this. In Christ we are alive. That’s critical to our Christian being. Following Christ is not merely about going to heaven when we die (although I certainly want to do that.) It’s about living an eternal life of freedom in Christ. That life-eternity-begins the moment we let Christ into our hearts and surrender our lives to Him. We don’t have to wait until we die to experience the grace of Jesus Christ. Each day, we Christians get to experience a little piece of heaven right here in Trussville-or wherever we are!
Jesus offers us new life, new life from a living God. When we were and are wallowing around in the mess we keep making of our lives, Jesus is there offering us a hand to help us out. All we have to do is claim the grace. And then when we get serious about walking on his path with Him, I promise you that you WILL experience that heaven on earth.
I don’t know about you; but I NEED a living God. I can’t wait until I die. I NEED His grace right now. And Jesus assures us we will have it! That gives me what I need to make it until the next round-in heaven! In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN
MAY WE PRAY? Almighty and gracious God, one this special day we thank you for our country and for those who went to serve it and came back alive. But we thank you even more for a Savior who still lives and the promise He gives that we will live also both now and for all eternity. In Jesus’ name AMEN.