Sermon Audio
November 2, 2014
Are we soldiers or subjects?
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts
be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer. AMEN.
This morning we celebrate All Saints
Sunday here at Emmanuel. On this one
Sunday of the Church Year we remember all of the members, family and friends
that have passed away since the last All Saints Celebration November 3, 2013. Today is to be not only a summary of those
lost in the last year, but an opportunity as a family of God to remember,
reminisce and remind ourselves, not only of the lives of the people, but
especially of what God did for them.
Right here in the baptismal font, or one like it in other churches, God
reached down into the lives of the people we mourn and redeemed them by the Blood
of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Through the Water and Word of Baptism, God
washed our loved ones clean and gave them the garment of salvation that ushered
them in death to eternal life. Now our
loved ones have entered into God’s Holy presence and see God face to face. What joy there is over one who has entered
into God’s Eternal Kingdom and His Holy Presence!!!
We who remain here mourn, sometimes
even for many years, but we need to be reminded of a truth. We to one day will be ushered into heaven as
well. But while we do journey on our
pilgrimage here on earth, we need to ask a question “Are we subjects or
soldiers?”
We are subject to the reality that
we will one day die. But are we subjects
without a cause or since we are baptized into Jesus Christ innocent life, death
and resurrection, are we not then baptized as soldiers in to His Army of
believers? Are we not soldiers indoctrinated
into the cause of Christ? Are we not
soldiers fighting for other’s freedom from oppression? Are we not soldiers that are called into the
mission of Jesus Christ for all of mankind?
Are we not soldiers for Jesus Christ?
We are soldiers, each and every one
of us, every man, woman and child. When
we were baptized in the font we enlisted in God’s Army of Believers to spread
the message of the Gospel of Salvation.
Our orders were clear, to seek and serve the lowly, the downtrodden, the
widowed, the weak and reach into the lives of those that had no hope to give
the hope found in Jesus Christ. We are God’s
hands here on earth to reach out and minister in any and all capacities.
We who gather here today to hear
what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary for all of mankind are empowered
to minister. Whether it is calling
people who may not have been in church, speaking loving words of witness of the
love of Christ to a stranger, friend or family member, or even our mere presence
to support those who are in need of our individual and corporate prayers. We are the people of God enlisted in the Army
of God and empowered to do the work of God as God’s soldiers who no longer are
subject to Satan.
Jesus Christ when He set in motion
the plan of salvation in the Garden and allowed Himself to be taken into
custody, beaten, mocked and scourged by the soldiers, spit upon by the
onlookers as He carried the Cross to Calvary.
Then nailed to the Cross for all of mankind, clearly understood and took
upon Himself the uniform of a soldier, but also a leader that was willing to
die for His subjects, meaning you and me.
Jesus Christ was willing to die for you and for me in order to set us
free. And that is exactly what has
happened to those we remember today on All Saints Day. Our friends, family and loved ones have been
set free for all eternity and we will to one day.
Dr. Henry Cloud summed up clearly
what our opportunity is today. He said, “Don't
treat any single scene as if it were the whole movie. Keep writing the script. Respond to your current scene in a way that
gets you to the good ending.” The good
ending we look for is to be honored as soldiers of the Cross of Jesus
Christ. No better story could be told
than one that I read last Sunday afternoon from the One Spark Foundation.
After our Reformation Service last
week I was reading my Facebook Feed on my phone. There was a story that not only caught my
attention, but touched me deeply. The
story detailed the experience of an airline pilot that had a sticky situation,
but which has become more common in the last few years. The pilot told of his experience of meeting a
young Sergeant in the Army that was escorting the remains of a fallen comrade back
to his family for burial. The dignity
shown by the pilot, flight crew and the Sergeant was not only professional, but
full of compassion for the final mission of the young private who was ‘going
home’.
Following his meeting the Sergeant
and thanking him for his service to his country and the family during such a
difficult time, the pilot was later informed that not only was the Sergeant on
board, but the Private’s wife, 2 year old daughter and his Father and Mother
all were escorting the Private home. Due
to circumstances beyond the pilots control the family was unable to see the
container before its being loaded onto the plane. And the plane’s destination was a major hub
for many airlines so the family would likely be unable to see the soldiers
casket upon arrival. In true compassion
for a soldier that had given his life for his country, the pilot went above and
beyond the call of duty and through special channels contacted his controller
for special instructions and the ability to allow the family the opportunity to
personally greet their loved one, who was currently below their feet in the
cargo hold.
Shortly before descent into the
airport the Captain received the approval and instructions for this final
faithful journey of the Private. But
there was another problem. Like all
flights the pilot knew that once the plane landed and the ‘seat belt sign’ had
been turned off all the passengers would jump up and rush to get off the
airplane with no concern for this soldiers family. So once he landed, he radioed the tower and
received permission to stop short of the gate.
After stopping short of the gate,
the Captain of the plane came on the intercom and informed the entire airplane
of the soldier’s mission of the Sergeant and the Private’s family that was
escorting their son, husband and Father home.
In unheard of fashion the family experienced the most grace filled event
on their most difficult journey home.
Not one person moved from their seats as the family gathered their
belongings and disembarked. The family
was even thanked for the Private’s service, words of comfort, appreciation and
applause filled the aircraft as they moved through the plane. So moved was the cabin crew and passengers many
were seen with tears running down their cheeks because of the outpouring of
love, compassion and support during the family’s most difficult journey.
The love shown the soldier and military
family is what we have to look forward to when we enter into eternity in
heaven. A rousing applause, hearing the
words, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
It is not for what we have done in and of ourselves, but what Jesus
Christ has done through each of us soldiers.
For God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary
in order that we His soldiers in His Army will be welcomed into the company of
saints and be with Him for all eternity.
We who gather here today on All Saints Sunday celebrate our brother’s
and sister’s who have entered eternal glory.
No longer do our loved one’s struggle and today we remember God’s
victory for them and us on the Cross of Calvary and for all of mankind. Thanks be to God for the victory for all of
mankind and all of us soldiers gathered here to celebrate All Saints Sunday today. AMEN.
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