2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In a sinful and broken world, no one escapes suffering (Jn. 16:33), and no one can make themself right before God. We clearly see that in the book of Job. But another thing that we see in Job is that God accomplishes His purpose, even in the midst of suffering.
Job was very blessed by God. Job had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. Job was the greatest of all the people of the east. Beyond that, Job had seven sons and three daughters. One of the things that makes Job great is all of these children. Our culture tries to make it seem like children a burden. It’s sad that today people will see parents with a lot of children and joke with them. “Oh, you must be so tired,” or, “Don’t you know about the birds and the bees?”
We need to stop that. If we are doing it ourselves or hear others doing it, we need to put an end to it. Children are a blessing; they are a heritage from God (Ps. 127:3-5). Don’t fall for the lies of Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood. A blessed life does not mean that you’re free of obligation to children. Children are a blessing from God and are to be embraced.
Job was the also the spiritual leader of his family. He was careful to make sure his children were raised well. The fact that Job offered sacrifices for his children points to him being a father who is raising his children in the Christian faith. There is a good reason to see that all of Job’s children are following their father in the faith, but I’ll wait until the end of the sermon to say more about that.
So, Job was very blessed in every temporal way by God. And Job was also spiritually blessed by God. Three times in the first two chapters, we are told that Job is blameless, upright, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. Two of those times, that description comes from the lips of God Himself. And let’s consider each of those briefly.
First, Job is blameless. In Hebrew, that word can also mean ‘perfect’ or ‘pure.’ This does not mean that Job is sinless. Sinless and blameless are similar words, but they aren’t identical in meaning. Job himself will say that he’s sinful (e.g. Job 13:23). So how can God say that Job is perfect, that he’s blameless? Well, this is something that God Himself gives to Job. When God says something about you, it is true. When God says that you are blameless, that makes you blameless. This blamelessness, this purity, this perfection that Job has is a gift from God.
Second, Job is upright. This isn’t talking about Job’s posture. It’s not like he went to the chiropractor regularly. Job is upright. Most of the time this word gets used in Scripture, it’s referring to God. God Himself is upright. There’s no twisted or crooked way about him. God is without fault and without error. Job is too. Again, this characteristic is something that God gives to Job. Whatever sins Job had committed, God had forgiven.
Third, Job fears God. Throughout the Bible, fearing God is linked to trusting God. The 1stCommandment in the Small Catechism is explained, “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” Usually, when we think of being afraid, it means we don’t trust someone or something because it’s unsafe. But when the Bible talks about the fear of God, it is not to think that God is unsafe. It means if you turned away from God, then God becomes unsafe. When you turn to Him, then He is your Refuge and Strength (Ps. 28:8; 46:1). C.S. Lewis captures this really well in the Chronicles of Narnia. There’s a question about the character that corresponds to Jesus and if he is ‘safe,’ and the reply is, “Of course he isn’t safe, but he’s good.”
Fourth and finally, we’re told that Job turns away from evil. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Job turns away from evil things. Again, that’s what a Christian does. A Christian does not run headlong into doing sinful, evil things. Instead, a Christian turns away from them. Yes, we sin, and we sin often. But by God’s help, we strive to turn away from evil.
So, when God describes Job as blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil, God is saying that Job is a Christian. God says this about any of you who believe in Christ.
After this description of Job, we see him begin to suffer. And the cause of Job’s suffering is important. Satan is in heaven, and God starts to brag about Job to the devil. It’s almost like if a jewelry store was being robbed and the owner came out and said to the thief, “Hey, have you seen my rarest, most expensive diamond?” We don’t know why God draws attention to Job, but He does. And the devil doesn’t even bother arguing with God. The devil doesn’t push back or try to “fact-check” God, not at all. God is right. The devil and the demons have to agree with God when God says something. Make sure you recognize that.
Instead, the devil pushes back on Job’s faith. Satan says that the only reason Job is blameless and upright is that God is nice to him. The devil says that if God takes those things away that Job will curse God to His face. Notice how arrogant the devil is. He’s basically saying, “Let me have at him and I’ll make sure that he ends up the way that I want him to be.” For reasons that I don’t understand, God lets the devil do it. Through the rest of the ch. 1, we hear what the devil does. The devil sends different calamities that take away all the blessings God had given Job.
And how does Job respond to all this loss? It’s remarkable, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Who was it that destroyed all those things? We have to say that it was the devil, and yet who allowed the devil to do that? God did. God gave the devil a long enough leash to take all those things away. And who does Job credit? He credits God. The Lord gave. The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
In ch. 2, which we didn’t read, the devil is allowed to go farther. Job hasn’t cursed God, so the devil asks God to let him go after Job’s body. And Job gets afflicted with sores all over his body. But still, Job does not curse God. You have to imagine how frustrated this made the devil. Satan figured he’d be triumphantly standing over Job while Job was groveling at his feet, but Job doesn’t even acknowledge Satan in any of his suffering. It’s absolutely remarkable. Job’s eyes, mind, and heart are fixed squarely on God even in the midst of suffering.
Job doesn’t go down the black hole of trying to figure out why he’s suffering. He simply recognizes that he is suffering, and in his suffering, Job places himself squarely in God’s gracious hands.
Christian, take note of this. Whenever you’re presented with trials, tribulations, and suffering, don’t bother with the why of your suffering. Instead, focus on Christ. 1 Pet. 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”
Suffering and evil are definitely related to each other, but that does not mean that suffering itself is evil. In fact, suffering is good. If you didn’t suffer when you touched a hot stove, you wouldn’t remove your hand from it. If criminals and murderers didn’t suffer with time in prison, then there’d be a lot more theft and murder.
Suffering is meant to bring about repentance and faith in Christ. Suffering isn’t evil, but that doesn’t mean that God demands that you enjoy your suffering. You are right to hope for the end of your suffering. God sent Jesus to relieve you from suffering. Christ entered into our suffering in order to bring us into His kingdom where there will be no more suffering.
Comfort in suffering comes from seeing that God has come into our world to suffer alongside of us and for us. That’s the real comfort for anyone who suffers in any way. The world sees suffering and it tries to eliminate it. So much of our world today is focused on death as the only solution to suffering. They’ll see a poor, single woman who is pregnant and say, “That baby has no chance of being happy, healthy, or successful. So, abort the baby.” The world sees a person going through horrible medical problems and says, “It’ll just be better to end that life now with a doctor assisted suicide.” The world’s only answers to suffering are barbaric.
God’s answer to suffering is that He sends Jesus, not to bring an end to the sufferer, but to defeat suffering through His suffering (1 Co. 15:54). Jesus is the “Man of Sorrows.” In your suffering you find your Savior, who has died and risen again for you, to deliver you.
What we heard today isn’t the end of Job’s story. Job gets everything back. In Job 42, we see God gave Job twice as much as he had before. There, Job has double the sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys. But then we’re told that Job also had seven more sons and three more daughters. I told you I’d come back to it.
Now, wait a minute. Seven sons and three daughters? That’s what Job had before, isn’t it? Shouldn’t Job have had fourteen sons and six daughters? No. Job’s first ten children aren’t lost to him. This points to Job’s first ten children being saved. Job still has them, even though they died. They’ll be united with Job in the resurrection, because Job knows that his Redeemer lives. Christian, your Redeemer lives too. And like Job, your eyes shall see him and not another (Job 19:25-27). Come quickly, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20). Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
This is a fairly long text, and Paul boasts about himself quite a bit here, but please notice he acknowledges that. He even calls himself a fool and madman (2 Cor. 11:21, 23) for talking like this. But still, to our northern Minnesota, Midwestern ears, a lot of this text can be a bit off-putting. Paul would probably be more ‘at home’ in a place like New York or New Jersey. But basically, all that bragging is Paul defending status as an apostle. That long list of things he endured – the beatings, lashings, shipwrecks, and dangers – all of that is Paul saying that he learned what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt. 16:24).
Then, Paul mentions this vision that he had fourteen years before he wrote this letter, but he does it in a roundabout way. He talks about a man who was caught up into the third heaven. We don’t know what this ‘third heaven’ is other than the fact that Paul calls it ‘paradise.’ While he was there, he heard things that he isn’t allowed to speak about; in other words, the vision was just for him. That isn’t unique. In the book of Revelation, John has a similar experience; he hears the voice of seven thunders, but he isn’t allowed to write what those thunders said (Rev. 10:1-4). Now, it’s clear that the man who had the vision is Paul himself. Notice how in 2 Cor. 12:7, Paul says that he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of that vision. God knew Paul’s weakness of being prideful, so to limit that pride, God gives Paul this thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.
We don’t know exactly what this thorn is. We can speculate, but we can’t say for sure. The possibility that I gravitate toward is that this thorn in Paul’s flesh was poor vision (see Act. 9:18; Gal. 6:11). But I also will admit that I lean toward that understanding because I can identify with it. I also think Paul is intentional about not saying exactly what this thorn is so that you can take his conclusion about the thorn and apply it to yourself in whatever afflictions and suffering you face. Whatever this thorn in the flesh is, it wasn’t a minor thing for Paul. He pleads and begs with Jesus three times to have it removed. This thorn, Paul’s pleading, Jesus’ response to that pleading, and Paul’s conclusion have a lot to teach us about suffering as a Christian.
The first thing to notice is that this thorn was given to Paul. So, who gave it? Well, we have some clues. That thorn is a messenger (lit. an ἄγγελος)of Satan to harass him. In other words, it is one of the devil’s demons who afflicts and torments Paul with the thorn. The devil’s intention is always to push us toward more pride and greater sin. You especially see it when the devil tempts Adam and Eve by saying, “you’ll be like God,” in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:5). Because of this, we might conclude it was the devil who gave this thorn, but hold on just a second. Also notice that this thorn was given in order to limit Paul’s pride and conceit. The devil wouldn’t want to do that. So, who gave Paul this thorn? We’d have to conclude God did, but God does it through the devil.
So, here’s the lesson for us: Both the thorn and the demon are evil – utterly and completely evil – but God takes those evil things and uses them for good. When Ro. 8:28 says that God works all things together for good for those who love him, it is true. Even the work and attacks of the devil can be tools in God’s hand to bring about good. We see a similar thing happen with Job. God allows the devil to afflict Job by destroying all Job’s possessions and even Job’s health (Job. 1:9-12, 2:4-6). There, the devil admits that he can’t touch anything connected with Job unless God permits it. The devil’s intention in tormenting Job with all that suffering is to get Job to curse God. But when you get to the end of the book of Job, you see that Job remains blameless and upright. God uses that affliction of the devil to increase Job’s faith, and on top of that, Job’s three “friends” get brought closer to God as well.
The devil’s intention with both Job’s suffering and Paul’s thorn in the flesh is to destroy faith and increase sin, but God uses the devil’s work to accomplish His purposes. This happens all the time, but the clearest place we see this is in the crucifixion of Jesus. The devil’s fingerprints are all over it! Judas’ betrayal, the crowds who get stirred up by the priests and elders to release the murderer Barabbas instead of Jesus (Mt. 27:20), and the high priest Caiaphas who says that Jesus should die instead of the whole nation perishing (Jn. 11:49-50), there’s no question that all of that was Satan’s work in order to kill Jesus on the cross.
But what actually happened on the cross? Did the devil win by getting Jesus pinned there? Nope! It is on the cross that Jesus crushes that worm’s head. On the cross, Jesus took the record of debt that stood against us and nailed it to the cross which completely disarmed the devil and demons and put them to open shame (Col. 2:14-15). In the crucifixion, Satan thought he was beating God, but God was using the devil’s own strategy and plan to utterly defeat Satan, to deliver you, and to win you back for Himself. God be praised!
Now, let’s draw some practical application from all of this because there are all sorts of lessons to take away from this text (more than I’m going to cover here).
First, God can and does use suffering for your benefit. You don’t have to like suffering; in fact, we long for our suffering to be over. But you can know that God is working in and through your suffering – whatever it is. Scripture doesn’t call you to rejoice because of your suffering, but it does call you to rejoice even in the midst of your suffering (Ro. 5:3-5).
Second, if you are suffering in any way, if you have some thorn, that does not mean that God is angry with you or pitted against you. Remember, Job’s suffering began because God bragged about Job to the devil (Job 1:8, 2:4). And God wasn’t angry with Paul either. It was God’s love for Paul that permitted that fleshly thorn that Paul dealt with for so long.
Third, if you are afflicted by demons, that doesn’t mean you are a bad Christian. Paul had one for fourteen years while he was proclaiming the Gospel, starting new churches, and furthering the kingdom of God. And Jesus tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you. I’m going to let that demon do his thing while I give you My grace. This will show My strength is working through you.”
Fourth, unanswered prayers and denied petitions do not mean that God is unhappy with you. Paul begged and pleaded three times, and Jesus said, “No.” Yes, sometimes, Jesus will release you from the things that cause you suffering, but even when He says, “No,” it is for your benefit.
Finally, look at Paul’s reaction to all of this. He doesn’t say, “I asked for this thorn to be removed, but Jesus said, ‘No,’ so I’m going to complain.” No! He says, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I’ll be content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Dear saints, you are right to lament and long for your suffering to come to an end. Jesus came to rescue you from all suffering. But in your suffering, know that God is at work, and you don’t know what kind of fruit God will bring about through that suffering. Christ is right there beside you in every affliction and weakness you have. He is there present with His strength. And He comes now to strengthen you with His all-powerful Body and Blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. To Him be all the glory, honor, praise, and thanks now and forever. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Christian, the Bible never says that you will escape suffering. In fact, Jesus promises that you will suffer. Jesus says that everyone who follows Him will take up a cross (Mt. 16:24). Jesus says that since the world persecuted Him, it will persecute you (Jn. 15:20). Jesus says that in this world you will have tribulation (Jn. 16:33). Jesus even says that the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God (Jn. 16:2).
Christian, you should expect to encounter suffering in this world. 1 Peter 4:12 tells us to not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Whether or not we will experience suffering is not the question. Instead, our text here would have us consider how we endure the suffering because our typical response to suffering is not what Scripture would have us do.
Often, your initial response to suffering is to look to the time when your suffering will be over. Your kids keep getting up at night, so you look forward to when they finally stay asleep, and you can rest. Your checking account gets low, so you look to your next payday. You get sick, so you look forward to when you will feel better. Even though all of those things are welcome pauses to your suffering, they are only temporary moments of slight relief. And if that is all you hope for, you are setting your sights way too low. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 15:19, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
Christian, this text is telling you that there is something even better in store for you than the end of your suffering. When you suffer, look past the end of your suffering and raise your eyes to the glory that is to be revealed to you (Rom. 8:18). It is a glory that you have even now, but a glory that you cannot see right now.
Look carefully at v. 19-21 of our text. “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Paul here is inviting us to look at our present suffering from the perspective of the rest of God’s creation, so let’s do that. Jesus helps us get that perspective In Matthew 5:45 where He says that God, “Makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good.” Imagine the suffering that the sun has had to endure since the Fall.
Because of God’s mercy, He has commanded the sun to serve idolators, adulterers, thieves, liars, and murderers. The sun was created to shine on the righteous, but God has commanded it to keep shining on both the evil and the good. God has called the sun to serve all people – including the unrighteous. The sun’s work of shining on the evil is wasted, but the sun does it gladly because it is obeying God’s merciful command. The same could be said about the clouds with their rain, the crops with their fruit, and the water with its nourishment. All creation would much rather only serve only you, Christian. As the sun and the rest of creation serves the evil and the good, the righteous and the unrighteous, it waits with eager longing for you to be revealed as the sons of God (Ro. 8:19).
Catch that. Creation longs for “the revealing” of the sons of God. It will take a “revealing” for creation to recognize you as the sons of God.
Some of you have told me that you don’t recognize how loved and valued you are by God. You don’t see yourselves as God’s children. But listen to what 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
Here’s the truth. God sees you as His beloved child – holy, blameless, and righteous. Even though you can’t see that, and even though the rest of creation can’t see that, it’s true. But the day will come when you will be revealed as God’s children. All of creation will see it, and you will also see it.
Until then, live like the sun. Shine the light of Christ upon the righteous and the unrighteous as you eagerly wait for the time when you will be revealed before all creation as a beloved, holy, righteous child of God. Sure, you don’t see the glory God has given you yet. That’s fine. That day will come. God has promised. Jesus will return. Your body will be redeemed. You will rise, and all your suffering will fade away.
Dear saints, all suffering in this world is temporary. That doesn’t mean that your suffering doesn’t matter. Suffering can cause deep wounds that leave painful scars. Even though that is very true, the sufferings of this present time are all – every one of them – temporary. In fact, there is only one type of suffering that is nottemporary, and that is the eternal torment of hell. But that is not your destiny, Christian.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, you have God’s promise that the sufferings of this present time are not even worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to you. And as you eagerly wait for your adoption as sons, as you eagerly await the redemption of your bodies, come to God’s table. Receive Jesus’ resurrected Body and Blood given and shed for the forgiveness of your sins. Be fed with His mercy and grace which strengthens you to serve the rest of creation as you eagerly await His return. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Our texts today seem to have conflicting messages. This text from Romans 15 has a lot to say about endurance, encouragement, hope, harmony, joy, and peace. It’s nice. But in our Gospel lesson, when Jesus talks about the day of His return, He speaks of signs in the sun and moon and stars. He mentions the distress of nations in perplexity, the roaring of the sea and waves, and people fainting with fear and foreboding because of what is coming on the world. Our Lord declares that the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Come on, Jesus. We don’t like that imagery, and it doesn’t fill us with joy or peace or hope. We don’t like to hear about the world coming apart at the seams. But then, we turn on the news or scroll through our social media accounts and see evidence of creation collapsing and society crumbling, and we get anxious. Our fear of the end of the world probably lies in the fact that this world is all we have experienced and known. Repent and remember this world is not all there is.
Jesus tells us about all these distressing things so that when they happen, we can be filled with all joy and peace so that we abound in hope in the midst of it all. Similar to when a patient has been physically suffering for months while the doctors only scratch their heads, once the doctors can give a diagnosis there is a sense of relief even if it is a devastating diagnosis. Jesus, the God of hope, has diagnosed the situation and tells us exactly what is going on.
Jesus told us that it would happen so when we see it we wouldn’t be afraid. Dear saints, we don’t need to be worried when we see the world collapsing. It’s like Jesus is saying, “When it looks like everything is falling apart, when all creation seems to be disintegrating, it is. It is, but don’t worry about it because nothing bad is going to happen to you. Instead, be glad because all of it means that your redemption is drawing near.”
Christ warns us so we can straighten up, raise our heads, and stand before Him when He returns. These words of Christ are exactly what we need to endure and be encouraged so that we have hope and strive to live in harmony with one another.
I’ve used this picture before, but I think it is so helpful. Imagine you are in a castle at night, and suddenly all the guards and soldiers start running to their battle stations because an army is marching to attack the fortress. The boots of that attacking force stop tramping, and you hear the shouts of commanders telling the troops to load the catapults and start banging the gates with the battering ram. The castle doors and the walls are shaking. Boulders are hurled against the fortress. Windows are shattering and dust is falling from the ceiling. The floor you are standing on is rocked by the sounds of battle all around you.
Normally, you would be terrified in that situation. But not now. Not now because you are a captive in the prison of that castle. And the commander leading the invading army is Jesus coming to rescue you and all your prison mates, all your brothers and sisters in Christ. Knowing that, every crash, every clang, every shout of battle, and every wall that crumbles around you means that your release is that much closer. And as the morning sunlight peeks through the cracks of the walls, you and your fellow prisoners all know that a new day is dawning, and it is the day of your deliverance.
This world is often a beautiful place full of the good gifts of God. But remember that this world is broken and incomplete. This world is fallen and there is so much wrong with where we are. And much of what is broken, incomplete, fallen, and wrong is your own doing and my own doing. And all of this has been going on so long that you get used to it. You and I get used to sin, and we start to think that it is normal. Like a pig farmer who doesn’t notice the stink of the barn, the stench of our sin starts to not bother us anymore. Repent, but don’t despair.
The Jesus who will come again in glory has come already to bring the beginning of hope. His words and works and deeds were written for our instruction. In the Scriptures we learn that when Jesus ministered in this fallen world what was broken was made whole. What was sick was cured. What was defiled was made holy. What was dead was raised. Where there were sinners, Christ brought forgiveness. And all of that was just the beginning. All of this was written to give us encouragement to endure in the hope that the healing Christ brought to the broken of this world would be ushered into the entire creation – into the new creation.
The God of hope encourages you. He wants you to endure. And He wants you to have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you that hope because it is certain and true. The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings (Mal. 4:2). Straighten up. Raise your heads because your redemption draws near. May that same God, Jesus, the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you abound in hope. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Our texts today seem to have conflicting messages. This text from Romans 15 has a lot to say about endurance, encouragement, hope, harmony, joy, and peace. It’s nice. But in our Gospel lesson, when Jesus talks about the day of His return, He speaks of signs in the sun and moon and stars. He mentions the distress of nations in perplexity, the roaring of the sea and waves, and people fainting with fear and foreboding because of what is coming on the world. Our Lord declares that the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
The castle doors and the walls are shaking. Boulders are hurled against the fortress. Windows are shattering and dust is falling from the ceiling. The floor you are standing on is rocked by the sounds of battle all around you.
What was defiled was made holy. What was dead was raised. Where there were sinners, Christ brought forgiveness. And all of that was just the beginning. All of this was written to give us encouragement to endure in the hope that the healing Christ brought to the broken of this world would be ushered into the entire creation – into the new creation.
Pastorsamwise 
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