+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Exodus 33:19
Theme: Moses and God’s Glory
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
We cannot escape the deepest need of the human soul. It is the need to have direct knowledge of God. Did not even the greatest saints have doubts? Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory. Moses wanted to know. It was a genuine human desire. The disciples wanted to know too. They enquired of Jesus. Philip expressed it in John chapter 14. Phillip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."1 And what does Jesus say? “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.”2 Moses was given a similar answer. The Spirit makes the Father known only through the Son.
Direct knowledge of God does await all the faithful. It will be the ultimate reward of faith. But, dear friends, if the imminent presence of God was immediately tangible to us at all times, if we could experience God just as empirically as we do conversing with a friend or eating a meal, there would be no need for faith. One day this will be the case. Perhaps Enoch possessed a faith so exceptionally strong that there was little difference between his experience on earth and his rapture to heaven. “What does the Scripture say, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”3 So close was Enoch’s journey with God that God spared him from death.
But for now- and for the rest of us, God clothes Himself in human attire. He hides Himself in created things. The redeeming God is not a God who normally smashes networks of evil, and demolishes the agendas of Satan through supernatural or cosmic displays of His authority. Yes, He has this power. He can collapse the universe in an instant. He can topple nations and rulers by brute force. He chooses, instead, to abolish the darkness of sin through humility. He submitted to death to spare us of everlasting separation. He shows His strength in gentleness. He clothes Himself in words of forgiveness, in baptismal water and in bread and wine. He handles sin and its consequence in this manner.
Us mortals tend to handle sin in a different way; either we try to justify it, or we try to hide it. In trying to justify it we seek to convince God, ourselves and other people that it was unavoidable or of no serious consequence. In trying to conceal it we naively think that if other people are unaware, that God hasn’t noticed either. Even if we understand intellectually that God does know, we often have no evidence that we are under judgment because of it. In effect, we give ourselves license to keep on sinning. This is a dangerous deception. The Bible says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”4 God knows us better than we know ourselves. In short, we should not try to fool anyone. The call to repentance involves just such integrity. The words of the Spirit are clear, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”5
Moses deeply desired to know God’s truth and to do His will. The following of God’s will involves a continual refining of our faith and sanctifying of our lives. What we want isn’t always what we need. God redirects our ambitions and our desires for the well-being of our souls and the benefit of others. In doing so our faith is tested. God even allows temptations and through them builds our character and perseverance. Yet in doing so God never deserts us. Commenting on the rebellious actions of the Israelites, St. Paul says, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”6
Dear friends, the way out, the way through, and the way in is Jesus. He is the only object of our faith. The Scripture says, “…through faith [we] are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”7 We are justified before God, declared righteous, only by grace, for Christ’s sake, received through faith. Our worthiness is found in Christ alone. This glorious good news is the heritage of the Reformation. Convictions have consequences. Beliefs have repercussions. This truth is worth dying for. Without it all hope would be lost.
From a worldly standpoint, faith takes the ultimate risk. It involves putting all one’s eggs in the same basket. Christians put all their hope in Jesus Christ. For unbelievers this is not only a risk, it is a waste of time. But for us it is a preview of eternity. Christ not only served us from the cross, He continues to serve us from the heavenly throne. We are baptized into His inheritance. We dine at His royal table, receiving the bread and wine of immortality. Now we can serve because we have been served. We can give because we have been given to. We can sacrifice because we have been sacrificed for. We can love because we have been loved.
Many people, even Christians, miss the crux of who God is when they see Him as a Sovereign who primarily wants peoples’ praise and allegiance- as if to build His ego.
It is both interesting and important to note that in His earthly ministry Jesus never commands people to worship Him. He never says, “Bow down to Me.” Rather He states plainly who He is and leads people to understand the conclusion. He rebukes unbelievers, He comforts repentant sinners, He demands strict obedience; but He never commands people to fall on their knees before Him. That will be reserved for the final judgment. God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. God does not delight in people who bow down to Him out of fear or merely honour His name in hopes of gaining some favour from Him. He delights in those who trust that He is good and gracious and follow His will because they believe He has their best interest in mind. We worship the triune God as revealed in Jesus Christ because we see through the eyes of faith a God who loves us at all costs, a God who is eternally faithful and fulfills His promises. Our faith is in the living God who desires to share life with His people.
We’re not as far removed from the circumstances of Moses as we may think. Moses, too, would have to wait for the Messiah to see the glory of God. He asked God, “How shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"8 God said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 9 It’s hard to ask for a better promise than that! Christ is God’s presence among us. In Him all of our needs are met and our rest will be eternal! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
22 October 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 John 14:8 2 John 14:9
3 Genesis 5:24 4 Hebrews 13:4
5 1 John 1:8 6 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
7 1 Peter 1:5 8 Exodus 33:16
9 Exodus 33:14
Monday, October 23, 2017
Funeral of Thelma Semmens (October 20, 2017)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Zephaniah 3:17
Theme: The Victory Song
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Thelma, and especially you, Pauline, James, Marcia, Grant, and Robert, her children,
The descriptions of heaven in the Book of Revelations include singing. Music expresses the deepest emotions of the heart. Even more importantly, music seems to be an inescapable way of expressing ultimate truth. When St. John has his privileged view into heaven he describes it in this way, “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’”1 Thelma loved to sing. She was part of the choir here at St. Peter’s for a number of years. Now she is part of the celestial throng.
When the life a believer on earth falls silent, the angelic spirits in heaven raise their voices in celebration. With song and chant and rejoicing a believer is received into the heavenly realms with revelry beyond comprehension. One of their own has come home. Death is a transition from life to life. It is a transition from a decaying, corrupted, weakening life; to a restored, perfected, and strengthened life. Death is a transition from doubt to certainty, from fear to security, from hope to attainment, from the temporal to the eternal. These truths are so because Jesus Christ was not given to speculation or philosophy or mere theoretical propositions. He is “the resurrection and the Life.”2 He has faced death and overcome it. He has now done this for Thelma Semmens. Thelma has transitioned from a fragile life here, to a glorified life there.
We cannot live forever in this life, nor would we want to. The occasion of a death must always be seized as an opportunity to reflect on our own mortality. No one can say honestly, “That will never happen to me.” “I will never get ill.’ “I will never be in an accident.” “I will never get cancer.” “I will never be suddenly faced with the end of my life.” It does happen. It will happen because of sin. To understand this is to see the priorities of life from different perspective. Those who remain slaves to sin in this life are owned by sin and Satan for eternity. All of our efforts and energies to excuse ourselves from the guilt of sin are useless.
The price of sin is covered by the only One who was worthy to make the sacrifice. Only the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ spares one from eternal condemnation. Our righteousness is not our own. We have it by faith in Christ. The Scripture says, “By grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”3 Jesus Christ left nothing undone. On the cross He said, “It is finished,”4 and everything was accomplished. He rose victoriously on Easter securing immortal life.
Several weeks back I had the privilege of offering Holy Communion to Thelma in, what turned out to be the final time. I could tell she was struggling. Her eyes focused on me for a long time and though there was resignation, there was also contentment. She was being prepared to be with her Lord. She had lived a full life. Thelma’s contentment was evidence of her faith. St. Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”5 And so too Thelma. The only true contentment in this life and the life to come is to rest securely in the care of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the world, the Living Water, the resurrection and the Life!”
How desperately the world needs such contentment! The curse of living in this fallen world, the reality of lives ruled by sin, the condemnation of souls in bondage to unbelief and self-reliance is that one can never be content. Apart from Christ, all human beings face eternal death and no one can really believe they are facing the judgment of hell and still be content. People can be defiant or in denial or ignorant, but that in no way changes the outcome. When sin is left unaddressed and unresolved there can be no contentment and Thelma would have wanted people to know that.
I first met Thelma when she came along with Clem to communion services at the hospital. Her friendly demeaner was immediately endearing. She was a faithful companion and support for Clem for many years during his declining health. Thelma now inhabits the place that Christ prepared for her. It is a place that was under preparation for a long time. It was nearly 60 years ago that Thelma was promised a place in heaven through Holy Baptism. Her and Clem were baptized together as adults. Christ has prepared a much better life to come for all who believe in His saving name. For Thelma, as for every Christian, death is not a defeat. It is a victory. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”6
Christ is risen. He is living and death no longer holds any power over Him. Life and death, sin and grace, heaven and hell are in His control and He commands them for the good of all who believe.
Thelma enjoyed singing. The words of the prophet have now come true for her, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”7 The Lord now rejoices over Thelma with singing. She has been received into His eternal care. All praise and honor be to our gracious and powerful God who has given Thelma the victory, having received her into the eternal joys of heaven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Thelma Doreen Semmens
20 October 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Revelation 5:11-12 2 John 11:25
3 Ephesians 2:8-9 4 John 19:30
5 Philippians 4:12 6 John 11:25-26
7 Zephaniah 3:17
Text: Zephaniah 3:17
Theme: The Victory Song
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Thelma, and especially you, Pauline, James, Marcia, Grant, and Robert, her children,
The descriptions of heaven in the Book of Revelations include singing. Music expresses the deepest emotions of the heart. Even more importantly, music seems to be an inescapable way of expressing ultimate truth. When St. John has his privileged view into heaven he describes it in this way, “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’”1 Thelma loved to sing. She was part of the choir here at St. Peter’s for a number of years. Now she is part of the celestial throng.
When the life a believer on earth falls silent, the angelic spirits in heaven raise their voices in celebration. With song and chant and rejoicing a believer is received into the heavenly realms with revelry beyond comprehension. One of their own has come home. Death is a transition from life to life. It is a transition from a decaying, corrupted, weakening life; to a restored, perfected, and strengthened life. Death is a transition from doubt to certainty, from fear to security, from hope to attainment, from the temporal to the eternal. These truths are so because Jesus Christ was not given to speculation or philosophy or mere theoretical propositions. He is “the resurrection and the Life.”2 He has faced death and overcome it. He has now done this for Thelma Semmens. Thelma has transitioned from a fragile life here, to a glorified life there.
We cannot live forever in this life, nor would we want to. The occasion of a death must always be seized as an opportunity to reflect on our own mortality. No one can say honestly, “That will never happen to me.” “I will never get ill.’ “I will never be in an accident.” “I will never get cancer.” “I will never be suddenly faced with the end of my life.” It does happen. It will happen because of sin. To understand this is to see the priorities of life from different perspective. Those who remain slaves to sin in this life are owned by sin and Satan for eternity. All of our efforts and energies to excuse ourselves from the guilt of sin are useless.
The price of sin is covered by the only One who was worthy to make the sacrifice. Only the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ spares one from eternal condemnation. Our righteousness is not our own. We have it by faith in Christ. The Scripture says, “By grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”3 Jesus Christ left nothing undone. On the cross He said, “It is finished,”4 and everything was accomplished. He rose victoriously on Easter securing immortal life.
Several weeks back I had the privilege of offering Holy Communion to Thelma in, what turned out to be the final time. I could tell she was struggling. Her eyes focused on me for a long time and though there was resignation, there was also contentment. She was being prepared to be with her Lord. She had lived a full life. Thelma’s contentment was evidence of her faith. St. Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”5 And so too Thelma. The only true contentment in this life and the life to come is to rest securely in the care of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the world, the Living Water, the resurrection and the Life!”
How desperately the world needs such contentment! The curse of living in this fallen world, the reality of lives ruled by sin, the condemnation of souls in bondage to unbelief and self-reliance is that one can never be content. Apart from Christ, all human beings face eternal death and no one can really believe they are facing the judgment of hell and still be content. People can be defiant or in denial or ignorant, but that in no way changes the outcome. When sin is left unaddressed and unresolved there can be no contentment and Thelma would have wanted people to know that.
I first met Thelma when she came along with Clem to communion services at the hospital. Her friendly demeaner was immediately endearing. She was a faithful companion and support for Clem for many years during his declining health. Thelma now inhabits the place that Christ prepared for her. It is a place that was under preparation for a long time. It was nearly 60 years ago that Thelma was promised a place in heaven through Holy Baptism. Her and Clem were baptized together as adults. Christ has prepared a much better life to come for all who believe in His saving name. For Thelma, as for every Christian, death is not a defeat. It is a victory. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”6
Christ is risen. He is living and death no longer holds any power over Him. Life and death, sin and grace, heaven and hell are in His control and He commands them for the good of all who believe.
Thelma enjoyed singing. The words of the prophet have now come true for her, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”7 The Lord now rejoices over Thelma with singing. She has been received into His eternal care. All praise and honor be to our gracious and powerful God who has given Thelma the victory, having received her into the eternal joys of heaven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Thelma Doreen Semmens
20 October 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Revelation 5:11-12 2 John 11:25
3 Ephesians 2:8-9 4 John 19:30
5 Philippians 4:12 6 John 11:25-26
7 Zephaniah 3:17
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