+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Revelation 7:14
Theme: Freed By The Blood Of The Lamb
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of John, Terry, Karen, Denise, and especially you; Dorothy,
Time waits for no man. And death waits only until its divinely appointed hour. Then, the inevitable must come to pass. Instantly the threshold is crossed. Soul and body are severed, and as the Scripture says, “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”1 The last breath is taken. The eyes close for the final time. The believer wakes to the brightness of the eternal realm. The angels rejoice, and God receives back His own. John has been released from all worry, care and anxiety. He is freed from all pain, suffering, and fear. He has been crowned with life. He is in the presence of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!
As we reflect today upon the life God granted to John it’s fitting for us to be mindful of our own mortality. A Christian funeral isn’t one-dimensional. It’s not merely an occasion to stop and honour the life that was. Our purpose here isn’t restricted to looking back over the horizon of John’s earthly life alone. The entire objective of Christ’s intervention into our fallen world is to restore what was meant to be. John now enjoys unending life. He has taken his final place in that mystical communion of God’s people that transcends time and space.
Death was not in the original equation. Death is the consequence of rebellion against God. All must face the guilt of their sins. Sin separates from God. But eternal separation was never God’s intention. Of course, people still chose it for themselves, decide to go their own way. Yet only Christ could atone for the sins of others, only He could overcome death. Therefore, the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”1 So, this existence is not the be all and end all. It’s a difficult message to advocate in our self-indulged, here-and-now-focused society.
Yet, it’s a message that’s needed as much as ever. There is only one way to cross from this mortal life into the heavenly kingdom and none of us holds it in our power. We are saved by grace, though faith or not at all. Christ was crucified for our sins. He was raised to bring us life. The apostle summarizes saying, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”2
It’s difficult to comprehend how much society changed during John’s lifetime. John first came to Loxton with a horse and cart. Imagine trying that today! The practical differences in the way we live our daily lives compared to 60 or 70 years ago are profound. Think only of the advances in medicine, transportation, and communication. Yet, people are fundamentally no different in any age. We are sinners in need of the grace of God. John was born, just like everyone else, in a state of alienation from God. But in baptism the Holy Spirit claimed him as a child of God granting him faith and the promise of the forgiveness of sins in Christ.
John adapted to the changes over the decades mostly with determination and good humour.
John’s dad was in the army. That reality alone tends to produce a mature perspective on life at an earlier age. John was resourceful in negotiating his way through life. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have challenges, struggles, and even regrets. Sometimes no one can say what regrets, if any, a person may have had in his or her life, what confessions are uttered to God on the deathbed. We often hold them tightly in our possession either too wise to trouble those who may be hurt by them, or too ashamed to let them be resolved by those who would readily forgive us. Sometimes both motives are at play. But God knows. Our deepest secrets are open before Him.
We should consider carefully those things which we should take to our graves. What are our motives? What are our fears? Who might be helped? Who might be hurt? Like repentance toward God, pursuit of reconciliation with others should never be put off until conditions seem more favourable. Maybe it will require decisive humility? Maybe you can muster nothing more than a strained plea to the Almighty that He take in hand what you don’t have the strength or integrity to do?
God forgives. He is full of grace. He is quick to pardon. He hurries to embrace us like the father rushing to his prodigal son. He seeks our reconciliation like the Good Shepherd looking for the lost sheep. The Saviour didn’t go to the cross for nothing. He doesn’t poor out His blood without purpose. Recipients of divine forgiveness are privileged to offer that forgiveness to others. The Scripture says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”3
Some months back now I ran into John in the Berri Plaza. It was the first time I had really had a decent chat with him. He spoke honestly and transparently about his health struggles. I could tell it was more than just a casual conversation. I believe John knew already then, that God was preparing him to be called home relatively soon. From God’s perspective it was exactly the right time. It was not the will of the Lord that John enjoy another Christmas here. Now he experiences an unending Easter. Time waits for no man, but eternity takes no thought of time. Ceaseless enjoyment of the company of Christ hardly registers with us now even with our best efforts at imagining. But faith accepts the mystery on the authority of God’s promise.
Dorothy, more than sixty years of marriage is a feat that will not be matched by nearly as many couples in the coming generation. It truly was, ‘til death do you part.’ No one will be able to replace John as a husband, or a as a father or grandfather. It’s appropriate to cherish those memories as you grieve. You’ve already grieved through the loss of a daughter together. But grief is not the final word. Our hope in God is not misplaced. The Holy Spirit will not forsake believers. His truth is indestructible. Christ has broken the power of death. The tomb could not hold Him. 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.”4
John has been freed by the power of Christ’s blood. Thanks be to God that He has received John into the place prepared for him by the Saviour. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of John Evan Platten
1 December 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Ecclesiastes 12:7 2 Romans 9:9-10
3 Colossians 3:13 4 John 11:25-26
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Last Sunday of the Church Year (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 5:22
Theme: Entrusted To The Son
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
You will be summoned. On that great and awesome day when the trumpet sounds, and the angels stride forth attending the Son of Man in His glory. You will be there, present with that great gathering of mortals in the company of celestial beings. We cannot now fathom the nature of that assembly. It has no precedent. It will not be duplicated. It will be a time of terror. It will be an occasion of joy. It will unveil mysteries too profound to describe until then. It will be the end of all history. It will be the consummation of our eternal union with the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, saints and angels.
At the coming of Christ in glory we will witness the judgment and acknowledgment of all accomplishments and all failures; of the great and the small. Every Tower of Babel will be revealed for what it is. Every idol will be demolished. As the Scripture says, “And the idols shall utterly pass away”.1 But each monument to the merciful Lord will be honoured. Every holy work will be exalted. Every selfless sacrifice throughout the history of time will be extolled. The people of God will be rescued. The faithful will receive the crown of life. “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'”2
No one will stand to challenge His authority. No one will question His decrees. The words of the Psalmist will come to fruition, “The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.”3 And what is the nature of His authority? He is the Sovereign of the universe. Listen again to the words of the Risen Lord, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.”4
Imagine the shock of those who failed to believe that every sin will be brought into judgment? Imagine the horror of being condemned for transgressions the world labelled as good deeds? No wonder the Scripture says, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.”5 The very thought should drive us to repentance and cause us to confess every iniquity to the One who alone has the power to pardon or condemn. There will be no second chances on the Last Day.
When will that day come? We do not know. But we do know life is a pilgrimage. We’re not sitting around twiddling our thumbs until Christ returns. We are hard-pressed by Satan every hour. The temptation of sin is ever before us. Even in our frailty we are ambassadors of truth and light in a world often mired in darkness and falsehood. We are givers and receivers of love and faithfulness in our varied vocations as husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, friends, and neighbours.
The challenge is to never lose sight of what matters in the end. The nonessentials in life cannot be allowed to squeeze out holy truth. To His good friend Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary."6 Maybe it’s a long way to the bottom of the list of things that cause you anxiety? Maybe you’re so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start? Or maybe it’s one thing? Perhaps a singular vexing trouble that consumes your time and energy like a black hole? Maybe it’s a cluster of unhealthy cycles in relationships? Maybe it’s a serious or nagging health issue? Maybe you’re struggling with lack or purpose or meaning in life? Maybe you’re just trying to survive from one day to the next? If any of these are true for you, you are not alone. The holy God journeys with you every hour.
Consideration of our mortality is confronting therefore many prefer to avoid the subject entirely. Fear of the darkness beyond can be immobilising. But that doesn’t change reality. How can sinners cross into the heavenly light? They can and do, as the Redeemer says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”7
Christ was not afraid to enter the darkness. He did not turn away because of the enormity of the task. He was not deterred by self-absorption or side-tracked by lesser tasks. He journeyed straight to the cross. Only three years of public ministry were needed to bring things to a head. He didn’t try to avoid trial. He didn’t seek to escape the authorities. He didn’t challenge His unjust sentence. He didn’t resist His cruel torturers. He carried His own cross as far as He could. And there, on Calvary, when He met His death He tasted death for all of us as the Scripture says, “… He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”8 You see, that’s the miracle of the gospel: The Son of God went to Calvary for you, on your behalf, in your place. He slammed shut the portal to hell so that you could be spared from its horrors. He rose again on Easter morning.
The apostle John, in his great vision of the heavenly realm had an angel speak to him who said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."9 These words the Spirit had recorded for our encouragement. Blessed are those who are invited. Blessed are you, guest of the King. Honoured are you, cherished child of God. Here, in His house, you dine with the King of kings and Lord of lords. But you are no stranger to His house. You are no occasional guest in His palace. You are adopted into His family. You have a permanent place in His dynasty.
Today is the final Sunday in the Church Year. The promise of the Coming One rings out with clarity. You will be summoned. But you will not be forsaken. Your inheritance is among the baptized. The creator of all that exists will come again in His glory. You will be there. None will miss the spectacle. The prince as well as the pauper, the master and the servant, the highborn and those of humble birth, your friends, and those at enmity with you; all will behold His face. The wicked will suffer separation. Believers will be received into that paradise beyond knowing. “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”10 “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”11 Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Last Sunday of the Church Year
25 November 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Isaiah 2:18 2 Matthew 25:34-36
3 Psalm 50:1 4 John 5:21-22, 26-27
5 Revelation 1:7 6 Luke 10:41-42
7 John 5:24 8 Hebrews 2:9
9 Revelation 19:9 10 John 5:25
11 1 Corinthians 15:52
Text: John 5:22
Theme: Entrusted To The Son
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
You will be summoned. On that great and awesome day when the trumpet sounds, and the angels stride forth attending the Son of Man in His glory. You will be there, present with that great gathering of mortals in the company of celestial beings. We cannot now fathom the nature of that assembly. It has no precedent. It will not be duplicated. It will be a time of terror. It will be an occasion of joy. It will unveil mysteries too profound to describe until then. It will be the end of all history. It will be the consummation of our eternal union with the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, saints and angels.
At the coming of Christ in glory we will witness the judgment and acknowledgment of all accomplishments and all failures; of the great and the small. Every Tower of Babel will be revealed for what it is. Every idol will be demolished. As the Scripture says, “And the idols shall utterly pass away”.1 But each monument to the merciful Lord will be honoured. Every holy work will be exalted. Every selfless sacrifice throughout the history of time will be extolled. The people of God will be rescued. The faithful will receive the crown of life. “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'”2
No one will stand to challenge His authority. No one will question His decrees. The words of the Psalmist will come to fruition, “The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.”3 And what is the nature of His authority? He is the Sovereign of the universe. Listen again to the words of the Risen Lord, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.”4
Imagine the shock of those who failed to believe that every sin will be brought into judgment? Imagine the horror of being condemned for transgressions the world labelled as good deeds? No wonder the Scripture says, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.”5 The very thought should drive us to repentance and cause us to confess every iniquity to the One who alone has the power to pardon or condemn. There will be no second chances on the Last Day.
When will that day come? We do not know. But we do know life is a pilgrimage. We’re not sitting around twiddling our thumbs until Christ returns. We are hard-pressed by Satan every hour. The temptation of sin is ever before us. Even in our frailty we are ambassadors of truth and light in a world often mired in darkness and falsehood. We are givers and receivers of love and faithfulness in our varied vocations as husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, friends, and neighbours.
The challenge is to never lose sight of what matters in the end. The nonessentials in life cannot be allowed to squeeze out holy truth. To His good friend Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary."6 Maybe it’s a long way to the bottom of the list of things that cause you anxiety? Maybe you’re so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start? Or maybe it’s one thing? Perhaps a singular vexing trouble that consumes your time and energy like a black hole? Maybe it’s a cluster of unhealthy cycles in relationships? Maybe it’s a serious or nagging health issue? Maybe you’re struggling with lack or purpose or meaning in life? Maybe you’re just trying to survive from one day to the next? If any of these are true for you, you are not alone. The holy God journeys with you every hour.
Consideration of our mortality is confronting therefore many prefer to avoid the subject entirely. Fear of the darkness beyond can be immobilising. But that doesn’t change reality. How can sinners cross into the heavenly light? They can and do, as the Redeemer says, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”7
Christ was not afraid to enter the darkness. He did not turn away because of the enormity of the task. He was not deterred by self-absorption or side-tracked by lesser tasks. He journeyed straight to the cross. Only three years of public ministry were needed to bring things to a head. He didn’t try to avoid trial. He didn’t seek to escape the authorities. He didn’t challenge His unjust sentence. He didn’t resist His cruel torturers. He carried His own cross as far as He could. And there, on Calvary, when He met His death He tasted death for all of us as the Scripture says, “… He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”8 You see, that’s the miracle of the gospel: The Son of God went to Calvary for you, on your behalf, in your place. He slammed shut the portal to hell so that you could be spared from its horrors. He rose again on Easter morning.
The apostle John, in his great vision of the heavenly realm had an angel speak to him who said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."9 These words the Spirit had recorded for our encouragement. Blessed are those who are invited. Blessed are you, guest of the King. Honoured are you, cherished child of God. Here, in His house, you dine with the King of kings and Lord of lords. But you are no stranger to His house. You are no occasional guest in His palace. You are adopted into His family. You have a permanent place in His dynasty.
Today is the final Sunday in the Church Year. The promise of the Coming One rings out with clarity. You will be summoned. But you will not be forsaken. Your inheritance is among the baptized. The creator of all that exists will come again in His glory. You will be there. None will miss the spectacle. The prince as well as the pauper, the master and the servant, the highborn and those of humble birth, your friends, and those at enmity with you; all will behold His face. The wicked will suffer separation. Believers will be received into that paradise beyond knowing. “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”10 “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”11 Thanks be to God! Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Last Sunday of the Church Year
25 November 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Isaiah 2:18 2 Matthew 25:34-36
3 Psalm 50:1 4 John 5:21-22, 26-27
5 Revelation 1:7 6 Luke 10:41-42
7 John 5:24 8 Hebrews 2:9
9 Revelation 19:9 10 John 5:25
11 1 Corinthians 15:52
Monday, November 19, 2018
Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Mark 13:7
Theme: Do Not Be Alarmed
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
“Do not be alarmed.”1 These are the strong and comforting words of our Lord. And why does He speak them? Because He knows the propensity of the human heart to be flooded with anxiety in the face of even the smallest threat. The matters He is discussing with His disciples today are by no means trivial. He says, “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”2 The end WILL come. It’s a matter of when, not if. The Lord will bring all history to conclusion.
Speculation about when (and sometimes, how) the end will come has raged since the beginning of time. Many modern cult and sect leaders have used predictions of a coming apocalypse to gather and galvanise followers. Other doomsayers have pointed to nuclear holocaust or environmental catastrophe as a certain cause for the end of civilisation and even all life on the planet. As believers, we need not worry about religious zealots, alien invasions, or other conspiracy theories about the end of the world. God doesn’t leave unattended business. The same God who put the original creation in order will transform His creation for eternity.
We’re now entering that time of the Christian calendar in which we are more deliberate about focusing on the Second Coming of our Lord. The end of the Church Year and the Season of Advent strike similar themes. The Mighty One declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."3 Everything is moving towards a conclusion. Existence on this earth is not open-ended and indeterminate. A date has been set by the Father when the children of God will be rescued from all dangers and perils forever.
Jesus warns us about unrest, violence, and mass events that take the lives of or injure many people. Such things are happening in our world all the time. They always have been. But we now have more instant and vivid coverage through improved technology. People generally have a much greater appetite for bad news than for good news. Good news doesn’t sell. It’s a result of one of the darker qualities of sinful human nature. The news is typically a litany of the crimes, deception, and violence perpetrated each day. Where would we be without coverage of the weather and sports? What would be left?
But we can’t lay all the blame on the media for the content they cover. Media is a business. They need customers, consumers. Their coverage, in some measure, reflects the market, the interests of the population. Of course, efforts are made also, to create consumer attitudes and control them. Modern media does make it easier to stoke the fear of the masses. Our sinful nature causes us to think of what benefits us first and to fear any challenge to the attainment of the same. All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Acknowledgement that the world will end one day, and certainly that we must all come to terms with our own mortality is a call to repentance. In the end, sinners cannot have it their way.
The world will always exist in a measure of anxiety and turmoil. Conflicts in this life will never completely cease. Yet, what does Jesus say? Do not fear. Do not be alarmed. These things will happen. These are just the beginning of the birth pains. When things are bad, we should be mindful they could still get a lot worse. Knowing this drives us more intensely to rely on the mercy of God in Christ. All of our crutches must be knocked out from under us. Our idols of self-generated security; money, possessions, career, accomplishments, reputation- all must be collapsed under the irrefutable truth that nothing that we have or are can save us from the judgment of sin. Christ alone can do that. There is nothing we can contribute that could make His sacrifice more valid or more effective. He died a repugnant death on the cross for our sins. He rose victoriously from the grave to secure life.
Each of us is a work in progress, but the end goal is not in doubt. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave unattended what He begins. As the Scripture says, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”4 You are His baptized. He feeds you with His own flesh and blood because you are His own flesh and blood. He will not forsake you. Daniel reminds us that the righteous and the wicked will be separated at the final judgment and in eternity. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”5 We confess this truth in one of the creeds every Lord’s Day.
Jesus finishes everything He starts. He is not incapable of fulfilling His promises. He is not unwilling to make good on His word. Yes, even those most vexing, haunting, intractable traumas that you have given up all hope of ever having resolved. Those guilt-ridden memories we’d like to erase forever from our minds - these too will be sifted through the transforming sieve of Christ’s redeeming love. He doesn’t condone, or excuse, or reinterpret the sin. He parts the sin from the sinner and cleanses the believer’s soul. Your past will not, it cannot be held against you because the Son of God has received the punishment for your transgressions. There is nothing so evil, so sinister in your past that the Saviour would turn His face away from you.
The world will have upheaval. In the midst of it… we have peace. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. The world will have doubt. In the midst of it… we have hope. “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.”6 The world will remain in bondage to selfishness and sin. In the midst of it… we have freedom. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”7 The world will never be free of falsehood. Nevertheless…we have truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”8 The world will always struggle with hatred. Nevertheless…we have Christ’s unconditional love. God is love.
The end will come, either when human history reaches its divinely appointed termination or when we meet our own personal mortality. But do not fear. Christ will not leave us hanging. We can say with the Psalmist, “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.”9
+ In nomine Jesu +
Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
18 November 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 13:7 2 Mark 13:7-8
3 Revelation 1:8 4 Philippians 1:6
5 Daniel 2:12 6 Romans 15:4
7 Romans 8:2 8 John 14:6
9 Psalm 138:8
Text: Mark 13:7
Theme: Do Not Be Alarmed
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
“Do not be alarmed.”1 These are the strong and comforting words of our Lord. And why does He speak them? Because He knows the propensity of the human heart to be flooded with anxiety in the face of even the smallest threat. The matters He is discussing with His disciples today are by no means trivial. He says, “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”2 The end WILL come. It’s a matter of when, not if. The Lord will bring all history to conclusion.
Speculation about when (and sometimes, how) the end will come has raged since the beginning of time. Many modern cult and sect leaders have used predictions of a coming apocalypse to gather and galvanise followers. Other doomsayers have pointed to nuclear holocaust or environmental catastrophe as a certain cause for the end of civilisation and even all life on the planet. As believers, we need not worry about religious zealots, alien invasions, or other conspiracy theories about the end of the world. God doesn’t leave unattended business. The same God who put the original creation in order will transform His creation for eternity.
We’re now entering that time of the Christian calendar in which we are more deliberate about focusing on the Second Coming of our Lord. The end of the Church Year and the Season of Advent strike similar themes. The Mighty One declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."3 Everything is moving towards a conclusion. Existence on this earth is not open-ended and indeterminate. A date has been set by the Father when the children of God will be rescued from all dangers and perils forever.
Jesus warns us about unrest, violence, and mass events that take the lives of or injure many people. Such things are happening in our world all the time. They always have been. But we now have more instant and vivid coverage through improved technology. People generally have a much greater appetite for bad news than for good news. Good news doesn’t sell. It’s a result of one of the darker qualities of sinful human nature. The news is typically a litany of the crimes, deception, and violence perpetrated each day. Where would we be without coverage of the weather and sports? What would be left?
But we can’t lay all the blame on the media for the content they cover. Media is a business. They need customers, consumers. Their coverage, in some measure, reflects the market, the interests of the population. Of course, efforts are made also, to create consumer attitudes and control them. Modern media does make it easier to stoke the fear of the masses. Our sinful nature causes us to think of what benefits us first and to fear any challenge to the attainment of the same. All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Acknowledgement that the world will end one day, and certainly that we must all come to terms with our own mortality is a call to repentance. In the end, sinners cannot have it their way.
The world will always exist in a measure of anxiety and turmoil. Conflicts in this life will never completely cease. Yet, what does Jesus say? Do not fear. Do not be alarmed. These things will happen. These are just the beginning of the birth pains. When things are bad, we should be mindful they could still get a lot worse. Knowing this drives us more intensely to rely on the mercy of God in Christ. All of our crutches must be knocked out from under us. Our idols of self-generated security; money, possessions, career, accomplishments, reputation- all must be collapsed under the irrefutable truth that nothing that we have or are can save us from the judgment of sin. Christ alone can do that. There is nothing we can contribute that could make His sacrifice more valid or more effective. He died a repugnant death on the cross for our sins. He rose victoriously from the grave to secure life.
Each of us is a work in progress, but the end goal is not in doubt. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave unattended what He begins. As the Scripture says, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”4 You are His baptized. He feeds you with His own flesh and blood because you are His own flesh and blood. He will not forsake you. Daniel reminds us that the righteous and the wicked will be separated at the final judgment and in eternity. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”5 We confess this truth in one of the creeds every Lord’s Day.
Jesus finishes everything He starts. He is not incapable of fulfilling His promises. He is not unwilling to make good on His word. Yes, even those most vexing, haunting, intractable traumas that you have given up all hope of ever having resolved. Those guilt-ridden memories we’d like to erase forever from our minds - these too will be sifted through the transforming sieve of Christ’s redeeming love. He doesn’t condone, or excuse, or reinterpret the sin. He parts the sin from the sinner and cleanses the believer’s soul. Your past will not, it cannot be held against you because the Son of God has received the punishment for your transgressions. There is nothing so evil, so sinister in your past that the Saviour would turn His face away from you.
The world will have upheaval. In the midst of it… we have peace. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. The world will have doubt. In the midst of it… we have hope. “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.”6 The world will remain in bondage to selfishness and sin. In the midst of it… we have freedom. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”7 The world will never be free of falsehood. Nevertheless…we have truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”8 The world will always struggle with hatred. Nevertheless…we have Christ’s unconditional love. God is love.
The end will come, either when human history reaches its divinely appointed termination or when we meet our own personal mortality. But do not fear. Christ will not leave us hanging. We can say with the Psalmist, “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.”9
+ In nomine Jesu +
Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
18 November 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 13:7 2 Mark 13:7-8
3 Revelation 1:8 4 Philippians 1:6
5 Daniel 2:12 6 Romans 15:4
7 Romans 8:2 8 John 14:6
9 Psalm 138:8
Monday, October 1, 2018
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Esther
Theme: God of Providence
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is not remote. His ways are largely hidden to our natural senses. But He is not absent from any aspect of our lives. He not only provides for the daily needs of the body, He also secures our eternal future. Often, we attribute the causes behind events to planning, or chance or accident. But really, God is at work providentially. Today’s Scripture from Esther offers a fine example to consider. Esther had an exceptional vocation. She was an orphan Israelite girl, who by the providence of God, became the queen of the Medes and Persians.
What does the providential work of God look like? Is it visible to our eyes? We still use and hear the phrase “God willing.” Is that an expression of our deeply held convictions or more of an expression of wishful thinking? Do we believe God is always at work whether He is acknowledged or not? God’s providential work is as tangible as the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the clothes we wear.
The providence of God is His active foresight, supervision, and governance of the activities of life that result in certain outcomes. The notion applies cosmically and locally. The sun does not continue to shine apart from the providence of God nor does rain fall on the local crops. The same truth pertains to human affairs. Nations and leaders do not prosper without the countenance or concession of God, nor do individuals.
Providence relates to God’s sovereignty. An unbalanced view of God’s providence can easily lead to the false teachings of fatalism and determinism. If God makes all the decisions, aren’t we just puppets, pawns in a cosmic chess match? Fatalism can be the cause of despair or lawlessness. If God has pre-determined everything, what meaning can my life have? Why not pursue my own selfish agenda and blame any failure on God? Sinful humans are always happy to blame someone else for their transgressions. The call to repentance is not made obsolete by God’s providence.
Let’s consider now the case of Esther. It’s clear that her attractiveness made her the target of a world ruler. The Bible says, “Esther was lovely in form and features.”1 and that “the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval.”2 We have no evidence that Esther chose to be the queen of King Xerxes. But she did not make herself offensive to him. The account says, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.”3 God worked through the situation for the benefit of His people. Esther carefully followed the wisdom and advice of her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai had raised her in the absence of her parents.
The crux of the story comes when it is revealed that one of the nobles named Haman planned to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai their leader. Haman was jealous of Mordecai and the honour he had been receiving from the king. King Xerxes did not know in the beginning that Esther was Jewish. Esther’s intervention allowed the Jews to be spared and Haman to be executed. A number of plot-twists and not a little intrigue preceded the final resolution of the matter. So, who was finally most instrumental in the outcome? Was it Esther’s decisiveness or God’s providence? Was it both?
What is the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the freedom of the human will? Are we only pawns and puppets fated to the decisions of the Almighty? Do our decisions only appear as such? The Lutheran Confessions help us make an important distinction, “In secular and external matters affecting the nurture and needs of the body, man is indeed very clever, intelligent and busy. In spiritual and divine things, however, which concern the salvation of his soul, man is like a pillar of salt, like Lot’s wife, yes, like a log or a stone…”4
So, humans make all sorts of choices and decisions each day that may benefit or endanger their well-being. The rational mind is decisive in these matters. (That doesn’t mean, however, that decisions are necessarily well-considered. Often, they are driven by feeling or emotion.) Regarding spiritual things, however, the Bible teaches that humans are incapable of apprehending divine truth apart from the Holy Spirit. That means, left to our own rational thinking, we would never come to a correct understanding of God. The unenlightened intellect is powerless to know God properly or trust in Him.
But God doesn’t abandon us in our incompetence. He comes to us. He not only makes Himself known providentially, He makes Himself known salvifically. He reveals Himself as the God who came to save through the person of His Son. The gospel is not an extrapolation of the general goodness of God. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has by His own death and resurrection redeemed sinners from sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is underpinned by the specific historical realities of His suffering under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and His physical resurrection from the grave seen by many eye-witnesses.
Dear friends, it would have been easy for Esther to adopt the culture and values of the Medes and Persians. She landed in the lap of luxury. She was given a privileged status. Yet, Esther remained firm in her integrity. Her people were in grave danger. They were at the mercy of superior powers. It would have seemed an impossibility that events could have turned out as they did. Her part in their rescue proved pivotal. She was uniquely positioned to influence the king and God used that to serve the well-being of His people.
Each of us is uniquely positioned to serve the well-being of others also. The circumstances may not be as regal, or the situations as dramatic, but to the person served the outcome is just as important. God works providentially in our lives and also through our lives to support others. Our faith is active in love. The convictions we hold and the decisions we make not only affect ourselves and those closest to us, but also all with whom we have any meaningful interaction.
God is not a concept. For God to be a providential God He must be a living God. He is not subject to the forces of the universe. The Scripture says Christ is constantly, “sustaining all things by His powerful word,”5 and that “all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”6 It says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”7It was no accident that God sent His only-begotten Son. It was no mistake that He was delivered over to be crucified. It was not by chance that He appeared alive on the third day. St. Peter says, “This Man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death.”8
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead never to die again. That truth is not luck or probability. It was no coincidence that Esther become the queen of Persia and dined at the royal table. It’s no coincidence either that you are baptized into the name of Christ and eat at the table of the King of kings. He’s not simply working behind the scenes. He’s at the centre of all things. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
30 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Esther 2:7 2 Esther 2:17
3 Esther 2:15 4 SD, II
5 Hebrews 1:3 6 Colossians 1:16-17
7 John 1:4 8 Acts 2:23-24
Text: Esther
Theme: God of Providence
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is not remote. His ways are largely hidden to our natural senses. But He is not absent from any aspect of our lives. He not only provides for the daily needs of the body, He also secures our eternal future. Often, we attribute the causes behind events to planning, or chance or accident. But really, God is at work providentially. Today’s Scripture from Esther offers a fine example to consider. Esther had an exceptional vocation. She was an orphan Israelite girl, who by the providence of God, became the queen of the Medes and Persians.
What does the providential work of God look like? Is it visible to our eyes? We still use and hear the phrase “God willing.” Is that an expression of our deeply held convictions or more of an expression of wishful thinking? Do we believe God is always at work whether He is acknowledged or not? God’s providential work is as tangible as the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the clothes we wear.
The providence of God is His active foresight, supervision, and governance of the activities of life that result in certain outcomes. The notion applies cosmically and locally. The sun does not continue to shine apart from the providence of God nor does rain fall on the local crops. The same truth pertains to human affairs. Nations and leaders do not prosper without the countenance or concession of God, nor do individuals.
Providence relates to God’s sovereignty. An unbalanced view of God’s providence can easily lead to the false teachings of fatalism and determinism. If God makes all the decisions, aren’t we just puppets, pawns in a cosmic chess match? Fatalism can be the cause of despair or lawlessness. If God has pre-determined everything, what meaning can my life have? Why not pursue my own selfish agenda and blame any failure on God? Sinful humans are always happy to blame someone else for their transgressions. The call to repentance is not made obsolete by God’s providence.
Let’s consider now the case of Esther. It’s clear that her attractiveness made her the target of a world ruler. The Bible says, “Esther was lovely in form and features.”1 and that “the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval.”2 We have no evidence that Esther chose to be the queen of King Xerxes. But she did not make herself offensive to him. The account says, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.”3 God worked through the situation for the benefit of His people. Esther carefully followed the wisdom and advice of her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai had raised her in the absence of her parents.
The crux of the story comes when it is revealed that one of the nobles named Haman planned to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai their leader. Haman was jealous of Mordecai and the honour he had been receiving from the king. King Xerxes did not know in the beginning that Esther was Jewish. Esther’s intervention allowed the Jews to be spared and Haman to be executed. A number of plot-twists and not a little intrigue preceded the final resolution of the matter. So, who was finally most instrumental in the outcome? Was it Esther’s decisiveness or God’s providence? Was it both?
What is the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the freedom of the human will? Are we only pawns and puppets fated to the decisions of the Almighty? Do our decisions only appear as such? The Lutheran Confessions help us make an important distinction, “In secular and external matters affecting the nurture and needs of the body, man is indeed very clever, intelligent and busy. In spiritual and divine things, however, which concern the salvation of his soul, man is like a pillar of salt, like Lot’s wife, yes, like a log or a stone…”4
So, humans make all sorts of choices and decisions each day that may benefit or endanger their well-being. The rational mind is decisive in these matters. (That doesn’t mean, however, that decisions are necessarily well-considered. Often, they are driven by feeling or emotion.) Regarding spiritual things, however, the Bible teaches that humans are incapable of apprehending divine truth apart from the Holy Spirit. That means, left to our own rational thinking, we would never come to a correct understanding of God. The unenlightened intellect is powerless to know God properly or trust in Him.
But God doesn’t abandon us in our incompetence. He comes to us. He not only makes Himself known providentially, He makes Himself known salvifically. He reveals Himself as the God who came to save through the person of His Son. The gospel is not an extrapolation of the general goodness of God. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has by His own death and resurrection redeemed sinners from sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is underpinned by the specific historical realities of His suffering under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and His physical resurrection from the grave seen by many eye-witnesses.
Dear friends, it would have been easy for Esther to adopt the culture and values of the Medes and Persians. She landed in the lap of luxury. She was given a privileged status. Yet, Esther remained firm in her integrity. Her people were in grave danger. They were at the mercy of superior powers. It would have seemed an impossibility that events could have turned out as they did. Her part in their rescue proved pivotal. She was uniquely positioned to influence the king and God used that to serve the well-being of His people.
Each of us is uniquely positioned to serve the well-being of others also. The circumstances may not be as regal, or the situations as dramatic, but to the person served the outcome is just as important. God works providentially in our lives and also through our lives to support others. Our faith is active in love. The convictions we hold and the decisions we make not only affect ourselves and those closest to us, but also all with whom we have any meaningful interaction.
God is not a concept. For God to be a providential God He must be a living God. He is not subject to the forces of the universe. The Scripture says Christ is constantly, “sustaining all things by His powerful word,”5 and that “all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”6 It says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.”7It was no accident that God sent His only-begotten Son. It was no mistake that He was delivered over to be crucified. It was not by chance that He appeared alive on the third day. St. Peter says, “This Man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death.”8
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead never to die again. That truth is not luck or probability. It was no coincidence that Esther become the queen of Persia and dined at the royal table. It’s no coincidence either that you are baptized into the name of Christ and eat at the table of the King of kings. He’s not simply working behind the scenes. He’s at the centre of all things. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
30 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Esther 2:7 2 Esther 2:17
3 Esther 2:15 4 SD, II
5 Hebrews 1:3 6 Colossians 1:16-17
7 John 1:4 8 Acts 2:23-24
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Mark 9:35
Theme: Servant of All
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus asked the question. He didn’t need to, of course. He already knew the answer. But He also knew it would be instructive for His foolhardy disciples. “What were you arguing about on the road? But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.”1 And there it is; a candid window into the mind of the heart! No one can completely escape the innate desire to have a privileged status before others and before God. It is an irrepressible mark of sin. Jesus’ ability to be the lone exception- transparently, authentically, unfailingly humble- is beyond our comprehension. It is a mark of His divinity. It is an article of faith. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”2 Christ is the servant par excellence.
Honestly, we’d rather be served by others. And pride is but one expression of our sinfulness. Today James reminds us that selfish motives drive immoral behavior. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want…You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you many spend what you get on your pleasures.”3 We see that these 1st century believers, who would have had very limited material blessings, were still prone to the misuse of them.
How applicable is the lesson for us! Are we willing to step back and consider how the pursuit of affluence is one of the great idols of our time? Can we see clearly its spiritual effect on our communities, our families, and our own personal lives? James convicts us for misusing God’s blessings. Over-indulgence is rife in our culture. Consumption can become a fulltime lifestyle. It hardly harmonizes with the biblical call to humility and servanthood. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”4 The model for greatness is servanthood, not self-promotion.
Dear friends, we can recognize that the world provides many fine examples of philanthropy and models for good stewardship and service to others, but for believers it’s always God’s word that is decisive. This is true for all matters of faith and life. At the upcoming synod the LCA will again take up the topic of ordaining women to the pastoral office. The broader and deeper issue that underlies the discussion is Scripture’s authority and how it is interpreted. It’s no secret that deciding questions of value, ethics, morality, and truth based on the word of God is not looked upon as favorably by the culture of our day as it was in times past. We shouldn’t be shocked that the world has a different mindset. If this surprises us, we are well-advised to adjust quickly. The world settles things on the basis of reason and natural law. Thankfully, natural law shares much in common with God’s law. But the Lutheran church resolves things on the basis of God’s word; the Scriptures. The biblical approach is now struggling against the tide of culture which is threatening to become a tsunami.
But Jesus was never reluctant to swim upstream and we are privileged to follow in His wake. Only He will get us safely to the shore. Jesus’ disciples were fearful and flummoxed when He said today, “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”5 What would that mean for them? It would be Pentecost before they began to understand. They would become servants of the highest order.
So, what should our serving look like? We must get out of our heads the idea that Christian service must be extraordinarily noteworthy to be valid. Only flashy things are considered newsworthy by society, but God notices simple, faithful efforts. God doesn’t demand that you drop everything, and head oversees to the mission field. The opportunities to serve are right before you. Anyone who’s claiming lack of prospects doesn’t understand the Christian teaching on vocation. ‘Love God above all things and love your neighbour as yourself’ is not a hollow slogan. When we try to do it, we’ll find no shortage of challenges and opportunities. The Holy Spirit must attend us constantly or we’d accomplish nothing at all.
You’ve probably heard it said many times that getting old is not for sissies. The decline of physical vitality and mental capability brings sobering challenges. There’s no way to bypass or opt out of the ageing process. It can become very taxing. It reminds us how vulnerable we really are. It drives us to a deeper reliance on the Lord. A helpful comparison can be made here to Christian living. Whether we call it living the sanctified life, the baptismal life, or bearing the cross, the Scripture makes it clear that it’s not for sissies either. Christ doesn’t lead us down easy street. He takes us on the high road. The high road is also the narrow road. Marginalization, ostracization, and persecution are the warnings from the apostolic witness.
Satan is leading the attack on civil discourse in our society. Shouting down and public shaming are becoming more common as a means to ‘win’ an argument or simply bully the opponent. The trend is an ominous omen for the future. The implications for Christianity are likely to be substantial. The Bible calls us to be considerate defenders of the faith. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…”6
Without overdramatizing we might consider the public reaction at the time of Stephen’s stoning. Acts 7 gives us these details, “When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven…’Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…”7 Let’s pray this is not where we’re headed in our culture. Nevertheless, the clear, strong voice of the Lord overpowers all the chaotic cries saying, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”8
Jesus says of Himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.”9 The prophet Isaiah describes His saving work in this way, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”10 So broken was our relationship with the Father, so unserviceable was our debt of sin, so uncrossable was the chasm of death, so insurmountable was the ascent to heaven that the crucifixion of the holy Son of God, the Immanuel, the sacrificial Lamb, was necessary to secure our redemption. Jesus, the Christ, willing surrendered His life in substitution for ours. He rose from death, securing life, so that we can now live without fear. In baptism we’re assured that Christ obliterates that fear because He demolishes death’s ultimate power. When you receive His body and blood in humble faith you can be assured that His immortal life is being extended to you.
The Lord of all, the Creator of everything, the Immortal Son who reigns with unequaled power, is the Servant of sinners. He is the One who stoops. He is the One who humbles Himself. He is the One who carries the load. He is the One who tirelessly, unceasingly, and flawlessly intercedes for the benefit of His people. It is a privilege to be in the service of the Servant of all. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
23 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 9:33-34 2 Mark 9:35
3 James 4:1-3 4 Mark 9:35
5 Mark 9:31 6 1 Peter 3:15-16
7 Acts 7:54-57 8 John 16:33
9 Matthew 20:28 10Isaiah 53:5
Text: Mark 9:35
Theme: Servant of All
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Jesus asked the question. He didn’t need to, of course. He already knew the answer. But He also knew it would be instructive for His foolhardy disciples. “What were you arguing about on the road? But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.”1 And there it is; a candid window into the mind of the heart! No one can completely escape the innate desire to have a privileged status before others and before God. It is an irrepressible mark of sin. Jesus’ ability to be the lone exception- transparently, authentically, unfailingly humble- is beyond our comprehension. It is a mark of His divinity. It is an article of faith. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”2 Christ is the servant par excellence.
Honestly, we’d rather be served by others. And pride is but one expression of our sinfulness. Today James reminds us that selfish motives drive immoral behavior. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want…You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you many spend what you get on your pleasures.”3 We see that these 1st century believers, who would have had very limited material blessings, were still prone to the misuse of them.
How applicable is the lesson for us! Are we willing to step back and consider how the pursuit of affluence is one of the great idols of our time? Can we see clearly its spiritual effect on our communities, our families, and our own personal lives? James convicts us for misusing God’s blessings. Over-indulgence is rife in our culture. Consumption can become a fulltime lifestyle. It hardly harmonizes with the biblical call to humility and servanthood. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”4 The model for greatness is servanthood, not self-promotion.
Dear friends, we can recognize that the world provides many fine examples of philanthropy and models for good stewardship and service to others, but for believers it’s always God’s word that is decisive. This is true for all matters of faith and life. At the upcoming synod the LCA will again take up the topic of ordaining women to the pastoral office. The broader and deeper issue that underlies the discussion is Scripture’s authority and how it is interpreted. It’s no secret that deciding questions of value, ethics, morality, and truth based on the word of God is not looked upon as favorably by the culture of our day as it was in times past. We shouldn’t be shocked that the world has a different mindset. If this surprises us, we are well-advised to adjust quickly. The world settles things on the basis of reason and natural law. Thankfully, natural law shares much in common with God’s law. But the Lutheran church resolves things on the basis of God’s word; the Scriptures. The biblical approach is now struggling against the tide of culture which is threatening to become a tsunami.
But Jesus was never reluctant to swim upstream and we are privileged to follow in His wake. Only He will get us safely to the shore. Jesus’ disciples were fearful and flummoxed when He said today, “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”5 What would that mean for them? It would be Pentecost before they began to understand. They would become servants of the highest order.
So, what should our serving look like? We must get out of our heads the idea that Christian service must be extraordinarily noteworthy to be valid. Only flashy things are considered newsworthy by society, but God notices simple, faithful efforts. God doesn’t demand that you drop everything, and head oversees to the mission field. The opportunities to serve are right before you. Anyone who’s claiming lack of prospects doesn’t understand the Christian teaching on vocation. ‘Love God above all things and love your neighbour as yourself’ is not a hollow slogan. When we try to do it, we’ll find no shortage of challenges and opportunities. The Holy Spirit must attend us constantly or we’d accomplish nothing at all.
You’ve probably heard it said many times that getting old is not for sissies. The decline of physical vitality and mental capability brings sobering challenges. There’s no way to bypass or opt out of the ageing process. It can become very taxing. It reminds us how vulnerable we really are. It drives us to a deeper reliance on the Lord. A helpful comparison can be made here to Christian living. Whether we call it living the sanctified life, the baptismal life, or bearing the cross, the Scripture makes it clear that it’s not for sissies either. Christ doesn’t lead us down easy street. He takes us on the high road. The high road is also the narrow road. Marginalization, ostracization, and persecution are the warnings from the apostolic witness.
Satan is leading the attack on civil discourse in our society. Shouting down and public shaming are becoming more common as a means to ‘win’ an argument or simply bully the opponent. The trend is an ominous omen for the future. The implications for Christianity are likely to be substantial. The Bible calls us to be considerate defenders of the faith. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…”6
Without overdramatizing we might consider the public reaction at the time of Stephen’s stoning. Acts 7 gives us these details, “When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven…’Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…”7 Let’s pray this is not where we’re headed in our culture. Nevertheless, the clear, strong voice of the Lord overpowers all the chaotic cries saying, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”8
Jesus says of Himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.”9 The prophet Isaiah describes His saving work in this way, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”10 So broken was our relationship with the Father, so unserviceable was our debt of sin, so uncrossable was the chasm of death, so insurmountable was the ascent to heaven that the crucifixion of the holy Son of God, the Immanuel, the sacrificial Lamb, was necessary to secure our redemption. Jesus, the Christ, willing surrendered His life in substitution for ours. He rose from death, securing life, so that we can now live without fear. In baptism we’re assured that Christ obliterates that fear because He demolishes death’s ultimate power. When you receive His body and blood in humble faith you can be assured that His immortal life is being extended to you.
The Lord of all, the Creator of everything, the Immortal Son who reigns with unequaled power, is the Servant of sinners. He is the One who stoops. He is the One who humbles Himself. He is the One who carries the load. He is the One who tirelessly, unceasingly, and flawlessly intercedes for the benefit of His people. It is a privilege to be in the service of the Servant of all. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
23 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Mark 9:33-34 2 Mark 9:35
3 James 4:1-3 4 Mark 9:35
5 Mark 9:31 6 1 Peter 3:15-16
7 Acts 7:54-57 8 John 16:33
9 Matthew 20:28 10Isaiah 53:5
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: James 2:14
Theme: Faith and Deeds
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Life always gives evidence of its existence. The fact that we are here is evidence of the Creator- the Life-giver. Similarly, living faith is always expressed in activity. And the evidence cannot be forged. If you take fresh apples and pin them on an apple that it is dead, the tree will not come to life. A healthy tree produces fruit. A dead tree produces nothing. Again, James says today, “What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”1
James is clearly teaching here about integrity: Those who talk the talk should walk the walk. The wool cannot be pulled over God’s eyes. If we stand here in God’s house and simply go through the motion of confessing our sins and then go out and act with hard-heartedness towards our neighbour then our repentance is a sham. We are hypocrites. It’s easy to pacify our consciences by piously appearing to confess before God. Our lack of genuine remorse can be hidden from others by anonymity. Seeking forgiveness from the person we have hurt is much more difficult if our heart isn’t truly convicted. So, we must ask ourselves if our practice of repentance is habitually duplicitous.
Remember, any sin against our neighbour is firstly a sin against God. The key is understanding that we must act on knowledge of the truth, not on our feelings. Let’s say I have wronged someone, but I don’t feel particularly remorseful. Immediately I think of ten things I consider more sinister that that person has committed against me. I begin to justify my lack of remorse using my own standards our fairness. An inevitably biased tit-for-tat dynamic governs my thinking. In my own mind my excuses are a sufficient defence. The fact remains, however, that I have transgressed against this person. I am under obligation to apologize and seek forgiveness.
The will of God takes precedence over my opinion. What does Christ say? “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”2 The practice of reconciliation is the exercise of our baptism. If you still don’t feel regret, pray that the Holy Spirit would give you enough maturity of faith to apologize graciously. And remember that the forgiveness you receive from Christ is valid even when it doesn’t evoke any particularly happy emotions. God’s pardon can be rejected through unbelief, but it is not invalidated by our ineptness in fully appreciating it. More on this in a minute.
Dear friends, our understanding of what Christianity means goes awry when we practice it as the human attempt to curry favour with God and thus obtain certain benefits from Him. If through the acquisition of knowledge, the observance of morality, or the practice of charity (all things which are proper fruits of faith) we seek to pull God closer to us, then we have turned Christianity on its head. We can be driven by coercion to do many things. Fear is a powerful motivator as is self-indulgence. But self-giving, self-sacrificing love cannot be motivated by fear. Fear stifles true reciprocity and thus cripples godly relationships.
The proper relationship between faith and its activity is explained comprehensively in the Lutheran confessional writings. A couple of excerpts will suffice for now. “In the preaching of penitence it is not enough to preach the law, the Word that convicts of sin. For the law works wrath; it only accuses; it only terrifies consciences. Consciences cannot find peace unless they hear the voice of God, clearly promising the forgiveness of sin. Therefore it is necessary to add the Gospel promise, that for Christ’s sake sins are forgiven and that by faith in Christ we obtain the forgiveness of sins.”3 And again, “God pronounces righteous those who believe Him from their heart and then have good fruits, which please Him because of faith and therefore are a keeping of the law.”4
Faith and good works are not pitted against each other. Christ has accomplished our salvation. We cannot achieve it, but only receive it. Only Christ suffered and died to atone for sins. Only He had the power to rise again from the dead. The Holy Spirit enables us to trust in these life-altering truths. We call this faith. The Holy Spirit then inspires us to live accordingly, serving others and modelling the humble life of our Saviour.
So, if you fear that your faith is in the doldrums, that you underappreciate all that Christ has accomplished for you and what it means; seek the increase of your faith. After hearing the Lord’s instruction on the necessity of forgiving those who come to you in repentance, “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”5 The father of the son who Jesus freed from an evil spirit said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”6 Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”7 If your faith is bold, pray that God would prevent it from becoming arrogant. If your faith is timid, pray that God would prevent it from being cowardly. If your faith is compromised by the skepticism of the human intellect, pray that God would refine it to be like that of a child. If your faith is childish, pray that God would tutor it to maturity.
Seeking the increase of our faith necessarily entails seeking the Spirit. Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”8 But if we already have the Holy Spirit (from the time of baptism) why do we still seek Him? Because the Holy Spirit is not a personal possession. He is not an inanimate object. He dwells in believers, but they do not own Him.
Seeking the Spirit necessarily entails desiring the Word. The two are never parted. The Spirit, the Word, and faith are inseparable realities. The Spirit and the Word exist independently from us, but faith cannot exist apart from the first two.
Desiring the Word necessarily entails desiring the sacrament. Belief that Holy Communion is simply auxiliary to the well-being of our faith is a tragic misunderstanding of its meaning and purpose. It’s not simply a remembrance of the final meal Jesus had with His disciples. It’s not a religious rite intended to facilitate proper decorum. Jesus says, “This is My body given for you…This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”9 He says, “…which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”10 Holy Communion nurtures and invigorates faith because it communicates to the believer Christ’s power. His body and blood are life-giving and life-sustaining. Moreover, the sacrament is a far greater gift than we could ever merit or deserve. Only when we learn to be grateful for crumbs from the Master’s table can we really understand what it means that we actually sit at the royal banquet.
Dear friends, faith can move mountains; not because you or I are anything at all, but because with Christ all things are possible. The Spirit says, “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”11
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
9 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 James 1:14 2 Matthew 5:23-24
3 AP IV 4 i.b.i.d.
5 Luke 17:5 6 Mark 9:24
7 Luke 11:9 8 Luke 11:13
9 Luke 22:19-20 10Matthew 26:28
111 John 5:5
Text: James 2:14
Theme: Faith and Deeds
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Life always gives evidence of its existence. The fact that we are here is evidence of the Creator- the Life-giver. Similarly, living faith is always expressed in activity. And the evidence cannot be forged. If you take fresh apples and pin them on an apple that it is dead, the tree will not come to life. A healthy tree produces fruit. A dead tree produces nothing. Again, James says today, “What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”1
James is clearly teaching here about integrity: Those who talk the talk should walk the walk. The wool cannot be pulled over God’s eyes. If we stand here in God’s house and simply go through the motion of confessing our sins and then go out and act with hard-heartedness towards our neighbour then our repentance is a sham. We are hypocrites. It’s easy to pacify our consciences by piously appearing to confess before God. Our lack of genuine remorse can be hidden from others by anonymity. Seeking forgiveness from the person we have hurt is much more difficult if our heart isn’t truly convicted. So, we must ask ourselves if our practice of repentance is habitually duplicitous.
Remember, any sin against our neighbour is firstly a sin against God. The key is understanding that we must act on knowledge of the truth, not on our feelings. Let’s say I have wronged someone, but I don’t feel particularly remorseful. Immediately I think of ten things I consider more sinister that that person has committed against me. I begin to justify my lack of remorse using my own standards our fairness. An inevitably biased tit-for-tat dynamic governs my thinking. In my own mind my excuses are a sufficient defence. The fact remains, however, that I have transgressed against this person. I am under obligation to apologize and seek forgiveness.
The will of God takes precedence over my opinion. What does Christ say? “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”2 The practice of reconciliation is the exercise of our baptism. If you still don’t feel regret, pray that the Holy Spirit would give you enough maturity of faith to apologize graciously. And remember that the forgiveness you receive from Christ is valid even when it doesn’t evoke any particularly happy emotions. God’s pardon can be rejected through unbelief, but it is not invalidated by our ineptness in fully appreciating it. More on this in a minute.
Dear friends, our understanding of what Christianity means goes awry when we practice it as the human attempt to curry favour with God and thus obtain certain benefits from Him. If through the acquisition of knowledge, the observance of morality, or the practice of charity (all things which are proper fruits of faith) we seek to pull God closer to us, then we have turned Christianity on its head. We can be driven by coercion to do many things. Fear is a powerful motivator as is self-indulgence. But self-giving, self-sacrificing love cannot be motivated by fear. Fear stifles true reciprocity and thus cripples godly relationships.
The proper relationship between faith and its activity is explained comprehensively in the Lutheran confessional writings. A couple of excerpts will suffice for now. “In the preaching of penitence it is not enough to preach the law, the Word that convicts of sin. For the law works wrath; it only accuses; it only terrifies consciences. Consciences cannot find peace unless they hear the voice of God, clearly promising the forgiveness of sin. Therefore it is necessary to add the Gospel promise, that for Christ’s sake sins are forgiven and that by faith in Christ we obtain the forgiveness of sins.”3 And again, “God pronounces righteous those who believe Him from their heart and then have good fruits, which please Him because of faith and therefore are a keeping of the law.”4
Faith and good works are not pitted against each other. Christ has accomplished our salvation. We cannot achieve it, but only receive it. Only Christ suffered and died to atone for sins. Only He had the power to rise again from the dead. The Holy Spirit enables us to trust in these life-altering truths. We call this faith. The Holy Spirit then inspires us to live accordingly, serving others and modelling the humble life of our Saviour.
So, if you fear that your faith is in the doldrums, that you underappreciate all that Christ has accomplished for you and what it means; seek the increase of your faith. After hearing the Lord’s instruction on the necessity of forgiving those who come to you in repentance, “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”5 The father of the son who Jesus freed from an evil spirit said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”6 Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”7 If your faith is bold, pray that God would prevent it from becoming arrogant. If your faith is timid, pray that God would prevent it from being cowardly. If your faith is compromised by the skepticism of the human intellect, pray that God would refine it to be like that of a child. If your faith is childish, pray that God would tutor it to maturity.
Seeking the increase of our faith necessarily entails seeking the Spirit. Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”8 But if we already have the Holy Spirit (from the time of baptism) why do we still seek Him? Because the Holy Spirit is not a personal possession. He is not an inanimate object. He dwells in believers, but they do not own Him.
Seeking the Spirit necessarily entails desiring the Word. The two are never parted. The Spirit, the Word, and faith are inseparable realities. The Spirit and the Word exist independently from us, but faith cannot exist apart from the first two.
Desiring the Word necessarily entails desiring the sacrament. Belief that Holy Communion is simply auxiliary to the well-being of our faith is a tragic misunderstanding of its meaning and purpose. It’s not simply a remembrance of the final meal Jesus had with His disciples. It’s not a religious rite intended to facilitate proper decorum. Jesus says, “This is My body given for you…This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”9 He says, “…which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”10 Holy Communion nurtures and invigorates faith because it communicates to the believer Christ’s power. His body and blood are life-giving and life-sustaining. Moreover, the sacrament is a far greater gift than we could ever merit or deserve. Only when we learn to be grateful for crumbs from the Master’s table can we really understand what it means that we actually sit at the royal banquet.
Dear friends, faith can move mountains; not because you or I are anything at all, but because with Christ all things are possible. The Spirit says, “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”11
+ In nomine Jesu +
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
9 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 James 1:14 2 Matthew 5:23-24
3 AP IV 4 i.b.i.d.
5 Luke 17:5 6 Mark 9:24
7 Luke 11:9 8 Luke 11:13
9 Luke 22:19-20 10Matthew 26:28
111 John 5:5
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Funeral for Edna Zacher (4 September 2018)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:1
Theme: The Reward of Faith
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Edna, and especially you, Jenny, Graham, and Kevin, her children;
Edna Zacher no longer has any yearnings. She suffers no anxieties. If only we had just a hint, a whiff, a taste, a glimpse, a trace of what Edna now enjoys! She has crossed beyond the fallen-ness of mortal limitation. She is free. She is fearless. She is content. And she is so not because she is now the maker of her own destiny. She is in the unmediated presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the entire host of heaven.
Today we give thanks that Edna has received what had first been promised her in baptism. The apostle says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”1 That inheritance is now hers. Her time has come, the resurrection on the Last Day notwithstanding.
Edna, of course, was ready to go home. She was comforted by the thought of it. Did Edna have the comfort of eternal life because she believed she was more worthy, more pious, or more religious than others? Did she believe she was less flawed, less intolerant, less immoral? Did she think she had achieved some level of spiritual reputation that the Almighty would be forced to recognise and reward? No, Edna was a sinner who trusted in the forgiveness of her Lord. She knew her faults and failings and she knew there was only one person who could resolve that dilemma. The Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”2
Edna’s faith went hand-in-glove with her life. She was not a special-occasion or Sunday-only Christian. Edna was a regular in God’s house. She wasn’t there for show, but to have her faith nurtured from God’s word and her soul fed from the Lord’s Table. She drew her daily strength from His promises and presence. She modelled His love and did it joyfully as a wife, mother, and grandmother, as an employee and a teacher (of sewing), and as a friend and mentor to many.
The world changed a lot during Edna’s lifetime; western culture especially. All kinds of fanciful ideas about death and the afterlife are now becoming commonplace. Kids used to ask whether the family pet was going to heaven (and thankfully they still do). But, now they also ask whether vampires are real and if zombies can rise from the dead. Virtual reality tends to desensitise the mind to the sanctity of life and introduce confusion about the real nature of mortality. The age of relentless mass media intrusion contributes significantly to the worldview of everyone exposed to it. Sorting out truth from falsehood is challenging. The less familiar our society becomes with biblical teaching the more misunderstandings and misrepresentations become entrenched in the common psyche.
The concept of the circle of life, for example, is a myth with ancient origins and modern embellishments. The energy or lifeforce of the dead do not become the essence of the next generation’s existence. God is not so inept or under-resourced that He must recycle souls. Deceased relatives do not become fixed stars in the sky, or comets shooting across the galaxy. Communion with God is finally realised as heaven- the unhindered experience of His goodness. Separation from Him is ultimately experienced as hell- the horrific fact of His absence (of any goodness). There is nothing in between.
Dear friends, there are no second chances, no reincarnations, no turning into angels. No negotiations take place at the gate of heaven. Everything is done and dusted on a hill called Calvary. The Scripture says, “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"3 The earth-shattering event of the crucifixion was followed by the undeniable event of the resurrection. He is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Edna knew that. She believed it.
Jesus said, "Fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”4 He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."5 And why did He lay down His life? Because He knew that sinners would remain hopelessly lost and doomed to destruction if not for His selfless act of love. Society is always changing but the needs of people never change. The history of humanity is a broken record of repeated arrogance, ignorance, and rebellion. A just God would have every right to consign all sinners to condemnation. Yet, again, and again the mercy of God comes to the fore. The crucified and risen Christ brings life, hope, and salvation to all who believe. God never turns away any who take refuge in Him.
Death is no respecter of persons, and so neither is grief. We must all face mortality. The rich are not spared from grieving, nor are the powerful, or the popular. White collar, blue collar, urban, rural, ethnic, indigenous, those whose lives are brimming over with success and those whose lives are submerged in failure; it makes no difference. Death causes separation. No human has the means or power to reverse it. But Jesus Christ has. Jesus Christ did.
Graham, Kevin, Jenny, your mum has been received back to the One who gifted her to you in the first place. She is crowned with life. She endures no more frailty. She no longer ages. She experiences no more pain, suffering, or regret. An accomplished seamstress, Edna is now woven into the tapestry of God’s eternal kingdom. A skilled dressmaker, she is now clothed with the Saviour’s righteousness. A gifted cook, she is now served in the heavenly banquet. She enjoys glorious and vibrant life. She is at peace. “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”6Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Edna Clara Zacher
4 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 Peter 1:3-5 2 Romans 6:23
3 Matthew 27:54 4 Revelation 1:17-18
5 John 10:11 6 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Text: John 14:1
Theme: The Reward of Faith
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Edna, and especially you, Jenny, Graham, and Kevin, her children;
Edna Zacher no longer has any yearnings. She suffers no anxieties. If only we had just a hint, a whiff, a taste, a glimpse, a trace of what Edna now enjoys! She has crossed beyond the fallen-ness of mortal limitation. She is free. She is fearless. She is content. And she is so not because she is now the maker of her own destiny. She is in the unmediated presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the entire host of heaven.
Today we give thanks that Edna has received what had first been promised her in baptism. The apostle says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”1 That inheritance is now hers. Her time has come, the resurrection on the Last Day notwithstanding.
Edna, of course, was ready to go home. She was comforted by the thought of it. Did Edna have the comfort of eternal life because she believed she was more worthy, more pious, or more religious than others? Did she believe she was less flawed, less intolerant, less immoral? Did she think she had achieved some level of spiritual reputation that the Almighty would be forced to recognise and reward? No, Edna was a sinner who trusted in the forgiveness of her Lord. She knew her faults and failings and she knew there was only one person who could resolve that dilemma. The Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”2
Edna’s faith went hand-in-glove with her life. She was not a special-occasion or Sunday-only Christian. Edna was a regular in God’s house. She wasn’t there for show, but to have her faith nurtured from God’s word and her soul fed from the Lord’s Table. She drew her daily strength from His promises and presence. She modelled His love and did it joyfully as a wife, mother, and grandmother, as an employee and a teacher (of sewing), and as a friend and mentor to many.
The world changed a lot during Edna’s lifetime; western culture especially. All kinds of fanciful ideas about death and the afterlife are now becoming commonplace. Kids used to ask whether the family pet was going to heaven (and thankfully they still do). But, now they also ask whether vampires are real and if zombies can rise from the dead. Virtual reality tends to desensitise the mind to the sanctity of life and introduce confusion about the real nature of mortality. The age of relentless mass media intrusion contributes significantly to the worldview of everyone exposed to it. Sorting out truth from falsehood is challenging. The less familiar our society becomes with biblical teaching the more misunderstandings and misrepresentations become entrenched in the common psyche.
The concept of the circle of life, for example, is a myth with ancient origins and modern embellishments. The energy or lifeforce of the dead do not become the essence of the next generation’s existence. God is not so inept or under-resourced that He must recycle souls. Deceased relatives do not become fixed stars in the sky, or comets shooting across the galaxy. Communion with God is finally realised as heaven- the unhindered experience of His goodness. Separation from Him is ultimately experienced as hell- the horrific fact of His absence (of any goodness). There is nothing in between.
Dear friends, there are no second chances, no reincarnations, no turning into angels. No negotiations take place at the gate of heaven. Everything is done and dusted on a hill called Calvary. The Scripture says, “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"3 The earth-shattering event of the crucifixion was followed by the undeniable event of the resurrection. He is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Edna knew that. She believed it.
Jesus said, "Fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”4 He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."5 And why did He lay down His life? Because He knew that sinners would remain hopelessly lost and doomed to destruction if not for His selfless act of love. Society is always changing but the needs of people never change. The history of humanity is a broken record of repeated arrogance, ignorance, and rebellion. A just God would have every right to consign all sinners to condemnation. Yet, again, and again the mercy of God comes to the fore. The crucified and risen Christ brings life, hope, and salvation to all who believe. God never turns away any who take refuge in Him.
Death is no respecter of persons, and so neither is grief. We must all face mortality. The rich are not spared from grieving, nor are the powerful, or the popular. White collar, blue collar, urban, rural, ethnic, indigenous, those whose lives are brimming over with success and those whose lives are submerged in failure; it makes no difference. Death causes separation. No human has the means or power to reverse it. But Jesus Christ has. Jesus Christ did.
Graham, Kevin, Jenny, your mum has been received back to the One who gifted her to you in the first place. She is crowned with life. She endures no more frailty. She no longer ages. She experiences no more pain, suffering, or regret. An accomplished seamstress, Edna is now woven into the tapestry of God’s eternal kingdom. A skilled dressmaker, she is now clothed with the Saviour’s righteousness. A gifted cook, she is now served in the heavenly banquet. She enjoys glorious and vibrant life. She is at peace. “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”6Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Edna Clara Zacher
4 September 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 1 Peter 1:3-5 2 Romans 6:23
3 Matthew 27:54 4 Revelation 1:17-18
5 John 10:11 6 2 Thessalonians 3:16
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