This morning, I am going to be very real with all of you. I am going to confront the one thing that each and every one of us will face one day. I am going to confront the one thing that I have helped people to face year after year after year. I am going to confront the reality of death. For some, this is a very morbid topic. Many would prefer to put it out of sight and out of mind. It brings to the surface fear, dread, anxiety, especially since we neither know the day or the hour. Death in our society and in our culture is seen as the great enemy–something we battle and rage against.
Why do you think we argue so much about health care and how we pay for it?
Why do you think we argue about guns and the violence that is associated with them?
Why do you think we emphasize safety at airports?
Why do you think we pass so many laws regarding traveling in cars?
We strive to protect and preserve life even at great cost.
And so, when people face the very real aspect of their own deaths or the death of a close family member: when terminal cancer strikes, when a major surgery is on the horizon, when a funeral must be planned for a child, I am called. How does one deal with the immanent threat of something that one has worked so hard to avoid?
The answer to that question varies by person. Some rage against the coming night fighting with all their being to hold onto whatever bit of life they can manage. Such deaths are horrible to witness. They scar the brain. Others peacefully accept what is happening, and most of the time, I hear people say, “Wow, this person was very peaceful about their death. They handled it just amazingly.” Most family members pray that their loved ones simply go to sleep and die in peace without struggle or pain or suffering. For most of human history, the one who faces death with bravery, courage, and peace is greatly admired.
The history of Christianity is full of stories of those who have died without fear; without worry; without anguish. Many of these folks who have faced death in such a manner are called the martyrs–people who have been killed strictly for following their belief and trust in Jesus Christ. Interestingly enough, most of these martyrs are remembered because they were very peaceful as death approached. Even as they were burned at the stake, tortured, or fed to wild animals, these Christians are celebrated as having faced death while proclaiming the Gospel or singing hymns and praises to God. Many think, “May I have such courage. May I face death with such bravery.”
I want you to contrast this thought with what you see happening in our Gospel lesson from the 14th Chapter of the Book of Mark. This snippet is the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spends several agonizing hours in prayer. Compared to the martyrs; compared to many who face death, Jesus is not at all peaceful.
The scene begins with Jesus taking his disciples to Gethsemane which means olive press. Apparently, this is a garden with an olive press where olive oil was produced. Jesus asks His disciples to sit while He goes to pray. I want you to take note of how Jesus begins distancing Himself from the disciples. There is a real sense of a shrinking circle of support. Remember, Jesus had just decreed that all of the disciples would abandon Him. That process is starting.
For after leaving the majority of the disciples behind, Jesus asks Peter, James and John to follow Him. Then, Mark tells us that Jesus “began to be distressed and agitated.” This is extremely vivid language here. Nowhere else is Jesus described in these terms. Walter Liefield writes, “The two verbs translated “deeply distressed and troubled” together “describe an extremely acute emotion, a compound of bewilderment, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, nowhere else portrayed in such vivid terms as here.”
I want you to think about this description for just a moment. Why would Jesus become so troubled in spirit? All throughout the book of Mark, Jesus has been steadfast and resolute. All throughout Mark, Jesus has embraced His mission. On at least three occasions that Mark records, perhaps even more given that Jesus probably said things over and over and over, Jesus saying that He would be handed over to the chief priests and scribes and be killed. Jesus has also said that He would be raised from the dead. Jesus knows what is going to happen to Him at the hands of men. He has known all along. Why is He so deeply distressed? Hold onto that question.
And Jesus said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” Again, we see something remarkable. Jesus has never been this shaken throughout the Gospel. He has never been this deeply grieved or disturbed. Jesus even says that he essentially feels like he is going to die. Why would Jesus feel like He were about to die?
We get the answer in the next sentence. 35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” What is the cup that had Jesus so terrified? What is the cup that had Jesus feeling like He would die? We have already seen that it can’t be the knowledge of His impending death. He knew that would happen. We know that it is not His betrayal. He knows that is going to happen. He knows He will be raised from the dead. What could possibly be so bad about this cup that it absolutely terrifies the Son of God?
Imagine for a moment that you have a lifeline. Imagine for a moment that this lifeline provides you with every bit of love, compassion, and support that you have ever needed. Whenever you hold onto that lifeline, there is nothing anyone can say to you that hurts. There is no sadness that grips your heart. There is no worry or fear that can touch you. This lifeline is like the very air that you breathe. As long as it is there, nothing ever bothers you. Nothing at all. Then, imagine that this lifeline will be cut. Would that not fill you with terror? Would that not fill you with absolute horror. Imagine now having to face every fear; every darkness; every insult without the thing which sustained you through them. What would that do to your soul?
In Jesus’ case, that lifeline was His relationship to the Heavenly Father. For all of eternity, Jesus and the Father, and the Spirit for that matter, had been in a divine dance of love. They poured themselves into each other. They sustained one another. They loved one another with reckless abandon. Jesus never felt anything less than fulfilled. He never felt anything less than loved. He never felt anything less than complete and whole.
And in just a few hours, all of that would be taken away. All of that would be removed from Him. The Father would turn His back on the Son, and Jesus would feel totally abandoned as He faced the Father’s wrath against all sin ever performed and ever to be performed. Imagine all of the sin, grief, and shame this world has ever and will ever produce. Imagine the destruction of World War I. Imagine the Holocaust. Imagine the pogroms of Russia. Imagine the Killing Fields of Cambodia. Imagine the billions upon billions of seemingly little sins committed each and every day. Imagine all of that heaped upon Jesus–the one who had never known sin, and imagine Him paying the penalty for that sin on the world’s behalf. Would that not terrify you? Would that not cause you to be troubled even unto death? Would that not cause you to beg to have such a thing removed from you? Would that not cause you to beg for another way?
Mark Edwards puts it this way in his commentary on this text: It is one thing, fearful as it will be, to answer for our own sins before a holy and almighty God; who can imagine what it would be like to stand before God to answer for every sin and crime and act of malice and injury and cowardice and evil in the world? In acquiescing to the Father’s will of bearing ‘the sin of many, interceding for transgressors”, Jesus necessarily experiences an abandonment and darkness of cosmic proportions. The worst prospect of becoming the sin-bearer for humanity is that it spells complete alienation from God, an alienation that will shortly echo above the desolate landscape of Calvary, “MY God, My God why have you forsaken me?”
And this is why Jesus begged and pleaded. This is why Jesus wrestled with this for nearly an hour. “But not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus resolutely sought to follow the Father’s will.
Three times Jesus prayed this. Three times Jesus pleaded. Each time, Jesus finished praying, He faced the reality of human nature. Three times Jesus found His closest followers sleeping, abandoning Him in His need, weary from eating and drinking and staying awake long into the night. He first speaks to Peter who at this point, Jesus calls Simon because he is far from living up to his nickname of the Rock. Each time the disciples have no excuse. They become embarrassed. At the time of Jesus’ greatest need; at the time when He is facing the reality of having His Heavenly Father turn His back upon Him, Jesus faces it completely and totally alone.
It is tempting to point fingers at the disciples here, but we must remember that this text is not about them. This text is not about their failure. It has been well established that we fail time and again when it comes to being faithful to our Lord. It has been established throughout the book of Mark that the disciples just don’t get it. This text’s focus as is the focus of every Gospel is not upon the disciples or upon us, but upon Jesus. And William Lane articulates what is going on here beautifully. He writes, “The remarkable element in the scene is that in the midst of an unparalleled agony Jesus...came to look after his three vulnerable disciples and to warn them of their danger of failure in the struggle which was about to overwhelm them.” Jesus’ compassion knows no bounds. Jesus’ love of His followers and of the world has now bounds.
Even after three times of pleading. Even after three times of being disappointed. Jesus is resigned to the Father’s will. Jesus will not be like the first Adam who in the first Garden gave into temptation. Jesus will not put His will ahead of the Father’s. Jesus will suffer for our sake. Jesus will become sin who knew no sin. Jesus will face the wrath of God against the sin of the world. He will lay down His life for the very ones who keep falling asleep and failing to support Him.
And He will do it because He loves them. He will do it because He loves us. He will face the most horrible thing anyone could ever face because of an overwhelming love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved by Him.” Jesus faces the most horrendous thing possible, so that we will not have to.
And it is because we do not have to face the judgement of God that we can be at peace and face our own deaths. It is because of Jesus that we can become like the martyrs: we can go toward our deaths at peace. We can know that Jesus has paid for our sin, our guilt, our shame, our failure. We can know that He faced down our greatest threat–eternal separation from God. Death no longer has power. Death no longer has sting. On the cross, Jesus paid the price. Three days later, at the tomb, the end is revealed. Eternal life.
I remember vividly arriving at the bedside of one of our members who died quite a few years ago. She was a tremendous woman of faith. She had fought long and hard with disease. She strove and battled. She was unconscious at the moment of my visit, but she was still trying to fight. I placed my hand upon her head, and I spoke in her ear, “It is okay. You have fought long enough. You have done everything that you could. It is time to be at peace. It is okay to let go.” Almost immediately, a peace and calm came over her. Almost immediately, she seemed to realize that her earthly journey was about to continue into eternity. She was able to rest assured that she would be with Jesus.
My brothers and sisters, when we understand what Jesus has done on our behalf; when we understand that He has paid the debt of our sins; when we understand what He revealed to us in the resurrection; we are free to face death with a different lens. We are free to face death armed with hope. We are free to live without constant worry and fear and anxiety. Because of Jesus and His struggle, we do not have to. We can live life without fear, and we can die at peace because of His love. Amen.
Showing posts with label Life after death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life after death. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2016
Monday, March 9, 2015
How do You Deal with the Fact You Will Die?
I would like to begin my sermon this morning by saying something rather provocative; although it may not be provocative to many of you here this morning. Everyone is seeking salvation. Now, there might be some who would say, “I am an atheist, I am not seeking salvation. I don’t believe in God or an afterlife or anything like that.” Still, I say, even you are seeking salvation. You just don’t realize it.
Before I push on any further, let me say, this is not my thought. I’m not the one who came up with the idea. In fact, there are many, many who are smarter than I; are more famous than I; and who are much wealthier than I who have said the exact same thing. In fact, I’d like to read a quote from one of those folks right now.
Not too many years ago, a gentleman by the name of Luc Ferry wrote a very good little book titled, A Brief History of Thought: A Philosophical Guide to Living. Mr. Ferry is a french philosopher and secular humanist. This means, he is an agnostic bordering on atheist. His book was very well received, and at the very beginning, he says this:
I hope you caught what Ferry was saying. If you didn’t, let me try and help you. Basically, we are the only species that knows we are going to die. We are the only creature on this planet, that we are aware of, that can think about the fact that we are going to die. And it is disturbing. It is absurd. It is quite difficult for us to imagine it and wrap our heads around it. Salvation, for Ferry, becomes our ability to cope with our mortality. Somehow, some way, we need to solve the problem of death, and I would submit to you that we haven’t exactly done a very good job of it. Even in the church, we haven’t done so well.
Some of you here this morning might question me on that one. You might say, “Well, pastor, I believe in God. I believe in Jesus, so I’m not worried about death. I’m not worried about what will happen to me when I die.” I hear you loud and clear, and the first part of this sermon isn’t necessarily directed at you. Perhaps you might find your toes being stepped on in a few moments though. Hang in there. A few of you might have come to that place in your lives where you look at death and you compare it to all the trials and tribulations you are going through. You might welcome it.
That may sound a bit morbid, but I learned a valuable lesson from my grandfather when he was dying of cancer. I remember taking him to radiation, and it was literally burning him from the inside out. He was in pain and agony. When we got back to his house, I remember him clearly crying out from his bedroom, “Why is it so hard for a man to die? Why is it so hard for a man to die?” At that point in his life, death was preferable to the misery he was going through, but my grandfather wasn’t afraid of death. He knew what was on the other side. Many today don’t. Including many who consider themselves Christian. Many, many are still seeking salvation. Everyone does even if they are not aware of it.
You might tell me right now, “Okay, pastor, you’ve said that twice. You’ve said that everyone seeks salvation even if they aren’t aware of it. Where is your proof? Where is your evidence that even those who do not believe in God are seeking salvation?”
First, I gave you Luc Ferry’s quote from a guy who is really, really smart and well accepted in his area of expertise. Now, I turn your attention to how we in society act. I will submit to you that we are deathly afraid of death; consciously and unconsciously. How so? Well, as they say, “Actions speak louder than words.”
Think about this for a moment: why do we spend billions upon billions of dollars on health care? Why does this industry keep growing and growing and growing and making more and more off of procedures, drugs, and other such things? Why was there such an uproar and still is an uproar surrounding health care in our nation? Why do we consider health care a right? Why do we spend hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars on procedures and treatments for people who have incurable diseases? Why? I’ll tell you why. The healthcare industry is working to stave off death as long as possible. The healthcare industry is working to keep death at arm’s length and stave off the inevitable because every second we draw breath, according to them, is precious. Some believe we should fight for every last minute of life we have on this planet because death is the enemy. We must keep it at bay.
Think now about this: why do we have the department of homeland security? Why, since 9/11 have we given up many of our individual rights to the government? Why do we subject ourselves to body scanners, pat downs, and other such things in airport security? Why have we become accustomed to the government scanning our emails and listening in on our cell phone conversations? Why have we spend countless billions, even trillions of dollars to keep us safe? Here’s why: we want to be safe. We want to ensure that no terrorist will come along and bomb us and rob us of our lives. We will give up our freedom to stave off death. Our lives are too precious.
Here’s another one: why are there so many items available to help you look younger? Why do people spend millions and millions of dollars on make up; hair coloring kits; shampoos that prevent you from going bald, and other such things? Why is the health food section in stores growing larger and larger? Why do we focus on exercise and eating healthy? Why do folks tell us to avoid fast food, sodas, sugar, and anything that actually tastes good? Because, it will kill you, and you don’t want to welcome death any earlier than you have too, right?
There is more we could say about how we spend our money. Let’s talk a moment about how we spend our time. Why are we so busy? Think about this deeply for a moment because I know what some of you will say. Some of you will say that I’m busy because I have to do so many things. I have to get the kids to all their activities. I have to get my work done. I have to attend these meetings. I have to attend these events. There is so much to do and so little time to get it all squeezed in! Let me stop for just a second and say two things. Number one: no, you are not required to do all those things. You choose to do them. We all choose to do them. If something is a priority in our lives, we make time to fit it in. Retired people say this all the time: I wonder how I got so much accomplished while I was working? You got so much accomplished because these things were important to you!! That’s the reality of life. If something is important to us; we find the time to do it! So, if that is the case, why do we fill our calendars up with so much stuff. Why is everything so important? Why do we make sure we are at all our children’s events? Why do kids have so many events these days? Why are there so many options of things to do? Why are there so many fundraisers and activities on the weekends? Why do kids’ sports now last all year? Here’s why: we want to squeeze as much as possible into our lives. We want to value every single second of every single day because...because we only have a limited amount of time. We only have a short period of time here on earth, and we have to make the most of it. Our time is valuable because one day, we will no longer have any time. We will die. Our busy-ness is directly related to our view of death.
Do you see why I say everyone seeks salvation? Everyone seeks to stave off death? Everyone seeks a solution to the problem of death through healthcare; through safety; through diet, exercise, and trying to look younger; through filling up every waking moment so that we cram as much into our lives as possible. We are busy trying to obtain our salvation by fighting off death!!
And where is it leading us? How do most of us feel at the end of a given week? How do most of us feel late Saturday night after the kids’ or grandkids’ baseball game? How do most of us feel after going to one more fundraiser? How many of us find ourselves full of energy? Full of joy? Full of vim and vigor ready to tackle one more thing?
That would be, none. Well, maybe my vision is clouded. Maybe I’m wrong, but I sure as hell don’t see anyone full of energy; full of joy; and full of happiness. I see folks just trying to survive. Just trying to get through one more thing, but scared to death to say no to anything–or check that–to say no to the right things so that they can actually find salvation and have their lives transformed.
If you noticed, every example I used earlier are examples of us trying to save ourselves. Every example is us trying to spend money, or use our time to stave off death on our own. We are trying to obtain salvation by our own efforts and our own strength because we think its all up to us. We have been convinced that we can attain salvation on our own and defeat death if we just try harder, just spend more money, just make ourselves look younger, just find the right doctor, just keep ourselves busy so that we don’t have to think about it. We think we can do it all on our own, but the truth of the matter is: we cannot save ourselves. We cannot spend enough money. We cannot put in enough hours. We cannot avoid death forever. Eventually, it creeps in on us, and we have to face it. And we have to face the fact that we are unable to obtain our own salvation. We have to face the fact that our salvation can only come from outside ourselves.
The ancient people knew this. They knew it much more readily than we do. They did not have all the trappings of technology to keep their minds occupied. While they were farming; while they were tending their flocks, they were forced to think. Death was ever around them as infant mortality was high. People only lived into their 40s or 50s. They understood that death was right on their doorstep, and they had to wrestle with it. They knew that salvation must come from something outside themselves, and they searched for it. They searched for someone or something to bring them salvation.
1 Peter chapter one beginning at verse 10, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, 11inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated, when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory.” The prophets searched and searched. They knew that one day salvation would come. God had promised such salvation to them. And they wondered what it might be. They wondered how it would be enacted. They had some inkling through what God had revealed in their prophecies, but they wondered how long it would be in coming.
Verse 12, “12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” God revealed to these prophets that they were not going to see this salvation. They were the heralds. They were the ones getting things ready for us. God was using them to say, “Get ready. God is acting in history, and He will act with some very good news.”
And what is that good news? What is the Gospel?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.
God acted decisively through Jesus to bring about our salvation. It was done purely and solely by Jesus who lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved. Jesus made things right between us and God on the cross, and then at the resurrection showed us what the end result will be. For those who trust in Jesus, we too will be resurrected because Jesus’ righteousness has been bestowed upon us. Death is defeated. Death has lost its sting–not by anything we did or can do, but by everything Jesus did. Salvation is accomplished for you, on your behalf at a great cost, not to you, but to God. God died for you while you were unlovable to bring about your salvation.
When this enters into your heart, you start learning to say no to all the things that promise you salvation. You start saying no to all the busy-ness, and you start saying yes to worship. You start saying no to saving yourself through your job and work, and you start saying yes to loving God and your neighbor. When your heart is convicted that death is only a threshold into eternal life, you realize you have all the time in the world. No longer does fear drive you. No longer do you have to squeeze every minute out of life. No longer are you driven by safety and security. You are now free because you are bought with a great price.
Some of you may wonder why I include John 3:16-17 in every sermon. You may wonder why I keep hitting it over and over and over. You may wonder why I keep telling you God died for you when you were and are a sinner to obtain your salvation. Here’s why. Angels long to look into these things. The Greek word there is a bit stronger than long–it’s usually translated lust–an unsatisfied desire. Angels lust to look into the Gospel–into God’s saving action on behalf of you and me. It’s that mind boggling. It’s that wonderful. It’s that liberating. Jesus has obtained your salvation for you when you did not deserve it. Live into that freedom. Amen.
Before I push on any further, let me say, this is not my thought. I’m not the one who came up with the idea. In fact, there are many, many who are smarter than I; are more famous than I; and who are much wealthier than I who have said the exact same thing. In fact, I’d like to read a quote from one of those folks right now.
Not too many years ago, a gentleman by the name of Luc Ferry wrote a very good little book titled, A Brief History of Thought: A Philosophical Guide to Living. Mr. Ferry is a french philosopher and secular humanist. This means, he is an agnostic bordering on atheist. His book was very well received, and at the very beginning, he says this:
I suggest that we accept a different approach to the question, “What is philosophy?’ and start from a very simple proposition, one that contains the central question of all philosophy: that the human being, as distinct from God, is mortal or, to speak like the philosophers, is a ‘finite being’, limited in space and time. As distinct from animals, moreover, a human being is the only creature who is aware of his limits. He knows that he will die, and that his near ones, those he loves, will also die. Consequently he cannot prevent himself from thinking about this state of affairs, which is disturbing and absurd, almost unimaginable. And, naturally enough, he is inclined to turn first of all to those religions which promise ‘salvation.’
I hope you caught what Ferry was saying. If you didn’t, let me try and help you. Basically, we are the only species that knows we are going to die. We are the only creature on this planet, that we are aware of, that can think about the fact that we are going to die. And it is disturbing. It is absurd. It is quite difficult for us to imagine it and wrap our heads around it. Salvation, for Ferry, becomes our ability to cope with our mortality. Somehow, some way, we need to solve the problem of death, and I would submit to you that we haven’t exactly done a very good job of it. Even in the church, we haven’t done so well.
Some of you here this morning might question me on that one. You might say, “Well, pastor, I believe in God. I believe in Jesus, so I’m not worried about death. I’m not worried about what will happen to me when I die.” I hear you loud and clear, and the first part of this sermon isn’t necessarily directed at you. Perhaps you might find your toes being stepped on in a few moments though. Hang in there. A few of you might have come to that place in your lives where you look at death and you compare it to all the trials and tribulations you are going through. You might welcome it.
That may sound a bit morbid, but I learned a valuable lesson from my grandfather when he was dying of cancer. I remember taking him to radiation, and it was literally burning him from the inside out. He was in pain and agony. When we got back to his house, I remember him clearly crying out from his bedroom, “Why is it so hard for a man to die? Why is it so hard for a man to die?” At that point in his life, death was preferable to the misery he was going through, but my grandfather wasn’t afraid of death. He knew what was on the other side. Many today don’t. Including many who consider themselves Christian. Many, many are still seeking salvation. Everyone does even if they are not aware of it.
You might tell me right now, “Okay, pastor, you’ve said that twice. You’ve said that everyone seeks salvation even if they aren’t aware of it. Where is your proof? Where is your evidence that even those who do not believe in God are seeking salvation?”
First, I gave you Luc Ferry’s quote from a guy who is really, really smart and well accepted in his area of expertise. Now, I turn your attention to how we in society act. I will submit to you that we are deathly afraid of death; consciously and unconsciously. How so? Well, as they say, “Actions speak louder than words.”
Think about this for a moment: why do we spend billions upon billions of dollars on health care? Why does this industry keep growing and growing and growing and making more and more off of procedures, drugs, and other such things? Why was there such an uproar and still is an uproar surrounding health care in our nation? Why do we consider health care a right? Why do we spend hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars on procedures and treatments for people who have incurable diseases? Why? I’ll tell you why. The healthcare industry is working to stave off death as long as possible. The healthcare industry is working to keep death at arm’s length and stave off the inevitable because every second we draw breath, according to them, is precious. Some believe we should fight for every last minute of life we have on this planet because death is the enemy. We must keep it at bay.
Think now about this: why do we have the department of homeland security? Why, since 9/11 have we given up many of our individual rights to the government? Why do we subject ourselves to body scanners, pat downs, and other such things in airport security? Why have we become accustomed to the government scanning our emails and listening in on our cell phone conversations? Why have we spend countless billions, even trillions of dollars to keep us safe? Here’s why: we want to be safe. We want to ensure that no terrorist will come along and bomb us and rob us of our lives. We will give up our freedom to stave off death. Our lives are too precious.
Here’s another one: why are there so many items available to help you look younger? Why do people spend millions and millions of dollars on make up; hair coloring kits; shampoos that prevent you from going bald, and other such things? Why is the health food section in stores growing larger and larger? Why do we focus on exercise and eating healthy? Why do folks tell us to avoid fast food, sodas, sugar, and anything that actually tastes good? Because, it will kill you, and you don’t want to welcome death any earlier than you have too, right?
There is more we could say about how we spend our money. Let’s talk a moment about how we spend our time. Why are we so busy? Think about this deeply for a moment because I know what some of you will say. Some of you will say that I’m busy because I have to do so many things. I have to get the kids to all their activities. I have to get my work done. I have to attend these meetings. I have to attend these events. There is so much to do and so little time to get it all squeezed in! Let me stop for just a second and say two things. Number one: no, you are not required to do all those things. You choose to do them. We all choose to do them. If something is a priority in our lives, we make time to fit it in. Retired people say this all the time: I wonder how I got so much accomplished while I was working? You got so much accomplished because these things were important to you!! That’s the reality of life. If something is important to us; we find the time to do it! So, if that is the case, why do we fill our calendars up with so much stuff. Why is everything so important? Why do we make sure we are at all our children’s events? Why do kids have so many events these days? Why are there so many options of things to do? Why are there so many fundraisers and activities on the weekends? Why do kids’ sports now last all year? Here’s why: we want to squeeze as much as possible into our lives. We want to value every single second of every single day because...because we only have a limited amount of time. We only have a short period of time here on earth, and we have to make the most of it. Our time is valuable because one day, we will no longer have any time. We will die. Our busy-ness is directly related to our view of death.
Do you see why I say everyone seeks salvation? Everyone seeks to stave off death? Everyone seeks a solution to the problem of death through healthcare; through safety; through diet, exercise, and trying to look younger; through filling up every waking moment so that we cram as much into our lives as possible. We are busy trying to obtain our salvation by fighting off death!!
And where is it leading us? How do most of us feel at the end of a given week? How do most of us feel late Saturday night after the kids’ or grandkids’ baseball game? How do most of us feel after going to one more fundraiser? How many of us find ourselves full of energy? Full of joy? Full of vim and vigor ready to tackle one more thing?
That would be, none. Well, maybe my vision is clouded. Maybe I’m wrong, but I sure as hell don’t see anyone full of energy; full of joy; and full of happiness. I see folks just trying to survive. Just trying to get through one more thing, but scared to death to say no to anything–or check that–to say no to the right things so that they can actually find salvation and have their lives transformed.
If you noticed, every example I used earlier are examples of us trying to save ourselves. Every example is us trying to spend money, or use our time to stave off death on our own. We are trying to obtain salvation by our own efforts and our own strength because we think its all up to us. We have been convinced that we can attain salvation on our own and defeat death if we just try harder, just spend more money, just make ourselves look younger, just find the right doctor, just keep ourselves busy so that we don’t have to think about it. We think we can do it all on our own, but the truth of the matter is: we cannot save ourselves. We cannot spend enough money. We cannot put in enough hours. We cannot avoid death forever. Eventually, it creeps in on us, and we have to face it. And we have to face the fact that we are unable to obtain our own salvation. We have to face the fact that our salvation can only come from outside ourselves.
The ancient people knew this. They knew it much more readily than we do. They did not have all the trappings of technology to keep their minds occupied. While they were farming; while they were tending their flocks, they were forced to think. Death was ever around them as infant mortality was high. People only lived into their 40s or 50s. They understood that death was right on their doorstep, and they had to wrestle with it. They knew that salvation must come from something outside themselves, and they searched for it. They searched for someone or something to bring them salvation.
1 Peter chapter one beginning at verse 10, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, 11inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated, when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory.” The prophets searched and searched. They knew that one day salvation would come. God had promised such salvation to them. And they wondered what it might be. They wondered how it would be enacted. They had some inkling through what God had revealed in their prophecies, but they wondered how long it would be in coming.
Verse 12, “12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” God revealed to these prophets that they were not going to see this salvation. They were the heralds. They were the ones getting things ready for us. God was using them to say, “Get ready. God is acting in history, and He will act with some very good news.”
And what is that good news? What is the Gospel?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.
God acted decisively through Jesus to bring about our salvation. It was done purely and solely by Jesus who lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved. Jesus made things right between us and God on the cross, and then at the resurrection showed us what the end result will be. For those who trust in Jesus, we too will be resurrected because Jesus’ righteousness has been bestowed upon us. Death is defeated. Death has lost its sting–not by anything we did or can do, but by everything Jesus did. Salvation is accomplished for you, on your behalf at a great cost, not to you, but to God. God died for you while you were unlovable to bring about your salvation.
When this enters into your heart, you start learning to say no to all the things that promise you salvation. You start saying no to all the busy-ness, and you start saying yes to worship. You start saying no to saving yourself through your job and work, and you start saying yes to loving God and your neighbor. When your heart is convicted that death is only a threshold into eternal life, you realize you have all the time in the world. No longer does fear drive you. No longer do you have to squeeze every minute out of life. No longer are you driven by safety and security. You are now free because you are bought with a great price.
Some of you may wonder why I include John 3:16-17 in every sermon. You may wonder why I keep hitting it over and over and over. You may wonder why I keep telling you God died for you when you were and are a sinner to obtain your salvation. Here’s why. Angels long to look into these things. The Greek word there is a bit stronger than long–it’s usually translated lust–an unsatisfied desire. Angels lust to look into the Gospel–into God’s saving action on behalf of you and me. It’s that mind boggling. It’s that wonderful. It’s that liberating. Jesus has obtained your salvation for you when you did not deserve it. Live into that freedom. Amen.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
What Happens when We Die?
I received the following email this past week:
Since the passing of my father recently the question of what happens when we die is ever on my mothers mind. I might add mine too. I have read a lot on it on the internet and the Bible and I must admit it can be overwhelming for a simple minded person like myself. I wanted to ask you if on your blog did you address the question and if so when. I tried looking in the archives but was unable to find one...After reading a lot of thoughts from other people and their reasoning I always came to the thought of what is Pastor Haug's thoughts.
Heady topic with lots of stuff out there.
Interestingly enough, this week's Living Lutheran: Ask a Pastor section was on this very topic. Answers there vary. Answers with a lot of pastors and professors vary.
Here's my short answer: we don't know exactly. That's the truth.
There's only been one person that I know of who experienced the fullness of death for three days and then returned, and He didn't do too much talking about what was going on when His body lay in the tomb.
Sure, there have been others who have had near death experiences. Some have tried to explain these experiences as the brain going into shut down mode and having a hyper-burst of activity. However, there are some experiences where the brain is completely shut down for days, and yet these experiences still occur. Some have recorded these experiences and sold them on the market. At the recommendation of church members, I have read both:
Heaven is for Real
Proof of Heaven
Both of these books are quite interesting and intriguing. Both have sold thousands of copies, but they are vastly different in what they convey about life after death. Vastly different.
So, what is true?
I don't know, but this is what I trust:
When I die, I believe I will go to be with God.
Yes, I know this doesn't exactly gel with St. Paul's understanding of death: that we fall asleep until the resurrection. But it does gel with other portions of scripture.
For instance, this Sunday's Gospel passage from the book of Luke. Jesus is asked a question about the resurrection by the Sadducees. Of course the Sadducees don't believe in the resurrection of the dead. They believe once a person is dead: that's it.
Yet, Jesus doesn't buy that train of thought. He answers them rather profoundly (bold emphasis mine):
27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’ 34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ 39Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ 40For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
"Now, He is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to Him all of them are alive."
This is quite the interesting statement, is it not? How can Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still be living? Their bones have surely decayed and returned to the dust long sense? How could they be considered living?
Jesus offers more insight when He gives the parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
19 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
While this indeed is a parable; it does tell us something of how Jesus viewed what happened after death.
#1. There is life after it.
#2. Some are taken to be with Abraham wherever he may be (With God?).
#3. Some head to torment.
#4. There is a separation between these two places that cannot be crossed.
Some might like to stop here, but Jesus certainly doesn't. Jesus, as Paul talks about the resurrection.
Some folks like to do an either/or. Either heaven and hell or resurrection to a new heaven and a new earth.
I like to combine them with the both/and. Some part of us goes on living--goes to be with God (or torment) as we await the last judgment. Then, on that day, we are reembodied at the resurrection.
Again, I don't know for sure. Haven't been on the other side to check. One thing is for sure: we'll all find out.
Since the passing of my father recently the question of what happens when we die is ever on my mothers mind. I might add mine too. I have read a lot on it on the internet and the Bible and I must admit it can be overwhelming for a simple minded person like myself. I wanted to ask you if on your blog did you address the question and if so when. I tried looking in the archives but was unable to find one...After reading a lot of thoughts from other people and their reasoning I always came to the thought of what is Pastor Haug's thoughts.
Heady topic with lots of stuff out there.
Interestingly enough, this week's Living Lutheran: Ask a Pastor section was on this very topic. Answers there vary. Answers with a lot of pastors and professors vary.
Here's my short answer: we don't know exactly. That's the truth.
There's only been one person that I know of who experienced the fullness of death for three days and then returned, and He didn't do too much talking about what was going on when His body lay in the tomb.
Sure, there have been others who have had near death experiences. Some have tried to explain these experiences as the brain going into shut down mode and having a hyper-burst of activity. However, there are some experiences where the brain is completely shut down for days, and yet these experiences still occur. Some have recorded these experiences and sold them on the market. At the recommendation of church members, I have read both:
Heaven is for Real
Proof of Heaven
Both of these books are quite interesting and intriguing. Both have sold thousands of copies, but they are vastly different in what they convey about life after death. Vastly different.
So, what is true?
I don't know, but this is what I trust:
When I die, I believe I will go to be with God.
Yes, I know this doesn't exactly gel with St. Paul's understanding of death: that we fall asleep until the resurrection. But it does gel with other portions of scripture.
For instance, this Sunday's Gospel passage from the book of Luke. Jesus is asked a question about the resurrection by the Sadducees. Of course the Sadducees don't believe in the resurrection of the dead. They believe once a person is dead: that's it.
Yet, Jesus doesn't buy that train of thought. He answers them rather profoundly (bold emphasis mine):
27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’ 34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ 39Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ 40For they no longer dared to ask him another question.
"Now, He is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to Him all of them are alive."
This is quite the interesting statement, is it not? How can Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still be living? Their bones have surely decayed and returned to the dust long sense? How could they be considered living?
Jesus offers more insight when He gives the parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
19 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
While this indeed is a parable; it does tell us something of how Jesus viewed what happened after death.
#1. There is life after it.
#2. Some are taken to be with Abraham wherever he may be (With God?).
#3. Some head to torment.
#4. There is a separation between these two places that cannot be crossed.
Some might like to stop here, but Jesus certainly doesn't. Jesus, as Paul talks about the resurrection.
Some folks like to do an either/or. Either heaven and hell or resurrection to a new heaven and a new earth.
I like to combine them with the both/and. Some part of us goes on living--goes to be with God (or torment) as we await the last judgment. Then, on that day, we are reembodied at the resurrection.
Again, I don't know for sure. Haven't been on the other side to check. One thing is for sure: we'll all find out.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Ignorance of the Past: Part 2
Sometimes I think we give ourselves too much credit in our "modern" world.
Sometimes I think we think that just because we are more scientifically advanced, we have new and better insight into the questions of reality, morality, etc.
Sometimes I think we are woefully ignorant of the past and believe people in previous eras were simpletons because they did not have the scientific knowledge we have today.
I think this is a massive mistake. Humankind has been wrestling with such questions for thousands of years.
Such a thing was refreshed in my mind as I watched a few youtube debates between believers and atheists regarding what happens after death. The big question of morality always comes up. Why be moral if there is no God? Why be moral if there is no eternal justice?
Nietzsche took this to its logical, philosophical conclusion and said, "No reason for morality. These things are just socially constructed. All is relative."
Some atheists agree. Some do not. Some want to say there are indeed universal morals. But the evidence for such things actually is quite slim. Sure, there seems to be, across cultures the idea of do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but there is also a universality in that the axiom is not followed.
Richard Dawkins himself adheres to the principle that this universal morality indeed is in culture and that evolution has helped us discover it. Yet, he still is willing to stand in front of thousands of people and tell them to publicly mock people of faith. Interestingly enough, I find, Dawkins doesn't appreciate being mocked himself. Apparently hypocrisy is not simply a phenomenon relegated to church going people.
But why even try if there is no life after death? Why even seek to do and be good if there is no judgment?
One could argue that one should do that which is good for the sake of it being good. But if one looks at the universe, at nature, at the reality of how living organisms interact, the only reason to be good is not for the sake of being good but for one's own self interest.
And that becomes the basic argument for most morality--my self interest or the self interest of the human species.
Yet, there is a problem in that. For would it not be in the self interest of the species to quarantine those who have any nasty communicable disease so that it would not spread? Would it not have been in the self interest of the species to eradicate the first man who contracted the AIDS virus so that no one else might have gotten it? We eradicate animals who have rabies so that they do not spread the disease. If man is no different than an animal, why not do the same? What makes human life so special that there is one set of rules in nature yet another set of rules in society?
Well, it's honestly because our morality isn't based in nature or in societal whim. Most of western morality is rooted and grounded in the Christian tradition, and that Christian tradition has dealt with the question of what the reality of life would be if there were no life after death.
St. Paul famously wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 32: "If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'"
If there is no life after death, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. If this life is all there is to live for, might as well enjoy it to the max. There is no rhyme. There is no reason. There is no purpose. All indeed is vanity as the writer of Ecclesiastes said. Might as well get as much as we can, live high on the hog, and enjoy whatever pleasure we can possibly enjoy. Nihilism. Plain and simple. It was around long before Nietzsche.
We would do well, I think, to give credence to those thinkers in the past. There really isn't much new that is under the sun.
Sometimes I think we think that just because we are more scientifically advanced, we have new and better insight into the questions of reality, morality, etc.
Sometimes I think we are woefully ignorant of the past and believe people in previous eras were simpletons because they did not have the scientific knowledge we have today.
I think this is a massive mistake. Humankind has been wrestling with such questions for thousands of years.
Such a thing was refreshed in my mind as I watched a few youtube debates between believers and atheists regarding what happens after death. The big question of morality always comes up. Why be moral if there is no God? Why be moral if there is no eternal justice?
Nietzsche took this to its logical, philosophical conclusion and said, "No reason for morality. These things are just socially constructed. All is relative."
Some atheists agree. Some do not. Some want to say there are indeed universal morals. But the evidence for such things actually is quite slim. Sure, there seems to be, across cultures the idea of do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but there is also a universality in that the axiom is not followed.
Richard Dawkins himself adheres to the principle that this universal morality indeed is in culture and that evolution has helped us discover it. Yet, he still is willing to stand in front of thousands of people and tell them to publicly mock people of faith. Interestingly enough, I find, Dawkins doesn't appreciate being mocked himself. Apparently hypocrisy is not simply a phenomenon relegated to church going people.
But why even try if there is no life after death? Why even seek to do and be good if there is no judgment?
One could argue that one should do that which is good for the sake of it being good. But if one looks at the universe, at nature, at the reality of how living organisms interact, the only reason to be good is not for the sake of being good but for one's own self interest.
And that becomes the basic argument for most morality--my self interest or the self interest of the human species.
Yet, there is a problem in that. For would it not be in the self interest of the species to quarantine those who have any nasty communicable disease so that it would not spread? Would it not have been in the self interest of the species to eradicate the first man who contracted the AIDS virus so that no one else might have gotten it? We eradicate animals who have rabies so that they do not spread the disease. If man is no different than an animal, why not do the same? What makes human life so special that there is one set of rules in nature yet another set of rules in society?
Well, it's honestly because our morality isn't based in nature or in societal whim. Most of western morality is rooted and grounded in the Christian tradition, and that Christian tradition has dealt with the question of what the reality of life would be if there were no life after death.
St. Paul famously wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 32: "If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'"
If there is no life after death, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. If this life is all there is to live for, might as well enjoy it to the max. There is no rhyme. There is no reason. There is no purpose. All indeed is vanity as the writer of Ecclesiastes said. Might as well get as much as we can, live high on the hog, and enjoy whatever pleasure we can possibly enjoy. Nihilism. Plain and simple. It was around long before Nietzsche.
We would do well, I think, to give credence to those thinkers in the past. There really isn't much new that is under the sun.
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