Proper 29 (B), November 23, 2003

As John takes up pen to write he begins to address those who feel defeated; those who are troubled and distressed; those whose faith is waning; those who wonder just when God will "right the wrongs". That is: People just like us! And John does not begin with shallow moralizing; not with simple platitudes.

John begins building on a strong foundation; with the constants, e.g."from Him who is, . . . was . . . is to come;" ". . . from the seven spirits . . . ;" and ". . . from Jesus Christ." He then moves to what has been done for us.

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1) "We are loved." "To him who loved us . . ." (vs. 5)

2) "We are loosed." ". . . to him who has freed us . . ." (vs. 5)

3) "We are lifted." ". . . has made us to be a kingdom and priests . . ." (vs. 6)

He loved us, loosed us, and lifted us. How powerful! Yes, it is a powerful statement about God’s accomplishments on our behalf. Yet the focus of this passage is not on his accomplishments. The focus is on Him; on God’s enduring nature and presence!

How are we to take seriously God’s "promises?" When God is a constant in our lives, in our relationships, in our congregations, and in our world. And what could be more affirming of "God’s constancy" than the triumphant "was . . . is . . . is to come!"

How are we to make sense of those extended times when it appears God is unavailable and unconcerned? How are we to depend on the freedom from sin and life’s enduring hardships? How are we to depend on God’s elevation of our lives from meaninglessness to meaning, from despair to hope, from doubt to faith?

We reflect on His Word; we reflect on the centuries of God’s continuing work. And can we better summarize it than John does? God loved us, set us free, and elevated us to a new sense of purpose and meaning? And we depend on these enduring works because of God’s enduring nature and presence.

Recently a woman asked me how she was to make sense of God’s silence. Others had told her to "Continue to pray . . ." "God only wants the best for you . . ." "Trust God." But her life of faith had dimmed over the years of loneliness. A recent broken relationship had damaged her deeply. And where was God when this person of faith was injured? Where is God for her; for us?

I suggested that she take a few moments to review her past journey with God. Where had she journeyed with God? Where had God led her? As she "filled in the details" of her faith journey she was reminded that God had been with her. God had answered her past prayers.

There are times when our lives are shaken to the foundations. They can be shaken to the point one wonders about the abiding presence of God. We need to be reminded of One who is the "Beginning" and "Ending;" "One who is, . . . who was . . . who is to come, the Almighty." We need to get our vision from the limiting daily struggles of our lives to a vision of greater purpose, greater depth and breadth, greater horizons. How? To remember and affirm the unchanging, unswerving presence of One who from Alpha to Omega, Beginning and Ending, was . . . is . . . is to come!

Sermon brief provided by Earl J. Nichols, Pastor, Garden Community Church, Bradenton, FL.