May 26, 2008 by admin.

In the Name of Him Whose Blood Sets Us Free, Dear Friends in Christ,

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” So says the supervisor at work when the presentation isn’t what it should be; or the frustrated parent whose child leaves half the chores undone; or the man who notices a few missed spots on his vehicle after the workers at the car wash are done wiping it down. There tends to be a general rule of thought that somehow when faced with a problem or challenge, the best person to fix or solve it is ME! “I can do it better than anyone else.” “I can handle things on my own.” “I got myself into it, I can get myself out of it.” Even though we may fail, still our attitude of self-reliance seems to urge us to try and fight so many of our battles completely by ourselves.

Unfortunately, this same attitude prevails in our sinful nature when it comes to our salvation. The temptation is so strong to believe that our status in eternity somehow depends on what we do, on our ability to fix what we messed up. Yes, when it comes to making things right with God, we hear our sinful nature’s constant reminder, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

There’s only one problem with this way of thinking – you can’t do what’s already done! And this problem for our sinful nature proves instead to be a blessing for each of us, because no matter how much we tried to win our own salvation, we could never pull it off. We needed someone else to do it for us. We needed a Savior!

Today I have wonderful news for you from God’s Word. The words before us from the Book of Romans is the beginning of what has been called “one of the most wonderful gospel sermons that you can find anywhere in Scripture” (Becker). Today we’re going to talk about:

“Righteousness: A Done Deal”

I. From God

II. Through Christ

III. By faith

This month marks the end of the school year for most children, which also means that the last report cards had to be handed over to parents. Perhaps some children did so with a little fear and trepidation, knowing that their grades may not have reflected their abilities or reached their parents’ expectations. Imagine the fear that would be ours if we had to present our report card to God in order to get into his heaven – especially when it would be filled with nothing but F’s! In the verse preceding our text, Paul points out that we cannot get a passing grade here on this earth by ourselves (Ro 3:20), “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” God’s law only shows us where we’ve gone wrong. It does not provide a solution.

So what the law could not do, God did instead (v 21), “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” Trying to make ourselves right with God is useless. We’re like a man sinking in quicksand: Insist on saving yourself, and you’ll only quicken your demise. In order to survive, you have to find something to cling to. So it is with righteousness. We have to cling to someone other than ourselves in order to be saved. Our righteousness comes “from God,” and he revealed it to us in his Word, “the Law and the Prophets.” Way back in the Garden of Eden God told Satan that he would be the one to make things right (Ge 3:15), “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Throughout the Old Testament God’s spokesmen proclaimed this righteousness that came from God (Ac 10:43), “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Do you see what great news this is? The perfection, the righteousness that you and I could never accomplish on our own, God provided for us! We couldn’t keep God’s law. We failed miserably. There’s no righteousness of our own to present at God’s throne. So we have to look outside ourselves, “apart from law.” That’s where we find hope, for we’ve been given “a righteousness from God.” So now our salvation is secure! We have what it takes to enter our Lord’s eternal kingdom — we have righteousness! Yes, our righteousness is a done deal!

We’ve seen where our righteousness comes from, but now let’s take a closer look to see through whom it comes. It’s been won for us by that Seed of the Woman – our Savior, Jesus Christ.

No matter how different people may be, we all have one thing in common – we’re all incapable of living up to God’s expectations (vv 22,23), “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Greek word translated here as “glory” in some contexts can also mean “praise.” So then we could see Paul telling us that all people have sinned and, therefore, fall short of God’s praise. In other words, we all have sinned and lack his approval. God demands perfection from us, and we’ve all fallen short – way short! – of that standard. Try buying a $1 ice cream cone with a nickel, and you’ll get the picture of coming up short. Our sinfulness rules out any chance of winning God’s approval on our own.

But whereas all have sinned, our gracious God has seen to it that all also are justified, declared “not guilty,” in his sight (v 24), “And [all] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Notice the piling up of terms used by Paul to drive his point home. All people have been declared “not guilty” “freely” – that is, as a gift, without payment. This has been done “by his grace” – by means of the undeserved love that God bestows upon sinners. And this status has become ours “through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” – literally, through the payment of a ransom in which you and I were bought back from the devil. Notice who paid the price – “Christ Jesus.” Remember, the price was steep (1 Pe 1:18,19), “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed . . . , but with the precious blood of Christ.” Nothing less than the blood of Christ could open heaven’s door for us.

When we failed, God sent his Son to take our place (v 25), “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” There’s some beautiful picture language here that sometimes gets lost in translation. I’m sure you remember that in the word “atonement” we’re reminded that through Christ we are once again “at one” with God. But here the word is being used by Paul to picture the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament. Remember how the Children of Israel carried around this box-like structure as a sign of the Lord’s presence and power? Inside this ark were the two tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. When the Lord looked at these tablets, he was reminded of how all people had sinned against his will. But this same God in love sent his Son “as a sacrifice of atonement” – as the one who would cover up those commandments by keeping them in our place. Our God now looks at his law through Christ and sees those commandments kept perfectly. Instead of failure he now sees righteousness – righteousness won for us by his Son!

Jesus was a complete Savior. He did everything for our salvation. That’s what he meant when he cried out from the cross (Jn 19:30), “It is finished.” If your children tell you that they have finished their homework, you may ask them to prove it by showing it to you. When Jesus says he finished his work of salvation, you can ask him to prove it and he’ll show you his hands and his side. He’ll show you the empty tomb. He’ll tell you that all authority on heaven and on earth has been given to him as the resurrected Lord and Savior. Our salvation is complete! It’s finished! Jesus said so! Righteousness is a done deal!

How does this righteousness become our own? How does it get applied to our account? By faith you are saved!

Faith makes the difference (v 22), “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Faith doesn’t create righteousness. It’s already there, an accomplished fact. But this righteousness is revealed to us through the preaching of the Word. The gospel awakens faith in us, and this faith opens our eyes to all that God has done for us. Faith is the empty hand that receives what God gives, the hand into which God pours his righteousness. Faith is simply trusting in something that has already been accomplished.

So no bragging allowed! “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.” You and I are saved through faith, not because of faith. Remember, even the fact that we’re able to believe is an act of God (Eph 2:8,9), “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that on one can boast.” Or, as Paul writes to the Corinthians (1 Co 1:31), “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” After all, the Lord did everything for our salvation. He deserves all the credit. It’s his righteousness that makes salvation possible. And it’s all a done deal!

All of which brings us to Paul’s beautiful conclusion (v 28), “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” Seems so simple, doesn’t it? “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Ac 16:31). And yet the devil has a way of even making the simple complicated. He tempts us to hang on to the idea that we still have to do something to help God out. But the message is clear: “Just believe.” What a comfort to know that our righteousness is a done deal! It’s an accomplished fact. Our salvation is secure, even on those days when the devil’s causing us to doubt it. That’s why I’ll never ask people on their deathbed how they feel about their salvation, as if that makes a difference on where they’ll be spending eternity. No, I’ll just keep pointing them to Jesus and what he did for their salvation. I’ll keep telling them that the righteousness they need to enter God’s kingdom is already theirs. It was given to them on the cross. It’s a done deal!

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” That statement might be true most of the time, but it can’t be true if what you’re talking about is already done. Righteousness was never meant to be a “do-it-yourself” project. There’s too many parts, and we could never follow the directions. Be thankful that Jesus put it all together for us! Everything’s taken care of! Thank God that your salvation is secure – all because your righteousness is a done deal!

Amen

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May 21, 2008 by admin.

Sometimes people are defined by a single moment in their lives.  By that I mean that there might be one accomplishment or one achievement that stands out in our minds when we think of certain people.  For instance, if I say “Thomas Edison” you probably think of the man who invented the light bulb.  Orville and Wilbur Wright—the first airplane flight.  Bill Gates—Microsoft Computers.

So what comes to mind when I say “God?”  Maybe, like me, you think “Where do I start?  There is so much that we can say about God.  But someone once said that almost everything that we know about the character of God can be found in the first 3 chapters of Genesis.  I think I would have to tend to agree with him.  As you read those three chapters, there is much that you learn about God.  It’s not possible to review all of it today.  Instead we’ll keep our thoughts focused on those areas that are defined by today’s theme–Trinity Sunday and Graduation Sunday.  As we do, we’ll note that there are certain things about God that define who he is and why we put our hoe and trust in him.  So let’s look at a few selected verses from our first reading today to find

“Our Triune God—We Believe, We Respect, We Praise”

I.  We Believe

II.  We Respect

III.  We Praise

Some of the men who have been elected President of our country have been remembered for statements they made in their inaugural address.  “We have nothing to fear except fear itself” is the often quoted statement of FDR.  “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” came from JFK.  God’s “inaugural address,” if that’s what you want to call Genesis chapter 1 makes a very bold statement about him.  “In the beginning, God created the heaven’s and the earth.”

That is quite a statement to make.  Over the years it has been criticized and critiqued.  It has been denied and debated.  And it has been believed.  When you heard that statement this morning, I don’t think that it caused a great deal of concern or anxiety.  You believe it.  You know what it means and what it claims, and you believe it.

            So what makes you different from those who don’t believe it?  Why can you hear those words and agree with them when so many others who hear them take great offense at what they say?  Is it because you are so much smarter than they are?  No, that’s not it at all.  We believe that what those words say are true because God the Holy Spirit has put that faith in our hearts.  The Holy Spirit has erased our skepticism and doubt, and replaced it with faith and trust.  We regularly express that faith when we confess in the Apostles Creed, “I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”  In other words, we are saying, “I believe Genesis 1:1.”

But we’re saying more than that, and Genesis chapter 1 is saying more than that about God, because 25 verses later we hear God say, “Let us make man in our image.”  In verse 26, we learn something else about God.  He referred to himself in the plural, “Let us make man….” That wasn’t a mistake or a wrong pronoun that Moses used.  It is what God meant to say.  Genesis 1:2 tells us that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” and John 1:1 and 1:14 further explain “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the

Word was God….The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”  “The Word,” the one who became flesh and made his dwelling among us” is a reference to Jesus.  Here again we have a teaching that many do not believe with us.  We believe that God is “triune.” Or Three-in-One.  We believe there is one God, but three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We can’t explain it, but we don’t have to.  God says it, so it is.  Once again, the Holy Spirit has erased our doubts and filled our hearts with faith to believe it.

Our faith in God, the triune God who created the heavens and the earth, leads us to a special respect and admiration of God.  As we continue to see God unveiled for us in the first chapter of the Bible, we see that when he created us, he created us to be like him, “in his own image,” our text says to us.

II.  We Respect

God, speaking as the triune God, said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (1:26)  I find it quite amazing that, after creating the earth and everything in it, God turned it all over to us.  He made a wondrous creation filled with plants and animals and resources, and then he gave it to us and told us to take care of it, to use it and enjoy it.

And God did that after making Adam and Eve in his own “image,” like him.  They were created to be like him, to want what he wanted, to be in perfect compliance with the will and mind of God.  He equipped them, fully and completely, to carry out the care for the creation that he had just finished.  Sin, of course, took away the image that God gave Adam and Eve, and left them with many shortcomings and faults.  But God did not abandon them or turn his back on them.  He continued to be with them and to enable them to be the managers of his creation.

We see that today as we celebrate the Graduations of our students today.  Your years of study have now taken you to a new level of knowledge and understanding.  And that doesn’t just mean that you will be able to get into college, get a better job, and be able to enjoy more of what life has to offer.  It means that you are better equipped to be the people that God has intended you to be.  It means that you are better able to know God and what he wants.  It shows that you have the intelligence to function in the world in which you live, and combined with your faith in God, to serve him in a way that will bring him joy and honor.  To think that God in his great wisdom and love made it possible for us to live our lives this way and to enjoy the rewards that come from our earthly efforts gives us a great respect for him.

That respect for a God that we can’t see or prove is often held against us.  Those who do not share our faith cannot understand our feelings for our Lord.  And as you move forward in your lives, into college and beyond, you will sometimes find that respect for God challenged.  God’s ways will not always be respected.  God’s commands for you and you life will not be respected.  And God himself will not be respected.

So it will be important for you to keep the Lord in your life.  Statistics will bear out that many people who turn from the Lord do so at this time in their lives, when they are learning and experiencing so many new things, and when they are being exposed to the false teachings and false teachers who work the world for the devil.  Remember the sage advice God gives in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other—and all the more as we see the day approaching.”

III.  We Praise

Continued contact with God’s Word and sacraments will insure a life-long respect for God.  As a result we will have a desire to thank and praise him for his many blessings and his divine goodness.  In our text, we see why it is appropriate to give God this praise.  Moses wrote, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” 

The point should not be lost here about how God reports what took place.  He doesn’t try to explain it, but simply states it as a fact.  And that’s because it is.  That is what happened, and that is why we gather together on a regular basis, not only to grow in faith by using God’s word and sacraments, but to give back to God by praising him.  One of the constants of the Christian church has always been the praise that we give to God when we gather to worship.  For years we have been known as the “singing church,” and rightly so since singing is a common way of expressing joy and praise.

Through the pen of Paul, God has allowed us as New Testament Christians to choose which day we want to gather to do this.  In Colossians 2:16 Paul wrote, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that are to come…”  In our Christian freedom, we have chosen to gather to worship on Sunday.  We have done that again today.  We have done that so that we can be blessed by God and so that we can be a blessing to God.

Think about what you are doing here.  Think about why you are here, how you are here.  The God of Genesis 1, who made the heavens and the earth, who has revealed himself to us in his Word, who first made us in his own image, has called you to faith and to a future in heaven with him.  Thank him for the many blessings he has given you in the world that he created so many years ago.  God is not defined by a single event in his life, but by the countless graces, mercies, and blessings he has given to us.  We believe, we respect, and we praise our triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“The peace of God….”

–Rev. Roger Rockhoff

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May 13, 2008 by admin.

In Christ Jesus, the Savior worthy of our praise and our trust, dear Christian friends, and especially you, Thomas, today’s confirmand,

Bill Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, in 1938, the youngest of nine children. He was raised in nearby Beckley, a small coal-mining town. His father died when he was just 13. Bill entered the Navy when was 17 and served for nine years. When he returned, he became a song-writer, and in 2005 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs included such hits as “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” But he’s probably best known for a song that he wrote after reflecting upon life back in the town in which he was raised. Bill Withers remembered that even though times were hard during his childhood, still it always seemed that whenever someone needed something, the rest of the community would chip in and help. With this in mind he wrote a song that reached the top of the charts in July of 1972 and summed up this kind of giving spirit. The song was entitled, “Lean on Me.”

That’s a fitting theme in and of itself for today, a day in which we remember our mothers and how often they were there for us, encouraging us to “lean on me” when we were in need. But this morning I’d like to use one of the lines from this song of Mr. Withers to center our thoughts. As he offers to help others by telling them in song to “lean on me,” he rightly concludes:

“We All Need Somebody to Lean On”

I. Our own understanding will let us down

II. Trust in the Lord will clear paths for us

We like to think that we can truly be self-sufficient, that we really don’t need anyone else’s help in life, that we can handle things on our own all by ourselves. Such thinking gives us a feeling of power and independence. But such thinking is only foolishness. Truth is, “we all need somebody to lean on!” That’s because we’re sinful people, which means we’re imperfect people, which means we’re going to face situations which will require some help from others. It’s not so much a sign of weakness on our part to admit that “we all need somebody to lean on.” Consider it more a case of simple reality. Back in the Garden of Eden the Lord stated that it was not good for man to be alone. There are times when we need others in our lives.

Living in a sinful world guarantees that there will be times when we will be in need. What are some of those times? Get out your checklists. Have you ever had financial difficulties, when the dollars in your checkbook ran out before the days in the month did? Anyone out there have the perfect marriage, or are there times when you’ve needed a little help? How about your job? Never a problem there, right? Parents, you always love your kids and, kids, you always love and obey your parents, right? What about school? Everything you want it to be with great teachers and friends who always treat you right? And we’re all pictures of physical and mental health, so not anything to worry about there I suppose. Need I go on? Anyone doubt me now? So often in our lives it’s true: “We all need somebody to lean on.”

Still, when the going gets tough, we tend to turn to ourselves for answers. Our text for today exposes such faulty thinking (v 5), “Lean not on your own understanding.” This isn’t to say that we’re ignorant, with no coping skills and no ability to help ourselves. But the reminder is needed that ultimately we need to understand that we have limitations, especially in the spiritual realm when it comes to our salvation and our ability to live as God’s children.

Consider for a moment what happens when man leans on his own understanding to figure things out, apart from any divine assistance. When it comes to the origin of the world, we develop a theory known as evolution that hides its unprovable nature behind millions and even billions of years. And yet we call it “scientific.” Mankind’s understanding has declared that anyone who purposefully injures a pregnant woman and causes her to lose her child can be tried for murder, and yet if that very same woman decides to “murder” that child by having an abortion, it’s mankind’s understanding that this is perfectly legal. Our own understanding of the source of true happiness points us to a god, but that god is made up of the green paper and plastic cards found in our wallets. When it comes to troubles in marriage it’s our understanding that instead of taking the time to work things out, it’s much easier and more convenient to just part ways and divorce. By our own understanding, you better enjoy the time you have on this earth, because once you’re gone, that’s it. Any talk of an afterlife is simply a way of giving hopeless people hope for a future that will never come to be. And don’t think for a moment that the weakness of our own understanding is limited to unbelievers. How many Christians haven’t given into the temptation of leaning only on their own intellect and exposing such a fault with questions such as: “Why is God punishing me?” “Doesn’t God care about me?” “Why doesn’t God do something to help me?” “Why doesn’t he answer my prayers?”

Unbeliever and believer alike can be found guilty of misplaced trust. Far too often we misuse our intellect. Keep in mind that wisdom is meant to be a gift from God, not a rival to him. There’s nothing wrong with being smart, but use that gift with humility in service to the Lord and to others.

Just don’t lean on it. Proverbs 14:12 warns us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” If it’s true that we all need somebody to lean on, and we can’t lean on our own understanding, then where do we turn? Trust in the Lord! Such trust will clear paths for us!

Sometimes at night when I go to bed, Thomas has fallen asleep with his TV on in his room. Being the room of a typical 14-year old boy, I navigate carefully in the dimly-lit room to turn off the TV because of the many things which are often found on the floor, obstructing my path. My son’s room can serve as a picture of life in this sinful world. There are so many “things” – so many temptations – threatening to clutter up our path through this life to our life eternal. It’s only with divine intervention that we can complete our journey safely (vv 5,6), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart . . . and he will make your paths straight.” Only God can clear the way and make our paths straight, safely leading us to heaven.

How does he accomplish this? By getting us to become more acquainted with him (v 6), “In all your ways acknowledge him.” To “acknowledge” the Lord simply means to “know” him. First of all know what he has done for you. At the top of the list has to be the cross, since without the cross we’d have no reason to trust in the Lord. It’s by that cross that God in heaven gave full proof of his love for us, not even holding back his very own Son when it came to our salvation. Knowing what he has done for us, that he delivered on his promise to make things right with us again, encourages us also to be anxious to know what he can do for us still today. He can still guide us with his Word, protect us with his power, rescue us from troubles, and strengthen us with his love. And as we “acknowledge him” in our words and actions, we serve as living advertisements for the rest of the world to see, giving more and more people the opportunity to learn more about their Savior.

Since we all need somebody to lean on, we are wise to pick someone who won’t let us down. So we’re told (v 5), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.” To “trust” could be defined as putting your full weight upon someone or something. If I came running up to you and yelled out “Catch me!” while jumping into your arms, I better trust that you have the strength to support a “full-bodied” man such as myself. If we are told by God himself to “trust” in him, then he’s assuring us that he is powerful enough, not only to catch us, but to carry us through this life to the life that is to come.

Notice that we’re told to trust in the Lord “with all your heart” – not necessarily with all our mind. Remember, our “own understanding” often leads us astray. So it’s with the heart that we believe what doesn’t always make sense to our minds. For example, with our hearts we believe what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” With our hearts we believe that no matter how lonely we may feel, God promises us (Heb 13:5), “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Our own understanding may question it, but with our hearts we believe that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). The Holy Spirit has already convinced us in our hearts to believe that Jesus is God’s answer to his promise and to our prayers. Should there be any reason not to trust him now?

“We all need somebody to lean on.” If that’s the case, then trust in the Lord, the one who “will make your paths straight.” He does this by putting blinders on us when needed, much like those worn by a horse running a race. As we run the race of life, we need to keep focused on what’s ahead, on the goal of heaven. Otherwise we could be too easily distracted and led off the path to what’s most important. Thomas, as you look forward to entering your high school years, the distractions will become greater. You will have pressure from your peers, even if you attend a Christian high school, to do things contrary to God’s will. You’ll be tempted to resist and rebel against those in authority. You’ll be enticed into thinking that you have all the answers you need. The devil will want you to lean more on yourself and less on your Lord.

When this happens, I want you to turn to your confirmation memory verse, the words before us this morning, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Of all the things that I could teach us as your father, the greatest blessing I can pass on to you is found in these words: “Trust in the LORD.” Here’s your key to a happy life, a fulfilling life, a life that has true meaning and purpose: “Trust in the LORD.” He’s the one who made us, who redeemed us from death and the devil, and who will glorify us for all eternity. “Trust in the Lord.” He has all the answers you’ll ever need – for this life and the next!

On Mother’s Day we take time out to thank our moms for all they do, for always being there to put that band-aid on our scraped knee, for giving us that reassuring hug after a bad day, for running us around to all our sporting events and appointments – for just being someone we can always lean on. But even moms make mistakes and, yes, even moms may let us down at times. That’s why we thank them most of all for helping teach us about Jesus, the Savior who’s always there for us! There is no greater gift that a mother could give!

“We all need somebody to lean on.” That’s not a problem, not when we have a Savior who proclaims, “You can always lean on me!”

Amen

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May 5, 2008 by admin.

In the name of our ascended, yet ever-present Lord, dear friends in Christ,

This past Friday I was asked to sit in on a meeting with our district president, Joel Frank, up in Salina. Afterwards we stopped by at McDonald’s for something to drink. While Pastor Frank enjoyed the “senior citizen special” – the $.59 cup of coffee, I took advantage of his offer to pay and got a $2.79 cappuccino. While discussing our meetings, I noticed one of the new DVD-rental “red boxes” a few feet away. Having never seen such technology up in little Plymouth, Nebraska, I showed Pastor Frank how these boxes worked and explained what a bargain they offered – DVD’s for $1/night. Although somewhat impressed by the technology, Pastor Frank still expressed surprise at why people rent so many movies in the first place. To him sitting and watching a movie comes across as a complete waste of time.

I doubt if I won him over with my logic, but I argued that for many watching a movie offers a brief escape from reality, a chance to forget about their problems and cares for a couple of hours. Many like to imagine living in a different world, under different circumstances, perhaps longing for a life different than their own. But then comes “the end,” the movie’s over, the lights come on, and it’s back to the life as they know it. It’s back to reality.

The disciples may have felt as if they were watching a movie that lasted for three years. For the past three years their lives had been different – they had given up their occupations to follow after Jesus, the God-Man himself, hearing him preach a powerful message of salvation and watching him exhibit miraculous abilities in healing the sick and raising the dead. Then the “plot” took a sad turn, with their Lord undeservedly being found guilty of a crime that brought with it the death sentence. But – hang on! – there was another twist in the storyline, for Jesus broke free from the grave and was back with them once more. Still, the story didn’t end here, for the living Lord would leave them yet again, only this time in triumph as he returned to his throne in heaven.

So the lights came on, and the skyward-gazing disciples had to get on with life. Jesus may have returned to heaven, but the disciples were left behind. What would they do? The same thing we are to do still today. Jesus is back in heaven:

“Meanwhile, Back on Earth . . .”

I. We witness

II. We wait

III. We worship

After his resurrection Jesus did stick around on this earth for another 40 days. Earlier in this chapter Luke tells us why (Ac 1:3), “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Jesus wanted the disciples to be convinced, without a doubt, that he was alive and well. They may have still been a bit confused as to why he had come back from the dead, still holding out hope of him setting up an earthly kingdom, but Jesus would help straighten out their thinking. Our text begins with Jesus promising to send them someone special (v 8), “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” For three years these disciples had been privileged to see Jesus’ power in action, culminated by his own resurrection from the dead. Now this power was going to be at their disposal. They would be sent out in Jesus’ name with a message of good news all wrapped up in a powerful little package known as the gospel, the message Paul calls “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Ro 1:16).

With this little dynamo of a message the disciples would have all they needed for their new occupation. No longer would they just be followers of our Lord – now they would also be his witnesses! “You will be my witnesses” (v 8) is the command Jesus gives them before heading back to heaven. A witness is one who verifies the truth. With Jesus leaving this earth, the disciples were to verify the truth of what he had accomplished for the world’s salvation. Peter does just that when he writes (2 Pe 1:16), “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” The baton was being passed. With Jesus in heaven, meanwhile, back on earth, the disciples were to take over as his spokesmen. The world had been saved from sin. That mission was accomplished. Now all that was left was to get the word out.

Jesus even came up with a plan for their witnessing. Call it “the ripple effect.” Toss a stone into a pond, and you’ll see ever-widening circles branching out from the spot of the splash. So it was to be for the disciples (v 8), “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” He was telling them, “Start at home in Jerusalem, but then keep branching out into the surrounding territories until finally you cover the entire world. Make sure everyone hears that their sins have been forgiven!”

Today we assume the role of those first disciples. We are the Lord’s witnesses, and our assignment — our “ripple effect”– might be stated this way, “You will be my witnesses in your homes, at work and in your neighborhoods, and to the ends of the earth.” Our Lord has ascended to heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, we witness. And that means all of us, not just the pastors or the Board of Evangelism members. Witnessing is the responsibility given to all our Lord’s children, and it’s something that requires us to be proactive. Sitting around and waiting for people to “find” their Savior won’t cut it. We have to go out and search for the lost. Start with those you know. Studies have shown that up to 75% of people who visit a church do so at the invitation of a friend or relative. Those who have joined our church as adult confirmands support this fact. We are God’s tools for reaching the lost! We have the power of the gospel to proclaim! It’s our calling. Jesus empowers us from above with the same Holy Spirit he promised the disciples. Meanwhile, back on earth, you and I, we witness!

And we wait. The disciples would have to wait for Jesus to come again. As Jesus ascended to heaven before their very eyes, their heavenward gaze was interrupted by a couple of angels sent to snap them back to reality (v 11), “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” “He’s coming back, but not right now. Don’t linger in the past. Remember, he has work for you to do. And you will see him again, because he’s going to come back again in the same way you just watched him leave. Just be patient and wait!”

We can understand the disciples’ reluctance to let Jesus go. They thought they had lost him once before, and they were so distraught and upset with him gone that they huddled together and hid behind locked doors. Was he going to leave them for good this time? Not at all! Angels came to tell them he’d be back. Angels always showed up for important occasions. One came to announce the Savior’s birth. They were there when Jesus was tempted by the devil, when he was in Gethsemane, and after he had risen to announce his resurrection. Now they came to his ascension to comfort and assure the disciples. Jesus was back in heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, the disciples were to wait, but they were to do so confident that Jesus would be coming back for them.

The assurance of our Lord’s return is what gives us today the patience to wait while living in a sinful world. Most people don’t like to wait. Think of the last time you had a doctor’s appointment and had to wait to be called in and had to wait again for the doctor to finally come see you. Try waiting five seconds after the traffic light has turned green and the horns sounding behind you will let you know that people find it hard to wait. Patience is a rare virtue here on earth.

And yet as Christians we know our wait will be well worth it. We know what we’re waiting for, and the end result of an eternity with our Lord makes our wait here on this earth all the more bearable. While we wait, we don’t sit idly by, but we look for ways to serve in which we might exhibit the joy that is ours as redeemed children of God with a future in heaven. Keep in mind that others are watching. May we never be guilty of turning others off to Christianity by the way we lament our lot in life as if we had no hope and were only living for the here and now. May we never give people the impression that living the Christian life is nothing but a burden and a hardship for us to endure. Instead, may people see in us our joyful hope and our enduring patience. And may they see through us the reason for our hope – may they see Jesus! Right now he’s preparing places for us in heaven. Meanwhile, back on earth, we wait, letting others know that our wait will not be in vain!

So what do we do when this world starts to get the best of us, when the doom and gloom of sin keeps popping up all around us? When you’re sick, you take medicine to start feeling better again. When you’re feeling spiritually worn out, take your spiritual medicine. Take healthy dosages of God’s Word! While waiting on earth, it’s important that we also worship.

That’s what the disciples did. After their angelic experience, while waiting for the Lord’s promised gift of the Holy Spirit, we’re told the disciples “returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives. . . . They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (vv 12,14). “They all joined together” with one another to be mutually strengthened through the Word in prayer and in worship! Makes sense, doesn’t it? They all shared a common faith, and they wanted to express that unity in prayer and worship. Jesus was gone, but he had left them with so very much for which to be thankful – the certainty of his resurrection, the assurance of forgiveness, the hope of heaven. So while Jesus was in heaven, back on earth they joined together to praise their Lord. They worshiped!

That’s what we do. That’s what we’re doing right now. That’s what we do every time we assemble here in God’s house. And it’s a good thing. God encourages us to worship in his Word (Heb 10:25), “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” As Christians we’re called to worship. It’s a response of faith. That’s why, if you’re not regularly found in God’s house, we see it as a faith-problem. I once had a member take me to task for telling her that she had a faith-problem, even though she had been absent from worship for over six months! Think of your church attendance as the barometer of your faith. Those strong in faith can’t help but worship the Lord in all they do, and that includes the act of coming to his house to praise him and to be strengthened in faith. Someday we’ll be singing our Lord’s praises for all eternity. In the meantime, while here on earth, we take advantage of the opportunities to recharge our spiritual batteries and to encourage one another by gathering together around God’s Word. It’s important to be here. It’s important to worship!

Jesus is back in heaven, but “life goes on.” Ever have someone say that to you – “life goes on”? It’s as if they’re trying to tell you that even though something bad may have just taken place in your life, still you have to keep living. You can’t escape reality. Even movies end, and “life goes on.”

Maybe that’s the advice Jesus had in mind for the disciples as he was about to ascend back into heaven. Yes, he would be leaving them, but before he went, he would leave them with one last promise (Mt 28:20), “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” That’s a promise he has made to each of us as well. Even though he has ascended into heaven, our Savior never really left us. That’s why, back on earth, we witness, we wait, and we worship. Yes, life goes on. But, remember, we’re never alone. Life goes on with Jesus at our side, and he’ll accompany us all the way home to heaven!

Amen

-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff

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May 2, 2008 by admin.

      Much in our lives is based on the work/reward system.  We are taught from the time that we are little that there are rewards which come to people who work for them.  People put in many years of school so that they can be prepared for a job or career that rewards them with financial means to live and enjoy their lives.  Athletes put in hours of training and practice so that they can enjoy the thrill of victory.  And Christians strengthen and protect the faith God has given them so that they do not lose the great reward that God attached to their gift of faith.

As Jesus prepared to leave the earth and return to his throne in heaven, he reminded his disciples of the great work that there was for them to do.  Faith, the ticket to heaven, is given to people by means of God‘s Word and the sacrament of Baptism.  The Holy Spirit works through those two tools alone to overcome unbelief and make someone a child of God.  Since that is true, you know what it means when these tools are not used.

Jesus final meeting with his disciples emphasized the privilege and importance of the work that Jesus had trained his disciples to carry out.  It is the same work that he now is training and sending us to do for him.  As we look at this Ascension Day text from the book of Luke, we can consider these words as

Your Final Assignment

I.  Expand the Kingdom of God

II.  Trust the Promise You Have Been Given

      Jesus had spent three years personally training his disciples for the work he was about to send them out to do.  During that time, they didn‘t always fully understand or appreciate what Jesus was telling them.  It would soon all make sense to them.  Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.“  Luke then adds an important commentary on what took place during that meeting.  He wrote, “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

The story of salvation has been described by God himself through the inspired words of Paul to the Corinthians as “…foolishness to those who are perishing…” (I Cor. 1:18) Keep in mind that “those who are perishing” refers to everyone before he or she is brought to faith.  In other words, believing that Jesus is your Savior is not a natural thought.  We would not come to that conclusion on our own.  Something, or more accurately, someone has to tell us that and convince us that it is true.

Jesus pointed his disciples to that message as it is explained in the Bible.  He said, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.“  Jesus then looked at his disciples, the men he had taught and trained, and gave them their final assignment– “You are witnesses of these things.“  A witness is expected to tell what he knows to be true.  Jesus promised the disciples that he would help them do that.  He added, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.“

The disciples did what Jesus told them to do.  After God fulfilled his promise to them and sent them his Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they went out into the world and boldly preached the message that they had been given.  Doubting Thomas and Denying Peter and the rest of the “Run For your Life” disciples now became the band of courageous witnesses whom Jesus gathered on the hill outside of Jerusalem to send out with his word and sacraments to enlarge his kingdom in all the world.

Today, dear Christian friends, God is reminding us that this is also our assignment.  “You are witnesses of these things,” he says to us today, and we are.  Through his word we have seen the Old Testament prophecies of God‘s plan to save the world.  Through the Gospels we are told of Jesus‘s life and death to carry out that plan.  And by the power of the Holy Spirit the message of “foolishness“ has now become a sure and certain belief in our hearts that shapes who we are and guides us through every day of our lives.
“You are witnesses,” Jesus says to us today.  So what are we doing to witness what we know?  We pray for God‘s guidance and blessings on our work.  We study his word to better equip ourselves to serve him.  We treasure his sacraments and the blessings that they bring.  We support a church and school where we can gather around the Word and the Sacraments to strengthen and be strengthened.  We teach and apply the teachings of the Bible in our homes and use them as the standard for our own lives.  And we tell people by our words and actions the amazing gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus.

You can see how important that assignment is by looking at the things that are happening in our world, in our communities, and even in our own families and homes.  The Devil is putting up a strong fight against the Lord and his armies.  And he is winning many of the battles as souls perish daily without saving faith.  When we see people as either God‘s children or Satan‘s children, we see how important the assignment is that God has given to us.  And at the same time we rejoice in the promise that Jesus gave us to bless our efforts to carry out that assignment.

II. Trust the Promise You Have Been Given

Luke wrote, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.“  The report that we are given by Luke is very brief, and may be overlooked because of its brevity.  But it shouldn‘t.  It is the highlight of the Ascension Day celebration.  As Jesus left them–which is too often the focus–he blessed them.  The risen, victorious, almighty Savior gave his power and authority to the men he had assigned to do his work.

The disciples understood the significance of that moment.  Luke says, “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.“  The disciples were not left wondering what happened to Jesus.  They did not go back to Jerusalem to try to figure out what to do next.  They saw their glorified Lord ascending to his seat of power and glory, and they believed that he was the true and powerful of God that many denied he was.

No longer did the disciples hide behind locked doors.  No longer did they worry about when he would set up his earthly kingdom for them to rule over.  “…they stayed continually at the temple, praising God,“ Luke tells us.  There were no doubts in their mind any longer about Jesus or his work.  There were no questions left unanswered about who he was or what he had come to do.  It all made sense now, and the disciples were anxious to go out and tell everyone what they now firmly believed. Our risen Savior is still governing his kingdom on earth from his kingdom in heaven.  He still equips his people through his Word and Sacraments to do his work here on earth.  And we see the blessings of our Lord on the work that we do as children are brought into his kingdom by baptism, as adults seek to find answers to life’s questions by turning to God‘s Word, as families build on the promises of God‘s Word, and as people gather together around the Word and Sacraments to make their public confessions of faith.  We praise and honor the Lord as we worship him because we believe that he is in heaven watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us to the eternal homes he has prepared for us.

The efforts that we make to keep the Lord in the center of our lives will be rewarded because of his promise “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.“ (Lk. 11:28) The ascended Lord stands ready to bless us when we use his Word in our lives and when we rightly use his sacraments.  He promises to give and strengthen faith through these two important tools.  We see the change that his blessing had on the disciples–no longer confused and afraid, but now bold and excited.  The same blessings await us as we take our final assignment from the Lord–Use his Word and Sacraments to build and strengthen his kingdom and Trust the Promises he has made to you as you serve him faithfully.  Amen.

AThe peace of God….

–Rev. Roger Rockhoff

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