June 27, 2021                                                                                  Text:  Lamentations 3:22-33

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Between 1931 and 1935, the Hoover Dam was constructed.  If you walk along the dam you can see the dam’s face on one side and Lake Mead on the other.  The combination of power and productivity is seen clearly.

            What do you notice about the timing of its construction?  It was built during the Depression.  Men traveled from all over to work on this project – 47 different states in all – and we only had 48 then.  Out of national suffering came what was the tallest dam at the time and the largest hydroelectric plant in the world.  In the midst of suffering, people saw great power and wonderful work.

            Our text for this morning offers a glimpse of God’s great power and work in the midst of suffering.  Israel has been exiled to Babylon; Jerusalem has had a siege against her with her walls and temple torn down.  We then get this voice of lament.  In the middle of the book is an amazing revelation about God’s faithfulness.  Let’s meditate on this text and see that in the midst of our suffering . . .

“GREAT IS GOD’S FAITHFULNESS”

            When we suffer, our grief has many voices.  The same is true of Scripture.  The Book of Lamentations has five laments with each one being different.  Our text is part of the third lament. 

            This third lament is personal.  It is the cry of a man who has seen suffering.  He has seen people exiled.  He has seen God’s judgment on his people.  The man is grief stricken over what he has observed.

            His grief is such that he speaks about God not to God.  He can’t speak to God because physically, mentally, emotionally, this man has experienced the judgment of God and reached the point where his endurance and his hope from the Lord have perished. 

            Have you ever gotten to that point?  The suffering is so overwhelming that you figure God isn’t listening, so why bother?  The hurt so intense that the Creator can’t do anything for me?  You lament your troubles and internalize them until you are ready to burst and not in a positive way.

            The man in our text is there but what we see in Lamentations is what the man remembers.  The love of God never ceases.  His mercies never end.  The Lord is the portion he can put his hope in.  God restores this relationship and the man can speak to God rather than about Him.  The man says, “Great is yourfaithfulness.” (v. 23)  Not great is God’s faithfulness.  Great is your faithfulness.  God is not going to forsake His covenant.  He comes near to the man in faithfulness and love.

            What do people do today?  They read God according to their lives.  God’s love is measured by their life experiences.  If God has delivered them from suffering, then He is powerful.  If God has blessed business or family then He is loving.  If life begins to break down, however, so does their God.  The rabble-rousers of our world fall into this category.  They may not believe in God or the church but who gets the vile words spilled against them?  They lament against others and God because someone has to take the blame.  Why are they so angry and hateful?  Because they are not comfortable with who they are.  They need our prayers.

            There are times we may not be comfortable with ourselves.  But we don’t waver in faith because of life experiences.  We hope in God because He is love and compassion and mercy and faithfulness.  In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus God showed all of these traits.  In love, He died for you.  In compassion, he sympathizes with your weaknesses.  In mercy, He forgives your sin.  In faithfulness, He is always with you to the very end.  It is all of that that brought you here today and will go home with you.

            There is a plaque at Hoover Dam created by Oskar J.W. Hansen to commemorate the workers who died as the dam was constructed.  It pictures the dam, and in front of it is the figure of a man.  His arms are outstretched, and he rises above the water.  Above him a symbol of the electrical power provided by the dam and then, extending outward to both sides, are stalks of wheat, clusters of grapes, gourds, and the fruits of the earth.  Across the middle of the plaque are the words, “They died to make the desert bloom.”

            This plaque calls to mind the human sacrifice involved in creating this center of power and productivity for our country.  Christians have a symbol that calls to mind an even greater sacrifice that brings greater power and productivity to all creation.  That symbol is the cross.  When Jesus stretched out his arms on the cross, He bore the sins of the world and the curse that had fallen on creation.  Dying under the burden of sin, Jesus broke its power, and rising from the dead, He brings life to all who trust in Him.  Life from death.  Joy from sorrow.  A new creation from a fallen world.  Of Him, it may truly be said, “He died to make the desert bloom.”

            Great is God’s faithfulness.                 Amen.  

June 20, 2021                                                                        Text:  2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Some of you have been around since the early stages of the church plant that became our church – Good Shepherd Lutheran.  This morning we look at another church plant that got off to a rocky start.  There were divisions among the members.  A sex scandal involving a member.  There was disorder in worship and confusion about fundamental beliefs, including the resurrection of Jesus.  A painful visit from the Pastor-missionary was followed by a tough letter from this same fella.  This church plant was hanging by a thread.  Then came another letter from the missionary except this letter brought comfort and good news that they needed.

            We know this letter as 2 Corinthians.  The Pastor/Church planter is the Apostle Paul.  The Church in Corinth had been through a lot when they received this letter.  There was even conflict between the church and Paul.

            Paul notes a problem they have.  Their hearts are restricted, confined, closed off.  Their hearts are blocked by a stubbornness that is putting them at risk.  Paul pleads with them and speaks to us . . .

“WHAT CAN HEAL OUR SPIRITUAL HEART DISEASE?”

            We all are aware of physical heart disease.  The hamburger we have piled high from the fast food restaurant or movie theater popcorn with butter is not helping the situation.  Neither is the backside on the couch when a nice walk should be the menu item for the day.  It builds up fat that clogs heart and arteries.  Not enough oxygen is getting through to our cells and we suffer.

            We don’t know if the Corinthians suffered physical heart disease but we do know they suffered spiritual heart disease.  How about you?  Ever closed your heart off to others?  Walked by a person in need?  Conveniently forgot to wash the dishes or take out the garbage and it was left for someone else?  We too suffer spiritual heart disease when we fail to love our neighbor as ourselves.

            What could damage our heart?  Maybe you’ve been hurt by someone and you find it hard to trust?  Someone close to you has died and you can’t understand why God would allow such a thing.  Or could it be a conflict with another person that causes anxiety and you suffer in silence for it? 

            Every one of us in this sanctuary has had affliction and suffering.  No one has a perfect heart.  Like the Corinthians are hearts are restricted.

            The Church in Corinth was not left to themselves to conquer their spiritual heart disease.  Healing was available to them and it is available to you.  Paul proclaimed, “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (v. 2)  These early Christians no longer have to carry around their burdens.  They don’t need to hang on to their shame, their guilt, or the wrong done to them.  Their damaged hearts have been made whole in Jesus.  Paul wrote in the previous chapter, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  (2 Cor. 5:17)  A new heart has been created within them.  Salvation, help, and grace, are all theirs because of Jesus.

            We inherit this same help, grace, and salvation as these brothers and sisters.  We are new creations because of Jesus.  Jesus opened his heart and his whole body and came down to earth and became us – fully human.  This sinless Son of God opened his heart and his arms and took our sin to a cross.  Jesus took our spiritual heart disease and, in exchange, gave us righteousness, forgiveness, and clean hearts.

            We are not left to heal ourselves.  We do not become our own cardiologist.  Our healer is the Lord Jesus.  Brothers and sisters in this mission plant of a congregation, now is the favorable time.  Now is the day of salvation when Jesus brings healing for our spiritual heart disease.  There is no waiting.  Come to the altar today for forgiveness, life and salvation through the healer’s body and blood.  You have already had your sins absolved by the authority of Jesus Himself.  You received God’s favor by hearing His Word of Good News.

            Our hearts will continue to be challenged.  We may even suffer some of the things Paul mentions.  Hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, dishonor, slander.  We may still internalize conflict and grief and broken relationships.  Our hearts are imperfect.  But the struggle does not last forever.  We do not receive the grace of God in vain.  We receive the grace of God fully.  Just as Jesus has risen from the dead, we, too, will rise from our graves on the Last Day.  When He returns our hearts will not be restricted but will be opened wide.  When Jesus comes again, our spiritual heart disease will be forever cured.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.