Sunday July 22, 2012
Text: Revelation 7: 9-17
Sermon: "A Glimpse of Glory"
Ahh the book of Revelation. It’s one
that sometimes leaves people unsure of what they just read, or even frightened
by it. This book, like any apocalypse, often brings out curiosity about the end
of days. But at the heart of it, this is a book of hope, a book of victory for
God and all believers. Particularly the passage we just heard Nancy read for us
this morning. You see, this book was written at a time when Christians were
feeling threatened. Whether by the empire or just a few vocal nay-sayers, these
early Christians faced persecution, at times, even violence or martyrdom as
they faced death for their beliefs. In light of all this tension and fear,
John’s vision of life in God’s kingdom was a source of hope. It was a reminder
of the eternal blessing that awaited them. A reminder that helped people to
push through, to persevere in their faith. If you will, think of it as
spiritual Gatorade for tired Christians.
In the midst of darkness, a ray of light; a vision of eternal life with
God. A vision of life free from all pain and sorrow, free of hunger or thirst,
free of oppression and fear. This, friends, is a glimpse into glory. Not just
glory for those long-ago Christians, but for us too. This is the future for all
Christians, for all who believe in Christ and live their lives following Jesus.
This is the vision for us, it is our glimpse into glory.
We
know, however, that it’s not the only glimpse into “glory” that we get. No, we
are surrounded by different stories of glory, stories of talent, wealth and
success. In the coming weeks, we are especially sure to be bombarded by images
of glory as the Olympic Games are set to get underway. As new records are set,
as obstacles are overcome and as Olympic dreams come true, we will certainly
hear about the glory of it all. About the glory of Olympic victory, of being
the best in the world. I don’t say this to downgrade the accomplishment of the
athletes. In fact, I love the Olympics. I am often inspired by the athletes, by
their stories and how they cultivate their God given talents. By how often they
use their gifts not just to compete, but to spread a good word or example to
others. I only bring this up today to call our attention to the many different
images of glory. Because these images don’t always match up. Like victory that
comes unfairly or at the expense of others. But sometimes, these do line up.
Today,
instead of talking about all the ways that earthly glory falls short of God’s
eternal glory, I thought it might be nice to see where they do line up.
Besides, I still plan on watching the Olympics, so I don’t want to ruin them
for me or you! Fortunately, one of the best places to glimpse God’s glory on
earth is coming up. I am convinced that God’s glory just might be paralleled in
the opening ceremony, and not just because the World Record Academy described
Beijing’s opening ceremony four years ago as “seemingly made in heaven”. It’s
much more than the splendor. It’s seeing the host nation pull out all the stops
to create an unforgettable welcome, full of wonder and imagination. It’s the
whole celebratory and joyous atmosphere. When all of the athletes are already
feeling victorious for having made it to the Olympics. But, for me, to really
glimpse the glory of the moment, you have to see the parade of nations. The
time when thousands of athletes from all around the world march into the
Olympic stadium, waving furiously and greeting one another happily. Ready to
put aside competition and animosity, to become neighbors celebrating together. Eventually those thousands of athletes from over
200 nations will intermingle, blurring into what can only be called a “great
multitude…from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Rev. 7:9). That, is
the true glory, the coming together of all people for one joyous day.
That
is the same scene that unfolds In John’s vision of the kingdom of God. A
multitude of all people from all backgrounds celebrate God’s victory together,
worshipping God in a harmony with one another. The multitude finds shelter
together, is shepherded together, and finds living water together. Not just for
one day, but for all eternity. To glimpse the glory, then, is to imagine the
majesty of the opening ceremony ten times over, forever and ever.
Can
you even imagine it? As I thought about this myself, I realized that my image
of God’s kingdom is always so full of light, angels, clouds and all things
good, but it’s never full of people. Maybe a few loved ones, but never a
multitude. Most of the images of heaven or the afterlife that I’ve ever seen
are the same way. It’s beautiful and majestic, but dare I say, lonely? You may
imagine something different or have seen different images of heaven. Even
John’s vision which is spelled out for us in Revelation can be hard to imagine,
until we see it. But there is one thing that John does not leave up to our
imaginations, the true glimpse of glory is one that is shared by all believers.
Friends,
that’s the thing about real glory, it is always shared.
Glory
escapes us when we seek it alone. Not just when we seek it without God, for we
already know that the satisfaction of that glory never lasts. But glory escapes
us when we seek it individually. For God created us to be a community of
believers. To be many members, but of the same body of Christ.
This
is something that our children learned this week at Vacation Bible School. When
we talked about how scuba diving starts with a diving guide. Just as diving
into faith begins when we first depend on God and choose to follow Jesus as our
guide, instead of going it alone. Then we talked about how diving always
requires a diving buddy. In the same way, diving deep in faith requires us to
dare to care about others. Deep faith grows when we claim Jesus, telling others
about Him too. Only then can the actions that we take come together to change
the world and move it closer to God’s glory.
Of
course, our divers know that individual preparation goes into it, just as the
Olympic athletes needed to do their own training, but we know that the moment
of true celebration and glory is shared. That is why the first disciples were
commissioned to go together to tell the Good News to all the nations, so that
one day all those nations could gather together again to celebrate God’s glory.
It is what our children did this morning when they gathered together again to
celebrate the week and to share with us all their experience with God. See how
we can only glimpse the glory together?
I
realize that this might not seem like good news to everyone. Maybe you’re shy
and introverted, people tire you out. Maybe you’re independent, you think
you’re strong enough not to need others, or you don’t want to burden others.
Maybe you’ve been disappointed or hurt by people, you’re not eager to go down
that road again. Maybe you are afraid to ask for help and fellowship. Maybe you
struggle to trust others. Maybe you just have too much pride to fix a broken
relationship, apologizing takes too much vulnerability and just might show you
are human enough to make a mistake. Maybe you’re too busy for others, time is
money, not people. Or maybe you think you can be spiritual all on your
own. Maybe, like me, you’ve experienced
all of these before. Maybe you are facing them now.
But
I invite you to hear how God calls to us in all of these circumstances. Hear
how God urges us into the faith community anyways. Shy? God gives us the story
and calls us to tell it. Independent? Jesus sent the disciples in pairs and
groups. Hurt? God calls us to forgive, replacing our pain with God’s love.
Afraid? God calls us to cast aside our fears, to lay them all at God’s feet.
Untrusting? God calls for faith. Prideful? God calls us to humility. Busy? God
calls for Sabbath rest. Spiritual on your own? God calls you to follow, to be
the church, to be a member of the body of Christ.
It’s
not a call you can answer on your own. The people John wrote to knew that best
of all, for John wrote to whole communities that relied on each other for
strength to survive, for nurturance to grow in faith. So Revelation casts this
vision of communal hope before us. The vision of all believers celebrating
God’s victory together. Of all believers sheltered together under Jesus’ care.
Of a great multitude singing praise to God in one voice. A vision of glory. One
we can only attain together.
So
live into the hope of God’s glory today. Take the time and make the effort to
consider what might be holding you back. When you have that in mind, Remember
that nothing separates us from the
love of God, and by God’s love all who believe are welcomed and connected as
brothers and sisters of Christ. Remember that all are welcomed in this place
too, just as on Friday night athletes from around the world will be welcomed
together at the opening ceremonies. And welcomed into the faith community of
all believers, we in this place, are the multitude that will not only glimpse
God’s glory now, but will finally grasp it forever.
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