September 5, 2021
Today’s service will not be live streamed as we are at Lakeshore Park. If you are unable to join us you can find a pre-recorded message at stmarkknox.org/sermons
“… 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 12 “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – Revelation 22:11-13
Three times in the book of Revelation do we hear the term, “The Alpha and the Omega.” Once at the beginning of the book, with the beginning of the revelation, and then twice at the end, with the giving of the water as a gift of the spring of life, and with the pronouncement that Jesus is coming soon.
The idea that help is soon to come, gives a great hope for those who are in the midst of suffering. Though we might all confess that any suffering seems too long, but to know that it is only temporary helps us to keep holding on, to keep going. we want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we want to know that there is hope on the other side. In this final call of Jesus to say that he is coming soon, it is interesting how it is set up. “let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy,” he says, “let the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” The interesting thing is the call to let people be who they are going to be.
In the midst of everything that is has been before us, that we are going through now, and even what we may go through in the future, there is a truth that some will not change, some will not repent, some will continue to do what is evil. As heartbreaking as that is, for we like Christ should desire for all to know the love and grace of Christ; we must recognize that there will be times that we must walk away, or allow someone to walk away.
I do not give up hope if this happens though, I continue to pray and believe that God is still working in that person’s life even if I don’t get the opportunity to see it. For all of us, having hope in God’s working in the life of another is sometimes the best hope we can have. None of us truly know what another is going through, or why they act or react a particular way, but God does, and we have to trust that the one who is coming soon, is working in ways we cannot see or know, and perhaps this is the call of faith to be even greater as we place our hope that God’s goodness, mercy, and love goes beyond what we have the opportunity to see.
We continue our labor for righteousness, our acts of kindness, and show compassion to all whom we meet, and then trust that God will do the rest. This, I believe is the work of a disciple, to show the love of God for those who are ready to receive, and those who are not yet ready. For one day, we will rest from our labors, and rejoice in heaven, and I have hope we will, then, know the impact of the love we have shown for the glory of God.
Grace and Peace,
Sam