Hello Gloria Dei,
As you know, I’ve been a great fan of the late evangelist Billy Graham. I was privileged to attend two of his crusades many years ago. Billy Graham once told the story of a man who glanced at the obituary column in his local newspaper. To his surprise he saw his own name, indicating that he had just died. At first he laughed about it. But soon his phone began to ring. Stunned friends called to inquire and to leave messages with the man’s family offering their sympathy.
Finally, in irritation, he called the newspaper editor and angrily reported that even though he had been reported dead in the obituary column he was very much alive. The editor was apologetic and embarrassed. Then in a flash of inspiration, the editor said, “Don’t worry sir. I’ll make it right. Tomorrow I’ll put your name in the births column.”
It’s a humorous story, but I find it to be a spiritual parable as well. In the church year, we are still in the season of Easter. Yet might I say that as followers of the risen Christ, we are always in the season of Easter. Knowing that Jesus died on cross and rose again, we can bring our old sinful selves to be nailed to the cross and then to experience the good news that God raises us up each day as new people, born again, to grow and live in the likeness of Christ. Dying and rising with Christ: It is a daily event.
As a congregation we are in a preaching series called “Characters of the Old Testament”. Last week we heard about Miriam. This week we focus on the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah spoke to God’s people words of judgment and warning, but also words of hope. He called God’s people to turn from their sins toward the ways of God. In chapter 31, verse 31, God says through Jeremiah these words: “The days are surely coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
That covenant arrived in the person of Jesus. It is now a covenant not of the law and commandments but rather a covenant of faith in Jesus. With Jesus as our Savior, we live with God’s ways of love and mercy on our hearts which then flow out to the world.
Look in the mirror today and say “I have been baptized into Christ. My sins are forgiven. They have been nailed to the cross. I am now a new person in Christ, raised to new life. I will live this day as a brother or sister of Christ, loved and called by God.” Each day you and I should remind ourselves of this reality.
As you prepare for worship this weekend, I invite you to read through the very first chapter of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Just as God called Jeremiah, so too God calls you. We are alive with Christ. And that is great news.
See you in worship,
Pastor Tim
