All Saints' Day November 1, 2020
Revelation 7:9-17
Taking Care of the Laundry
v.14 And he (the elder) said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, I don't know about you, but we do A LOT of laundry in our household. I am pretty sure we average close to two loads a day, which makes for approximately 15 loads a week--and that's with high efficiency machines! It doesn’t seem to matter how much laundry we do--there's always more piling up behind it.
Sometimes our lives can feel that way, can't they? We have a continually mounting laundry list of troubles and struggles in this life. Anything from broken hearts and families revolving around unresolved conflict--to sickness and suffering in our bodies and those of our loved ones. It seems that no matter which way we turn we are surrounded with--and caught up in--conflict and turmoil--with neighbours, friends, families, and even complete strangers—especially with a presidential election in a couple days, arguments abound! And so we hunger and thirst for love and acceptance--for peace and tranquility in our troubled hearts and lives--for health and healing and life--for forgiveness for the hurts and pain that we ourselves have caused those around us, in addition to the hurts and pains we have endured and suffered at the hands of others.
And all of these problems—and lets call them what they are--sins of thought, word, and deed--all of the brokenness in the world and our lives--wrap around us and bring us down. They stain us with the darkness of suffering and sin and guilt. They drag us down into the murky depths of death itself--that which causes the greatest pain and suffering of all--that which is our greatest enemy.
Well, beloved, this day marks the festival of All Saints' Day--the day we set aside in the church year to remember all those whom God has called from our midst to be with Him in glory--and we also think on those in our midst who may soon die and depart to be with the Lord. It can be easy for us to become wrapped up in our own misery and despair--our grief-stricken hearts are quickly filled with melancholy sadness as we consider our many loved ones who have died and are no longer with us. It can seem like a heavy burden hung around our necks that we just can't shake off.
However, before we give in to sorrow and despair--before we succumb to the temptations and taunts of the devil who would have us think that death is the end--that there is no true hope or peace or joy--we must remember the promises God Almighty makes to His people. We heard some of these promises in our Gospel reading, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied…blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God…blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Though we suffer, though we hunger and thirst for peace and righteousness, though we die, yet we shall be comforted.
How? In what way can/will this be accomplished? By doing laundry. "What? Pastor, you're off your rocker again!" No, really…just look at our text. As John in his vision looked, he saw, "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." All of these people--all of these saints of the church triumphant--these holy ones of God--are dressed the same--in white robes. These robes are not simply a terry cloth robe you find in a cheap hotel room--they are not ratty, old, moth-eaten robes, but rather are long robes denoting a high social status (these are the heirs of the living God!) and they are participating in distinguished activity (worshiping and praising the Lamb on the throne and receiving His gifts!).
This day we remember the saints who have gone before us (list). We remember all those who endured heavy hurts, aches of body and soul, frustrations and fears--tragedy upon tragedy--and yet who now stand before the throne of God in glory--arrayed in purity and righteousness--every burden lifted and removed--every stain of sin and guilt washed away--all who have received life in the face of death. These promises are not just for them, but for you, too, dear friends. All those things that weigh so heavily on your hearts and minds, we bring them before the Lord Jesus and He takes them from us. He shoulders all our burdens--our sins--our hurts and suffering--and He takes them to the cross where He suffered and died for them all. To overcome them. To bring them to nothing. To give us peace.
Our hearts--our robes that were so weighted down by depression and guilt and suffering and death--have been brought to the fountain of Christ's blood that pours from His side pierced on Calvary's cross. Amazingly, that which anyone who does laundry would think would make a garment more filthy, more stained than ever--namely blood--hereby actually has the complete opposite effect. For the blood of Christ is a cleansing and renewing flood. A blood that heals and redeems--that soothes and restores--a blood that alone can give life and salvation to all who believe. As God's people--His holy ones--His saints--we wrap ourselves up from head to toe in these long robes of His forgiveness and grace and mercy--poured out upon us through the shed blood of Christ--the Lamb of God who was slain.
What do we, as God's people--His saints--have to look forward to then? The same as all the saints who have gone before us. All those people from every nation, tribe, people, and language--you and me (and "list of people" too). He promises to come and tent among us--make His eternal dwelling with us--to shelter us with His love and forgiveness and peace.
That huge mountain of dirty laundry that plagues us in this life--all those sins that cause us heartache, sorrow, and distress--all those sins that seek to bring us down to death in despair--all of them--every last one of them—has been forgiven. Broken by the power of Christ's redeeming blood and salvation. No longer will God's people hunger or thirst after righteousness--His saints have already freely received it for Jesus' sake. "The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
What marvelous promises of our Lord God to us. Though we suffer, though we mourn, though we whither and fade under the blazing rays of sin and death, yet in Christ He conquers it all. The Lamb of God who was slain, but who lives again--from whose pierced side gushed blood and water--this same Lamb offers that blood and water to you for your forgiveness, joy, and peace. This Lamb is your Good Shepherd. He guides you to the life-giving springs of living water that flow from His side to you in Holy Baptism. That even as you, or those whom you love, face death--you know that you have already received eternal life and salvation through faith in Christ given in the waters of your Baptism. This same Lamb has washed you forever clean by His redeeming blood. No spot--not even a wrinkle--remains upon you--for Christ has suffered and died for it ALL--for YOU--and clothed you in the freshly laundered robe of His own righteousness. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Revelation 7:9-17
Taking Care of the Laundry
v.14 And he (the elder) said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, I don't know about you, but we do A LOT of laundry in our household. I am pretty sure we average close to two loads a day, which makes for approximately 15 loads a week--and that's with high efficiency machines! It doesn’t seem to matter how much laundry we do--there's always more piling up behind it.
Sometimes our lives can feel that way, can't they? We have a continually mounting laundry list of troubles and struggles in this life. Anything from broken hearts and families revolving around unresolved conflict--to sickness and suffering in our bodies and those of our loved ones. It seems that no matter which way we turn we are surrounded with--and caught up in--conflict and turmoil--with neighbours, friends, families, and even complete strangers—especially with a presidential election in a couple days, arguments abound! And so we hunger and thirst for love and acceptance--for peace and tranquility in our troubled hearts and lives--for health and healing and life--for forgiveness for the hurts and pain that we ourselves have caused those around us, in addition to the hurts and pains we have endured and suffered at the hands of others.
And all of these problems—and lets call them what they are--sins of thought, word, and deed--all of the brokenness in the world and our lives--wrap around us and bring us down. They stain us with the darkness of suffering and sin and guilt. They drag us down into the murky depths of death itself--that which causes the greatest pain and suffering of all--that which is our greatest enemy.
Well, beloved, this day marks the festival of All Saints' Day--the day we set aside in the church year to remember all those whom God has called from our midst to be with Him in glory--and we also think on those in our midst who may soon die and depart to be with the Lord. It can be easy for us to become wrapped up in our own misery and despair--our grief-stricken hearts are quickly filled with melancholy sadness as we consider our many loved ones who have died and are no longer with us. It can seem like a heavy burden hung around our necks that we just can't shake off.
However, before we give in to sorrow and despair--before we succumb to the temptations and taunts of the devil who would have us think that death is the end--that there is no true hope or peace or joy--we must remember the promises God Almighty makes to His people. We heard some of these promises in our Gospel reading, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied…blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God…blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Though we suffer, though we hunger and thirst for peace and righteousness, though we die, yet we shall be comforted.
How? In what way can/will this be accomplished? By doing laundry. "What? Pastor, you're off your rocker again!" No, really…just look at our text. As John in his vision looked, he saw, "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." All of these people--all of these saints of the church triumphant--these holy ones of God--are dressed the same--in white robes. These robes are not simply a terry cloth robe you find in a cheap hotel room--they are not ratty, old, moth-eaten robes, but rather are long robes denoting a high social status (these are the heirs of the living God!) and they are participating in distinguished activity (worshiping and praising the Lamb on the throne and receiving His gifts!).
This day we remember the saints who have gone before us (list). We remember all those who endured heavy hurts, aches of body and soul, frustrations and fears--tragedy upon tragedy--and yet who now stand before the throne of God in glory--arrayed in purity and righteousness--every burden lifted and removed--every stain of sin and guilt washed away--all who have received life in the face of death. These promises are not just for them, but for you, too, dear friends. All those things that weigh so heavily on your hearts and minds, we bring them before the Lord Jesus and He takes them from us. He shoulders all our burdens--our sins--our hurts and suffering--and He takes them to the cross where He suffered and died for them all. To overcome them. To bring them to nothing. To give us peace.
Our hearts--our robes that were so weighted down by depression and guilt and suffering and death--have been brought to the fountain of Christ's blood that pours from His side pierced on Calvary's cross. Amazingly, that which anyone who does laundry would think would make a garment more filthy, more stained than ever--namely blood--hereby actually has the complete opposite effect. For the blood of Christ is a cleansing and renewing flood. A blood that heals and redeems--that soothes and restores--a blood that alone can give life and salvation to all who believe. As God's people--His holy ones--His saints--we wrap ourselves up from head to toe in these long robes of His forgiveness and grace and mercy--poured out upon us through the shed blood of Christ--the Lamb of God who was slain.
What do we, as God's people--His saints--have to look forward to then? The same as all the saints who have gone before us. All those people from every nation, tribe, people, and language--you and me (and "list of people" too). He promises to come and tent among us--make His eternal dwelling with us--to shelter us with His love and forgiveness and peace.
That huge mountain of dirty laundry that plagues us in this life--all those sins that cause us heartache, sorrow, and distress--all those sins that seek to bring us down to death in despair--all of them--every last one of them—has been forgiven. Broken by the power of Christ's redeeming blood and salvation. No longer will God's people hunger or thirst after righteousness--His saints have already freely received it for Jesus' sake. "The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
What marvelous promises of our Lord God to us. Though we suffer, though we mourn, though we whither and fade under the blazing rays of sin and death, yet in Christ He conquers it all. The Lamb of God who was slain, but who lives again--from whose pierced side gushed blood and water--this same Lamb offers that blood and water to you for your forgiveness, joy, and peace. This Lamb is your Good Shepherd. He guides you to the life-giving springs of living water that flow from His side to you in Holy Baptism. That even as you, or those whom you love, face death--you know that you have already received eternal life and salvation through faith in Christ given in the waters of your Baptism. This same Lamb has washed you forever clean by His redeeming blood. No spot--not even a wrinkle--remains upon you--for Christ has suffered and died for it ALL--for YOU--and clothed you in the freshly laundered robe of His own righteousness. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.