(Sermon by Pastor Michael D. Schultz 03/12/06) 

INTRODUCTION:

I wasn’t very tall as a junior in high school, so even though our school wasn’t very big (maybe 250-300 kids), there were some nervous days during tryouts for varsity basketball.  Different schools and different coaches do it in different ways these days, but back in those days it happened quite often that a list would simply be posted on a bulletin board, showing who made the team.  Undoubtedly, divine intervention took place, because I did make the team that year.  Sat on the bench all year long, but that was alright.  When the list gets posted, whether it’s for drama or music or sports, there’s a big difference between seeing your name on there and not seeing it.

In basketball, it’s your whole schedule that’s affected – practice every day after school and games on Tuesday or Friday nights.  On game days, you ride the player bus instead of the fan bus.  At the beginning of the season you get to pick a number, and then the night of the first game comes and you get to put on that uniform.

If we were waiting in the hallway to see the list God posted showing who was going to be on his team, it wouldn’t have been based on what happened in tryouts, because then there wouldn’t be a team at all.  Sometimes you hear ball players humbly saying, “I just hope that I can contribute something to the team.”  No one’s name shows up on the list for God’s team because of what they bring to the table or what they can contribute to the team.  The only thing we bring to the table is the ugliness of our sinfulness. 

Whether it’s drama or music or sports, there’s a horribly sinking feeling when you hear the words, “We don’t have room for you on our squad this year.”  It cuts through our souls like a knife – to have the Lord of all drop a bomb on us and say, “You’re not what I was looking for.”  He sees us exactly for what we are – not good, not holy, not pure – and he looks us straight in the eye:  “I can’t use you.”  It certainly does a number on the high opinion we have of ourselves when the list is posted and our name’s not on it.  Could there be anything more demoralizing and frightening than to hear God say, “I’m sorry but I have to cut you”? 

Beyond all reasonable doubt, that’s how it should be.  And we crack this book open and the voice of God speaks in a gentle whisper that rocks the universe: “I’ve done an amazing thing.  I’ve changed your life forever.  My good, holy, pure Son – I cut him to make a spot for you.”  A wooden cross bearing down on his shoulders, spikes driven though his hands, the raging fury of hell injected into his body and soul as he’s suspended between the earth and the sky.  The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  There’s not a day that you can’t open this book and have God change that horribly sinking feeling sinners have in their gut to the exhilarating feeling that comes from seeing one thing: there’s my name on the list.  God wrote my name in the book of life.  Long before your parents named you and even before God spread the stars throughout the sky, and only because he is love, God put your name on his list. 

That Changes Everything!

That’s what Paul was writing about.  Look what we have since God declared us innocent!

If you were standing on the tiled area in the back of the church and God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit took on visible human form and stood beside you, you’d have nothing to be nervous about and nothing to worry about.  Jesus obeyed the commandments for you and paid for every time and every way you’ve broken them.  When you know you’re on God’s list because of Jesus and not at all because of yourself, there’s peace between God and you, peace that I’ve heard transcends all understanding.

Now move off the tiled area, broaden your horizons and remember that wherever you go, move, travel, work, the rain shower of God’s grace is gently falling on you at every moment and in every place.  The incredible kindness God shows when he forgives people he should condemn, when he loves people who are unlovable – you live in that grace of God.  It’s the air you breathe.  It covers you always and everywhere.  That’s what God’s promising you when he tells you that Jesus’ life and death put your name on his list.

Now look to the future.  You will share in the glory of God.  You will be like Jesus.  In the resurrection your lowly physical body will be transformed to be like Jesus’ glorious body.  That hope fills the heart of every Christian.  That is your hope, certain and sure, as a member of God’s family.

There will be sufferings along the way, but remember who you are.  Your name’s in the book of life; you’re a royal child of the king.  God is not venting at you when you suffer.  Suffering is God’s way of developing perseverance, molding character and increasing the hope you have.  It teaches you to believe, “God must deliver me from this.  He always has.  He most certainly will.”  We rejoice in sufferings because we know: God is making me more dependent on him all the time.  Every day that he sustains me is just one day closer to being home with him.  This is no empty hope, this hope that he will help me to bear the cross until I wear the crown.  It’s hope that’s anchored in God’s love.

What a wondrous love it is!  He didn’t love me after I straightened up my act.  He didn’t love me because I bottomed out and I finally asked him to love me.  He loved me when I couldn’t love him and when I was covered with shame and wickedness.  We don’t calculate God’s love by looking at daily headlines or diary entries.  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  God’s love for you is indescribable but it’s also unquestionable.

So you can be sure that the wrath of God is not going to fall on you.  What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah was a preview of God destroying the wicked on the last day.  But do you remember that list with your name on it?  God’s wrath won’t touch you.  You’ll only watch it.  If Jesus died for you when you were his enemy, what do you think he’s going to do for you on Judgment Day now that you’re his friend?  When the stars fall from the sky and the sun stops shining and the end has come, Jesus isn’t about to forget his friends. 

You are his friend.  You shouldn’t be (none of us should be) but through a cross and an empty grave he says you are.  It’s as simple as that.

So look at the list with your name on it – innocent, paid for, God’s very own.

Then look at the list of blessings that follow:

• You’re at peace with God.

• You live in a state of grace.

• You have the hope of heavenly glory.

• You can rejoice in earthly sufferings.

• You are a recipient of the love of God.

• You will certainly be spared from the wrath of God.

• You're able to live right now as a friend of God.

It’s Thanksgiving in March!... Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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