St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church

Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz

Pentecost 18 September 18, 2005 Isaiah 55:6-9

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Michelangelo’s Isaiah)

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

I was in the boundary waters last week—miles north of Duluth—in the waters that separate Canada from the United States. We saw bald eagles—soaring on the thermals—not flapping their wings—just holding them out—as they soared higher and higher and higher. Then diving towards the water—head first until the last possible instant. Their talons came out. They grab the fish. Then—with one powerful pull after another—up and up and up they went—to bring the fresh fish home to their nest. We saw river otters—in their home made of massive slabs of stone—with little slides down into the water—so they could go fishing, too. We saw little chipmunks—watching—watching for us to leave a little scrap of paper towel where they could snatch it. To see the almost uncontrollable joy—when they got a piece of this precious quilted paper! We were watching the waters—when we saw something odd. It almost looked like a loon swimming backwards. What was it? It was a set of massive horns—a pair of little ears—big brown eyes—a huge nose. It was a ginormous bull moose—swimming across the lake. Once he got to the shore—he ran up on the rocks. Then he shook—like a puppy—the water just exploding—just spraying off him. Twice he stopped and shook—then into the lush long grass and shrubs for something fresh and green to eat. It is a wondrous thing to see—the wonderful works of God—in a place so far north that there are very few people at all. Two or three people in their kayaks—a little grandma and grandpa—in their canoe—a young couple camping—on their honeymoon! The greatness of our God is far far more than just the beauty of wilderness nature. The greatness of our God made real and powerful in his grace and forgiveness. This Sunday when we think about called workers—pastors and teachers and staff ministers—the question is:

Who will tell others about the LORD?

1. Who will point to our evil thoughts?

2. Who will point to the LORD’s forgiving deeds?

The part of God’s Word we are concentrating on—from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Think about 650 years before baby Jesus was born. Think about the opening verses of this 55^th chapter of Isaiah. Here is the invitation we extend—to share the Gospel. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…” Have you been really thirsty lately? Paddle a canoe for an hour straight—digging your paddle into the water—trying to row into the wind and you become parched. I had a big floppy hat to keep from getting sun burned. I took off my hat—stuck it into the cold lake water—and put it back on my head. The cool lake water ran down my back. The cool water evaporated from my face. It felt so good—after a little bit—I did it again! Do you know the parched feeling when the back of your throat burns from being so dry? And then you take a bottle of water—so cold—there is this almost frosted film on the bottle. And you crank off the cap and pour the water down your throat—and it almost hurts? You know that refreshment? We have that thirst in our soul on account of our sins. This is refreshment that pastors and teachers and staff ministers share! And the LORD—the great I AM—the Holy One of Israel says to us: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good…give ear..hear me…” Listen to God’s Word. Pay close attention. Remember God’s Word Monday morning. Remember God’s Word Friday afternoon—when you get off work and get paid—and the weekend is before you! Remember God’s Word when you are having a rough patch in your marriage and your children are having troubles at home and at school. Remember God’s Word—where you will find strength to forgive and to love and to persevere in the face of the most painful and personal troubles!

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” The grace and goodness—the mercy and compassion and forgiveness that we have in the LORD is unconditional and complete. No matter how horrible and filthy and hurtful our lives have been there is forgiveness for all our sins in Jesus’ blood. Having said that—it seems clear that there is a limit to the time. There is a limit to our time of grace. Only Jesus knows how much time we have left. Our time may be exceedingly short. Therefore—it is exceedingly important for us to have focus in our lives! Life is not about how big our home is or how expensive our car is or how flawless our landscaping is. Life is not about how many toys we have—how much money we have—how many things and how much stuff we can buy. Life is not about how physically beautiful we are. Life is not about avoiding anything and everything that is painful or uncomfortable. Life is about being ready to meet Jesus at any moment. When you remember that. That life is about meeting Jesus—we will not squander a moment of life arguing or fighting over things that don’t really matter. We won’t squander a day—an hour—a moment--being angry or frustrated or bitter about something unkind that anyone has done to us. We will not let the frustrations and difficulties of day to day life—make us so frustrated we lash out in anger. We will love and encourage and build up and help one another again and again. We will not grow weary—loving one another and doing good to one another. We will focus our efforts on sharing the Gospel with the people we know and love—because their time of grace may be exceedingly short, too. When I was in college I had a poster—a page out of Newsweek that showed a little grandpa—sitting in a library—reading. Shelves were full of books. A table was full of books. The floor was stacked with books. The caption said, “Read the best books first. You may not have time to read them all!” Read God’s Word—the best book of all. Then share that good news as fast as you can—as far as you can—before it’s too late!

“Call on him while he is near.” I like when they tell you today is national this or national that day. Like Sunday was national important things day. Did you know that? I think the important thing about important things day—is things aren’t important! Do you know what I mean? People are important—not things and stuff. Tuesday was national junk drawer day. This is the day—once a year—when you are supposed to take that drawer in the kitchen where you have spare keys and those little twisties and a screwdriver and a pocket knife—and expired coupons—so much junk—that you have to pull and pull to get the drawer open—and you have to mush things down—to get it shut again~ Wednesday was national hug a crabby stranger day. I wouldn’t recommend that. I wouldn’t recommend hugging a person I don’t know—who is obviously cranky and having a bad day. But I would say it would be a wonderful idea if we would take the time to hug the people we love. To wrap our arms around our spouse and our children—to hug our children and grandchildren—our precious priceless friends and tell them we love them. That would be good. Saturday, September 24^th is national longest kiss day. The record is 17 days 10.5 hours. I’m guessing you would need a little Chap Stick—were you to kiss someone for more than 17 days. But you know what would be good? Would be if people didn’t argue so much! If people didn’t yell and shout and call people horrible names. If people would stop hitting people—would stop threatening them—would stop slamming doors. Would instead give the people they are married to—a very nice kiss—a tender careful well planned kiss because none of us know when it will be too late. None of us knows when we will be called home to heaven—and then it will be too late to reflect our love for Jesus by showing our love for each other! Again—the work of pastors teachers and staff ministers—is to encourage God’s people to show they are God’s people by loving one another!

Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. The evil man needs to turn from his thoughts. Thoughts. The devil would have us think that thoughts are pretty harmless. They are not! I was in a gas station mini-mart the other day. A very pretty young lady walked past to buy some Mt. Dew and one of those little tubes of Pringles. When she was past a few steps a young man said something vulgar and rude. Then my friend said, “It doesn’t hurt to look.” And I thought—yeah, it does hurt—if by looking he meant staring and thinking impure thoughts! Then it certainly does hurt to look! Out of the heart—Jesus says—come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’…” Matthew 15:19,20a What we think about—what we ponder—what steeps—soaks like a soggy tea bag in our hearts and minds is very important! If we saturate our thoughts with what is filthy and sinful and wrong—it is only a matter of time before our words and our actions will reflect what is spoiled and decayed in our minds. If we read our Bible—then our thoughts will be directed by the Holy Spirit. Then we will think about what is good and helpful and pure. When we think about Jesus all the time—we will do what serves and glorifies Jesus. How wonderful is that?

Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. I think—worse by far—than the destruction caused by the hurricane and the flooding—is the gross and hurtful evil that has gone on in places like New Orleans. The rapes, the looting, the helpless elderly and poor who were abandoned—the love of things and stuff that caused people to risk their lives and the lives of their family—to stay and try to protect their things and stuff—is far worse. When everything is going well—it’s easy to be kind and good. It is under the most difficult and painful situations that what is truly in a person’s heart that shows forth. It is tempting—when you see the gross sins of others—to talk about how we hope those who are guilty are caught and punished severely. It is sad when you see painful gross evil in our own heart and life. It is only because of God’s amazing grace that God is merciful on us. Only God’s amazing grace means we are freely pardoned—because Jesus died on the cross for you and for me. This is news is so precious—you just have to share it—throughout Watertown—throughout North America—and around the world!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “ You can’t understand how the LORD thinks. Nor can you understand what he does—and what he allows. You can’t! Do you remember that mommy who had a baby in her tummy? She had a terrible stroke. She suffered terrible brain damage. But the LORD kept her alive—for three months—so the little baby girl in her tummy could be safely born. That little baby girl was born—and yet after just 5 weeks—she died, too! I don’t understand that! I don’t have too. It’s not my place to question my heavenly Father—why he does what he does—or often times the difficulty is in what he allows. He isn’t answerable to me. It is not for us to shake our puny fists at him and demand an explanation. It’s not for us to say—when I get to Heaven I’m gonna get some answers. By the grace of God—over time my attitude needs to be what the Psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Like the grave stone in the little country cemetery not far from here—where five graves are connected, “Be still, and know that I am God!” Only the Gospel can make us strong enough—to remember our Heavenly Father loves us with an unconditional never failing love. He is always with us. His will be done—until we are safe in Heaven.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I was reminded the other day—that I have a friend who was a police officer. There was a terrible house fire—and he went into the house—into the heat and the flames and the poisonous blinding choking smoke to rescue a child. Then—once that child was safe—he went back into that burning home again—to bring out another child. The heat was so intense—and the smoke so thick—my friend did painful and permanent damage to his throat and to his lungs—to his ability to talk—to his ability to breathe and to work. Would you suffer horrible hurt like that to rescue someone you knew—someone you loved? Would you suffer horrible hurt like that to rescue complete strangers? Would you suffer horrible hurt like that to rescue people who had only hated you and hurt you and heaped all kinds of murderous evil on you and on everyone you loved? As unspeakable as all our sins have been—Jesus willingly died on the cross to rescue us. How great is his grace and goodness! You can’t figure it out. You can’t understand it. But you can believe it—and you can be the person to share it--because this simple powerful Gospel is true for Jesus’ sake. Amen!

To God alone all glory!

Rev. Anthony E. Schultz