DELIVER US FROM EVIL: THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION
Revelation 14:13
Sermon Objective: The Resurrection makes life worth living … and leaving.
INTRO
Easter Sunday, as exhilarating as it is, has, shall I say a “negative side-effect” that we must address. If we are not careful we begin to live and think as if Easter happens once a year and then we move on to something else. But Easter is NOT one day … Easter Sunday is intended to be everyday of our lives. From the resurrection onward we are expected to live our lives, as the disciples did , it light of its reality and power.
The Resurrection is the church’s Motivation and Message.
Nothing is ever the same after the resurrection becomes a reality in you.
Not only that, but the whole book of The Revelation (the entire New Testament actually) is anchored to the reality of the resurrected Jesus and the hope of the resurrection of the saints. It changes everything!
Would you to say that with me? “THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!”
John writes: Rev. 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
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For the last few months I have been preaching through chapters 12 and 13 of The Revelation. As you have undoubtedly noticed I have focused much of this time on the nature, intention, and destiny of evil. It is not because I am on a “devil under every rock” kick but because that is the turn the text has taken. It is an important truth the be grappled with if we are to be followers of Christ and / or understand The Revelation.
The existence and nature of evil is one of the underground streams that run through this book. In fact, it is one of the underground streams that run through the entire narrative of the Bible. From the Fall (Genesis 2-3) to the restoration of humankind and earth (Rev. 21-22) evil is being confronted and solved. What we discover in the Revelation mirrors what we discover in the remainder of the Bible; that evil is:
(1) Corporate – that is indeed can infest institutions and even governments.
(2) Systemic – that evil is learned and can be passed down from generation to generation unless it is checked by good.
(3) Personal – the reason evil can exist in other dimensions or expressions is because, as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being” (The Gulag Archipelago, 1973).
The Revelation stresses the danger of over-estimating or under-estimating evil.
Danger of over-estimating
TO OVER-ESTIMATE EVIL MAKES IT SOVEREIGN … dare I say even divine. It creates a dualism that asserts evil to be equal with God and suggests there is a war between the two to determine who will win. It attributes divine characteristics to evil – characteristics like
• Unlimited power
• Foreknowledge
• The ability to create or control creation
• The power to resurrect the dead
The Bible never gives such attributes to anyone but the Creator Himself. Anything akin to it (either in this book or the entire Bible) is actually seen as counterfeit or deceptive trickery.
The Revelation clearly declares that there is only ONE Sovereign and that this Sovereign God permits evil (I cannot fully explain why or how) or, at least, allows it. As you may remember from my sermon on the “Sovereignty of God in the Revelation”, the use of the term “edothe” (“It was given”) is intended to communicate this very truth.
God has no rival!
Evil never wins or even comes close to winning over good in the Revelation. The Bible often uses the concept of an “inaugurated eschatology” (already but not yet) to describe evil’s defeat and destiny. IN FACT, THERE IS A SPECIFIC HISTORICAL EVENT THAT REFRAMES EVIL and proves it has already been conquered.
Danger of under-estimating
TO UNDER-ESTIMATE EVIL CREATES A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER TOO.
• It fails to equip God’s people to understand and withstand evil’s attack.
• It encourages a naiveté where we “whistle as we pass the grave yard” as if ruin, pain, injustice, oppression, corruption, greed, and their ilk are simply figments of the imagination.
• It facilitates false doctrines akin to “if we had more faith evil things would not happen us.”
If you wish to have a real and workable faith you must come to grips with the fact that evil is real; that it is mean, it is random, and it does cause genuine heart ache and destruction even for those who call themselves Christians.
Under-estimating evil fails to take the reality of human suffering, persecution, and such seriously. Which means it also fails to take God’s solution to evil seriously. At first glimpse it looks as if under-estimating evil holds the cross and resurrection in higher esteem (i.e., evil is powerless); but in reality it down-plays the work of God on the cross and in the resurrection by failing to grasp the depth of effort and love God underwent to break the penalty and power of evil.
AS I SAID, THERE IS A “SPECIFIC HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT REFRAMES EVIL” AND SHOWS JUST HOW VILE AND REAL IT IS.
This “specific historical moment that reframes evil” and encourages us not to over-estimate nor under-estimate it is … THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
The reality of the resurrection paves the way for John to write the simple words we read from Revelation 14:13: Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Those words, although simple enough to understand, are very powerful and convey the greatest truth in the Bible … THERE IS A CLEAR, REAL AND DEFINITE HOPE OF RESURRECTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING … ALL OF HUMAN EXISTENCE. Life is altered permanently and existentially in that truth.
It is the hope of the resurrection that gives believers the:
I) Will to live a life devoted to Jesus
II) Power to live a life like Jesus
III) Desire to be in the presence of Jesus
These three things are earmarks of a genuine life of faith. They fashion life in such a manner that it is worth living … and worth leaving behind!
They give believers the potential to
• Love others selflessly
• Stand against evil in all its forms and platforms
• Champion causes that bless and liberate humanity rather than bless “self”
In short, they give believers the potential to be like Jesus.
Why? Because we know this is not all there is. Death is not the end! Our works will follow us and we will be in the presence of God.
If there were no hope of a resurrection I would recommend “getting all you can in this life”; “eat, drink and be merry”, “grab all the toys you can”, because once we are gone its over. But knowing there is a resurrection voids such a philosophy.
REMEMBER – THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!
Their Deeds Will Follow Them
You probably noticed that the text says “their deeds will follow them.”
This is not a “judgment text” where their deeds will be used to determine their standing with God. The same verse specifically says they are at “rest” and “blessed” – rewarded – resurrected. So what does it mean? Let me try and answer that with another question (s).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRIST FOLLOWER?
WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT HERE ON EARTH THAT IS OF SUCH SUBSTANCE THAT OUR WORKS WILL FOLLOW US?
Maybe the answer to all these questions is answered in yet another question … WHAT DID JESUS DO WHILE HE WAS HERE?
May I chase a rabbit for a few moments? This question, “what (and why) did Jesus do what he did while he was on earth?” is a question we Protestants have never answered well. The Reformers did a marvelous job of answering “Why did Jesus die?” We have a clear grasp of the atonement. But they never talked much (or were comfortable talking about) why Jesus lived. In fact, for many of us it would be enough if Jesus has been born of a virgin, then Herod had killed him and he had resurrected. Or maybe some of us would have wanted hmi to have his bar-mitzvah first but the point is his life just seems “extra.” The “Christ of faith” is more important to us than “The Jesus of History” and it shows in our theology and praxis. But the fact is Jesus’ life (how and why he lived it) is critical to us if we are to live a life that reflects His values and principles. This is NOT “extra” for His Church – His body.
Jesus changed “his world” – He changed His locale by loving and serving the people within that locale. And that one man made a HUGE difference!
Other people were trying to do the same thing but in earth-bound ways.
• They were using the political system
• They were using violence -- fighting against the “regime” (zealots)
• They were using religion -- were requiring certain religious works to be performed in order for people to be acceptable to God.
All of these were attempting to throw off evil’s oppression and bring “salvation” to the masses. But none of them worked and the last thing the people needed was another co-opted political option or another rebel fighting force, or another religious method that used God and His Word as a billy-club -- or any other earth-bound answer.
Jesus worked from another understanding a reality. An understanding rooted in resurrection – that God’s Kingdom was eternal and present. Therefore he did not have to “get all he could in this life” but rather to use this life to offer God’s Kingdom to others.
Jesus did something wholly other and it worked.
• He served.
• He loved.
• He healed.
• He laughed.
• He spent time with them.
• He ate with them.
AND – THE PEOPLE FLOCKED TO HIM AND WERE CHANGED!
We will not change the world by dropping a few well placed bombs. We will not change our country by finding the right candidate. These earth-bound solutions have failed miserably for millennia! What Jesus did is what we must do … serve, laugh, love, heal, eat, and be with people. Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21).
This “formula” will work in any culture, in any economic atmosphere, in any country, and at any time.
Last week during Holy Week we used one evening for a service project rather than a worship service. I was a bit concerned about the response. In most ways I pleasantly surprised because many people came out to help with a very single simple service project (fill crisis care kits for the suffering in Japan). Those that came “got it.” They understood that serving was more important than a worship service (notice I did not say “more important than worship”). Exponentially more important. But some didn’t get it. To them, this “service project” was somehow lesser than meditation and worship so they stayed home that night. If you thought like that then you miss – completely miss – the values of the Kingdom of God.
Now I know some of you want to defend yourself – no need I don’t take attendance – but some of you simply stayed home because it did not seem important … and that shows that you don’t fully understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
We will only be like Jesus and change our world (our locale) when we serve like Jesus did – otherwise we are just another tired, recycled earth-bound solution that has never worked before and won’t work now either.
Never forget – God defines his followers in The Revelation twice by calling them “A Kingdom and Priests!” (1:6 and 5:6).
Wrap-Up
Do you want your works to follow you? Then simply live like Jesus.
The resurrection (and the cross) is a call to a new vocation. It is a call to a new vision of God and a new way of dealing with evil. We can’t bomb to smithereens it or vote it into futility … be we can love and serve so potently that it loses its grip!
YOU SEE, THE RESURRECTION IS NOT SIMPLY A DOCTRINE TO BE BELIEVED. IT IS AN ACHIEVEMENT TO BE EXPERIENCED AND PUT INTO PRACTICE!
I am calling you today to:
• Embrace resurrection values not – earth-bound values.
• Serve with resurrection love – not earthly motivations.
• Live with resurrection power – not with the power of the flesh.
• Die with resurrection hope – not time-bound hope.
Would you to say that with me once more?
“THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!”
He who has an ear
Let him hear
Communion
As we receive communion this morning it is within a “post-resurrection context.”
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25)
• We are daring to identify ourselves with the resurrected Son of God.
• We are saying that Easter isn’t over just because Easter Sunday has passed.
• We are daring to say we will live and serve and love as He did.
• We are saying we will, by our deeds, proclaim Him until He returns.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
