What a tragic day it was. The massive loss of unsuspecting human life brought about by an unprovoked attack is saddening. There is also another reason that makes September 11, 2001, a sad day. That was a sad day indeed because it took a tragedy of that proportion to get Americans to think beyond their own existence and consider the hurts and needs of other people. Still there is more sadness in the events surrounding last Tuesday. While those events have raised a certain level of spiritual awareness in the American psyche – as a nation we’ve missed the reminder that the battle against evil is not only with forces outside of us – but it’s also a battle that needs to be leveled against the evil living within each one of us.
That’s why I rejoice that you are here with me now. In the text for this morning our God through the writer of Hebrews sounds the trumpet and calls us to put up our defenses against the attacks of the devil and our sinful flesh. God sharpens the weapons of choice, his Law and his Gospel, for this spiritual battle. Through his Word he bolsters our resolve and strengthens our unity to continue defending ourselves arm in arm against the evil lurking not only around but also within each one of us. As we journey through enemy territory on our way to our eternal home our God urges us: Keep on Loving Each Other! Keep on loving each other 1) in the face of hardship, 2) in the face of temptation, and 3) in the face of weakness.
God urges us to keep on loving each other in the midst of the attacks by the devil, the sinful world, and our own sinful flesh. It’s as though he were saying, “Love each other so much that you’re careful to watch one another’s backs so that nothing and no one leads you away from me.” That’s true when one of our brothers and sisters in Christ is facing hardship. When we see a brother or sister in Christ in need, Christian love not only moves us to pray for that person, but Christian love also seeks to take appropriate action. Take Abraham and Lot for example. Each on a separate occasion welcomed weary travelers into their homes. Though they didn’t know it they were actually welcoming angels to stay with them. We will probably never entertain angels but we know the value that Jesus himself places on care and concern for the needs of others, especially fellow Christians. What a surprise it will be to hear Jesus say to us on the Last Day, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
More often we face the difficult hardships of physical or emotional suffering, sometimes just because we are Christians. When we see our brothers and sisters in Christ getting pulled away from their Lord by the stress and strain of life Christian love moves us to do all we can to lend a hand or offer emotional support as we encourage them to return to their Lord. Our support is also crucial when our Christian brothers and sisters suffer insult, ridicule, or mockery because of their faith. At those times Christian love moves us to share in that suffering with them, whether that’s with our prayers, our words of encouragement, willingly listening to their hurts, or offering a shoulder to cry on. We do all of this willingly because Jesus has made us members of one body, his, so that when one of us rejoices we all rejoice together, and when one of us suffers we all suffer together.
As Christians perhaps it’s not difficult to keep on loving the members of our Christian family whose faces are familiar and the people we know quite well. But are we eager to share our Christian love with those whose faces that are new in the crowd? Do we work extra hard to invite new people into our Christian family? Do we work hard to make them feel welcome once they’re here? Do we go out of our way to let them know how special they are to us and how happy we are to have them with us and to learn more about them and their lives? For many one of the most difficult parts of the battle is finding a platoon with which to fight. That’s where we have a wonderful opportunity to keep putting our Christian love into action – not only for the veteran soldiers but the new recruits as well.
The devil loves to put obstacles in our path that make the victory march to heaven seem difficult. Unfortunately our sinful flesh takes one look at those obstacles of hardship and is quick to suggest that we surrender the victory and bow our heads in defeat. So that we might not become discouraged and lose hope God brings us together to lean on one another as we love one another in the face of hardships. That’s not the only time we need to lean on one another. We need one another when the devil and our flesh ambush us with the assault of temptation.
The writer of Hebrews identifies the devil’s two-pronged attack. The first is in the area of God’s gift of sex. The inventor of the lie is making frequent use of his invention when it comes to this subject in our country today. God makes it clear that he designed his gift of sex to be a blessing when used within the bonds of marriage, which consists of one man and one woman committed to one another for life. Yet routinely such a definition is labeled as “old-fashioned,” and “prudish.” Who do you suppose is behind such false labels? Why is the devil so busy launching his assault on human beings in this particular area? Maybe it’s because he’s convinced of the truth found in Hebrews 13:4, “God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
The second prong in the devil’s attacks is in the sphere of money. God urges us to keep our lives free from the love of money by being content with what he has given us. That contentment shows itself as we thankfully offer the first portion of what he’s given us financially to support the work of his kingdom here on earth. It’s unfortunate but I fear the devil has quickly enlisted the help of our sinful flesh in this area and makes great headway in the war for our souls. What do I mean by that? Why do I as your pastor have a hesitation to talk to you about God’s gift of money? Do you feel uncomfortable right now as I’m talking about God’s gift of money? Why is it that in a country of immense material wealth – we as a congregation seem to struggle make ends meet from week to week? Why has it been such a struggle over the years to gather enough money to make a down payment for a new building? Where do those feelings of hesitation and discomfort come from?
You see, if we desire to truly express our love for one another as we face off against temptation then God doesn’t give us the option of backing away from the “tough” issues of sex and money. In fact if we didn’t talk about these things it would indicate that our love for one another is quite shallow compared to the depth and fullness of God’s directive to battle the temptations of Satan and our sinful flesh in every aspect of our lives. Joyfully we take up these issues at God’s direction because he has promised unconditionally that he will never leave us or forsake us. As we work through these issues God gives us the confidence to put our words into action regardless of what the world might think because we are sure that God is our helper in overcoming all temptation.
If you’re like me you’re feeling at least a little unfit for the battle right now. I’m not sure I have the strength to wage this kind of war until the day I die. So often we’re faced with our own weakness. How can we possibly hope to make it through all of the hardships and sufferings that Satan puts before us? It is so tough to walk with total confidence that God is always with me and providing all that I need. I’m not sure I’m cut out for this battle. That’s why God’s final encouragement this morning is that we keep on loving one another in the face of weakness.
When we’re feeling weak in our faith – and we all do from time to time – we need the love and support of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around his Word and sacrament. If we see our fellow Christians stumbling away from the faith in weakness Christian love spurs us to action. We encourage one another by recalling the Word of God proclaimed to us by faithful leaders in his church. As we remember the words of those faithful leaders from the past we also do well to consider the outcome of their lives – how by virtue of their God-given Christian faith reached the blessed end of entering eternal paradise.
Why is that important? As we consider the incredible testimony from the lips and lives of our dearly departed Christian leaders we can’t help but call to mind the one whom they proclaimed and the one in whom they trusted, Jesus Christ. Though many faithful Christian leaders have past from life on earth into life eternal – the truth they proclaimed about the one called himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life remains the same. The rock on whom their faith was founded is the same rock who strengthens us in our weakness and fortifies our confidence in our future hope of life eternal. He is the one who continues to move us to keep on loving one another so that together we might live in his love both now and forever.
But so often we’ve failed in the battle. Shamefully our love has crumbled in the face of hardship, it has collapsed in the face of temptation, and wavered in weakness. It hasn’t always seized every opportunity to spring into action. If we ask ourselves the question, “Are there times that we’ve disappointed those who are depending on us to offer them loving encouragement and support?” I know that I must admit that I have.
Take heart my friends because your hope is found in the changeless Savior whose sacrifice, forgiveness, and promise is just as powerful and valid today as it ever has been and ever will be. Be glad because your sins of buckling under hardship, succumbing to temptation, and wobbling in weakness have been paid for in full by the blood of your Lord. Find strength in his resilience of his Spirit that draws us back to himself. Rejoice in Jesus’ resolve that stopped nothing short of dying so that we might live.
As Americans we face uncertain times ahead. We’re preparing to battle a shadowy enemy with an uncertain outcome. Thankfully as Christians our God has identified our enemy for us. Yes it’s the most difficult battle we will ever be involved in and the stakes are eternal. Thankfully the victory is assured because Jesus didn’t die in defeat – he rose in victory. Through that truth God continues to renew our dependence on Jesus. With hearts thankful for his forgiveness and renewed by his love – we are moved by his Spirit to regroup and restore our united front. We take heart that he promises to lead us safely through the carnage to security of our eternal home with him. May that reality give us peace and strength now and always. Amen.
