Sermon On A Savior Of The Sky

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist once remarked: “If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.” Psalm 19:1 reminds us: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

In Christian doctrine, Jesus Christ is regarded as the Savior of humanity. Christians believe that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, atoned for the sins of mankind, making it possible for people to be reconciled with God and achieve salvation. Salvation in Christianity is understood to have past, present, and future aspects, but may be known or unknown. While believers are considered saved in the present through faith in Christ, there is also a future aspect of salvation, often referred to as "being saved" or "eschatological salvation," which involves the final redemption and glorification of believers at the end of time.

While the terminology "savior of the sky" is not direct biblical parlance, it could be interpreted as a symbolic representation of the Second Coming of Christ, particularly in the context of Jesus's return "on the clouds of heaven". This imagery, described in the Bible, is often associated with divine power and authority, and the visible, public nature of his return. The concept of a "savior" in general can be applied to anyone who rescues another. A savior is typically someone who comes to the aid of another person in a time of need, potentially rescuing them from danger or hardship. The term "savior of the sky" could be interpreted metaphorically to describe someone who performs a heroic act, perhaps in a situation involving height, danger, or rescue from a precarious position.

Revelation 1:1-8 reminds us: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

In religious and spiritual contexts, the concept of a savior is often associated with the notion of light as they could also be considered an angel in the darkness. This reflection can be understood in two ways: the savior himself being the source of divine light, and believers reflecting that light to others. Light provides guidance, illumination and an assurance of hope. It represents clarity, understanding, and a positive direction in the face of darkness, uncertainty, or despair. It could be considered the essential food that nourishes and sustains life. John 6:48-51 reminds us: “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Saving, in the context of Christian theology, is intrinsically linked to God's promises. Specifically, it refers to trusting in God's word as the basis for salvation and a transformed life. This includes believing in God's commitment of forgiveness, grace, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it involves living a life that reflects that faith, including wise stewardship and a forward-looking perspective.

In general, God is seen as the ultimate source of salvation, often providing intermediaries or figures who act as saviors or deliverers. These figures, like Jesus in Christianity, are seen as sent by God to guide humanity towards salvation or redemption. A true story is told of a commercial flight en route from New York to London with 200 passengers on board. During its final approach to a major airport in the United Kingdom, the captain is suddenly taken ill. He is actually in the process of announcing to the passengers that they are about to undertake a difficult landing with many risks involved, when his words suddenly become slurred, followed by a long period of silence. The weather conditions are atrocious with heavy rain, low cloud cover and turbulent cross winds. The co-pilot, still considered a trainee, is relatively inexperienced with this type of approach and starts to panic at the incapacity of the captain and the responsibility of landing the aircraft on his own. In desperation, he asks over the tannoy if there is anyone on board with flying experience who may be able to help him with the difficult approach.