Wellspring UMC; Fifth Sunday after Easter; May 6, 2007: “Home Among Mortals”

-Psalm 148 (UMH 861); Revelation 21: 1-6

I read to day from the Book of Revelation. For many it is a mysterious book, but the reality of its purpose is that it was written to Christians being persecuted by the Romans. Now when I say persecuted, I mean treatment running the gamut. From discrimination and avoidance of them to being used as human torches for Caesar’s parties. It was a bad time, and John writes to assure Christ’s followers that in the end, God will prevail. In the end, all will be resolved, so keep the faith.

This particular passage speaks of what it will be like on the Day of Resurrection, and it reveals insights into God’s intent when it comes to heaven and what that looks like. As we share this passage together today, I would like us to think about 2 aspects of heaven. First, the gift God will give us when the Messiah returns, and secondly, heaven on earth among us now. Let me walk us through this passage.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and first earth had passed away.” John is writing this letter while in prison on the island of Patmos. This is a time of severe persecution, physically, economically, and emotionally, and all that life was throwing at the Christians was dismal. Family, friends and colleagues were dying. They were shunned by society and in turn had a difficult time making it. This whole book was written for these people whose lives were hell, and it was written to bring hope in the midst of horrific suffering.

So imagine hearing these words, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth...this place, what we know and what we face...our current lives, they will pass, and all will be made new.

“And the sea was no more.” The sea in ancient cultures was a sign of chaos, mystery, danger, and destruction. We don’t see the sea this way today, but in that day, the ships were smaller, the volatility of the weather and storms was not predicted by science, and the mystery of the deep was great. Thus, for the sea to be no more, meant to these who heard, that all of the chaos and unanswered questions, all of the mystery and destruction, would be gone.

“I saw a new heaven and earth...and the sea, the chaos, the destruction, was gone.”

“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Anyone here ever been to a wedding? Once all the guests have been seated, what happens? There is a processional, which is the grand entrance. It is the beginning after the beginning. Folks have gathered, expecting to see a union of two souls, but the gathering is just the gathering. The processional marks something different, something new. It is the beginning of eternal union.

“And I saw the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God Himself will be with them.’” Such is the proclamation of the Son of Man of God’s original intention and God’s intention for eternity. Do you remember the very beginning of our story? Remember in Genesis, after everything was created, God created humans and placed them in the Garden of Eden? Do you remember what the relationship was between Adam, Eve, and God?

They walked together. They conversed. They sat down and ate together. There was this deep, abiding, wonderfully loving friendship and connection. It was like what we experience with a best friend. Side by side, relying on each other, sharing, loving, keeping watch over each other.

But then we know the rest of the story. The Bible is the summation of the rest of the story...a story we continue to live out today. A story of separation from God. A story of how we separate ourselves from God. A story of our tendency to place ourselves first, while others are neglected. An ongoing story of how we try to be so in control of our lives and our world, that we don’t walk through the garden with God, we run on ahead, or we completely miss Him.

When that happens, then we get ourselves into trouble. Our desires clash with the desires of the other. A simple disagreement escalates into a shouting match. Variant points of view become the seeds of hate which lead to war. And people are so focused on their own views and standing against the other, that God falls off their radar.

But “a voice said, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He shall dwell with them...” And the Garden is reordered. God’s original intent fulfilled. They, we, are God’s peoples, and God is ours.

“And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning, crying, and pain will be no more, for the first things (the reality of today) will pass away.” The result of God’s dwelling, of God’s great reordering, is that all will be well. No more tears, no more death, no more mourning or crying or pain, for when God is with us, then the force of eternal love is in us, among us, and with us.

“And the One who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new...write this for these words are trustworthy and true.” It’s unbelievable to think of such a reordering, so Christ reiterates the truth of God’s plan. I make all things new. I will fulfill the plan as set from the beginning. And, by the way, record this, for when it is written down, there is no turning back. It is a promise kept.

In the ancient world, when one named something, then they had power over it. This is why when Moses asked God’s name, God’s response was simply, “I am who I will be.” That is, “Moses, if I tell you my name, then you’ll have power over me. Not gonna happen.” But here, God says, “Write it down. Hold me to it. It’s in the bank, for I will fulfill my promises.”

“Then He said, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.’” And it comes full circle. That which was begun at creation is now completed. The beginning and the end will provide all that we need, as a gift of water, from the spring of life.

I wonder, when we think about our lives and are honest with ourselves, where does God fit in? I mean, really. Where in your thoughts, where in your actions, where in your conscience does God play a role in why you do what you do and who you are? And I ask that from our perspective more than from God’s perspective.

I would assume that most of us believe God is with us, and that God is constantly seeking us out. But what about looking at it from our side? Are we at home with God? That is, do we look to God and look for God all the time? Do we have conversations with God as we’re walking down the street, working in the yard, or driving to work?

The truth of what we believe is that God created so that God could be with us. God created to be in relationship. God created so that we would be in relationship with one another, and in the end, God’s intention is to be with us as God was at Creation. “But in the meantime,” we ask, “what does this all mean?”

We know that one day, all things will be made new. Resurrection will come, and all will be transformed, all made new, all of the majestic imagery of Revelation and beyond will come to fruition, but in the meantime, God reveals that this will happen. Even more so, God reveals that this does happen, and that God does dwell among us, if we just look, listen and follow. In the meantime, we catch glimpses of the Kingdom of God breaking through into this life and our lives. And what God wants more than anything else, is for us to allow Christ to live within and through us, for when we do, then the world catching glimpses of what the culmination of God’s creation will look like, when all is made new.

When have you seen God break into your life...into your world? Did you catch a glimpse of the Truth that God does and will make all things new?

On July 19, 2001, the world changed for Violet, her son, and her daughter, for that day her beloved husband, Prince, of 13 years died. Violet and Prince were from India and both were children of Christian missionaries, and in walking through the grieving process with this young mother and their children, ages 12 and 7 at the time, I learned a lot about faith.

It was an interesting experience, because in the Indian culture, they grieving process is much more demonstrative then those of European descent. The wailing and uncontrollable crying out was at times overwhelming, even to the point where the widow literally passed out numerous times. This was a deep, visceral grief which I’d not experienced before, and yet at the same time, the faith and hope that this family held onto was even more powerful.

Part of their tradition is to hold a week long prayer vigil for the deceased. Prayers were lifted from the home, but 24 hours a day for 7 days, in the family home in India people from the village gathered to share their hopes and prayers for Prince and the family. In the midst of the planning, comments were made about Prince’s faithfulness and his focus on God, not just from family but friends and acquaintances. And what was amazing was how his children handled the loss of their father, for they were fully engaged in the grieving and the hope.

One of the things that I was blessed to learn was that after dinner each night, Prince would pull out the family Bible and he would read. Then the family would share their thoughts and comments, then the children had to memorize a psalm. Every night they read, memorized, and recited the Word, and during this difficult time, they shared those Psalms with me, and that bolstered MY faith, for in them I saw that God was home among them and they at home with God. They would end that time in prayer.

Every year on July 19^th I call Violet, and as the years have progressed, so has Violet’s faith. In the Indian culture she was called to serve her husband and God faithfully, so in many ways she was unprepared for the years ahead. But in faith, trust, and the help of the church she lived into who God would have her become. She put her faith in God to keep her children enrolled in private, Christian school, and God provided supporters who paid their tuition.

God provided a job for her and good childcare, and over the years Violet grew in her skills and in her faith. Part of that faith came in sharing her home and holding a women’s bible study with members of the church and community. That grew and so did the family’s needs, to where they were able to sell her townhouse and move into a larger home.

She continued the Bible study, her children’s tuition continued to be taken care of because God was working through those children of promise. She continued to tithe to the church and pray fervently with thanksgiving and praise.

Two years ago I called Violet on July 19^th, and she was excited to tell me that she was actually double tithing. She tithed to her church here, but she heard about a new church in India which needed assistance. So she was tithing to both, and in doing so, blessing upon blessing were flowing into her life. Last year, I talked to her, and she was even more excited about how God was making a way for her faith to grow, which in turn was helping others to grow.

Yesterday I called to ask her permission to share her story with you. Her son answered the phone, and we talked for a good five minutes. He was excited to tell me that he would graduate this year and go to college. Pre-med. When his mother got on the phone she said he’d already seen an open heart surgery and next week will be visiting cadavers.

As she began to share about God’s work in her life, I asked about the church in India. Her voice lifted and she said, “I’ve been supporting that church for 2.5 years, and this year I’m fully supporting it. I’m paying the rent and the salary for the pastor, and there are 300-400 people who attend that church each week.”

“I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the old has passed away...God’s home is with mortals...every tear gone, death no more, mourning, crying, pain no more...I am making all things new.”

In Violet I see the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom on earth. God’s home is with her and her’s is with God. And all things are new. And so it is with countless other stories of God’s grace. That when we trust in God, then look, we see. And if we see then follow, the God’s revelation is fulfilled today, as it will be on the last day.

In a few moments we’ll come forward to receive a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. Here God comes home to us and invites us to come home to God. Come and receive. Come and receive God. Come, see, believe and live into the One who is making all things new. Amen.