ALL SAINTS DAY
Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
10/29 & 11/01 2015
INTRODUCTION
WYSIWYG (wiz ee wig).
I remember when computers first came out,
the software was quite “primitive” by today’s standards.
Often, what you saw on the screen
was not what you saw when you printed out the document.
I remember when color was used to indicate the type face,
like red for bold faced type,
or green for italics,
or blue for bold faced italics.
There was an edit mode for a document in process,
and a preview mode for looking at the finished document.
Then came WYSIWYG.
What is WYSIWYG?
WYSIWYG is an acronym, you know,
where the first letter of each word in a phrase forms a new word.
What You See Is What You Get = WYSIWYG!
While you are working on the document, What You See Is What You Get!
When it comes to computers and software, WYSIWYG is a good thing!
SETTING
What about life?
Is WYSIWYG a good thing?
What do you think?
ALL SAINTS DAY: The Need
In looking at the Scripture Readings for All Saints Day,
indeed, looking at the whole thought behind All Saints Day,
– All Saints Day is the complete antithesis of WYSIWYG!
Don’t you think?
During WWII there was another acronym, coming out of the military,
describing how things were quite often messed up.
What was the acronym? Do you know?
SNAFU!
Situation Normal, All Fouled Up!
SNAFU!
I would say that since Adam and Eve turned away from God in sin,
SNAFU is a perfect description of the world, of life.
Apart from God, apart from following God’s Wisdom, God’s Will,
Man and the lifestyle of man is one big SNAFU,
or, a series of one SNAFU after another.
When things are going well, I have often thought to myself,
“Enjoy it while it last!” or, “Don’t get to excited, it won’t last long!”
Sin has brought so much grief and suffering into the world:
• Dissension and bitterness in relationships
– among family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates,...;
• Sickness and disease in our bodies, in nature
– short term sickness, long term illnesses,
even in nature in plants and animals;
• Fraud, deceit, theft, robbery,
– depriving people of property, savings, well-being;
• Violence, crime, vandalism,
– physical harm to individuals, destruction of property;
• Aging, infirmity, and ultimately, death,
– as our bodies and minds grow older and weaker.
The world as “We Know It”, the world as “We See It”,
is not the world as God created it!
is not the world as God wants us to experience it!
As WYSIWYG describes our world today,
What You See is “the Curse”,
the world apart from God, the world ruined by sin.
What You Get is “the Curse”,
pain and suffering, toil and trouble, and in the end, death.
God told Adam after he had eaten of the forbidden fruit:
“...17cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” – Genesis 3
Another miliary acronym from WWII sums up the world pretty well: FUBAR!
What’s FUBAR?
“Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition!” – or – “Fouled Up Beyond All Repair!”
1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us,
that we should be called children of God; and so we are...
2
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared;
but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him,
because we shall see Him as He is. – 1 John 3
ALL SAINTS DAY: The Blessing
In all three of the Scripture Readings,
we are directed to look beyond what we see,
to what God has in store for His people in Christ.
As Jesus begins His “Sermon on the Mount”,
He sees beyond the Curse of sin, to the Blessings that come through Faith.
What no person can accomplish by his own power or wisdom,
(the answer is not in “me”, but in “Christ”)
God, in Christ, has done for us!
Jesus has defeated the devil and his work,
Jesus has brought an end to the Curse of sin and death,
that those who look to Him find Blessing, now and forevermore!
As God’s children, we are Saints, holy ones,
– set apart from sin,
– set apart unto God, belonging to Him, loving and serving Him!
Living in this world ruined by sin, in this world under the Curse,
we may not look “set apart”, we may not feel “set apart”,
but, we are!
3) In death, we experience, not the Curse, not condemnation,
but sanctification, being set apart as a holy one with God.
The apostle John received a vision of the saints in heaven
before the throne of God and the Lamb:
9
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn (repentant) , for they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek (self-restrained), for they shall inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (not selfish desires),
for they shall be satisfied.
7
Blessed are the merciful (non avenging), for they shall receive mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart (selfless motives), for they shall see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers (health restorers),
for they shall be called sons of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (uncompromising),
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5
4
The way to escape the Curse is to let go of everything Cursed,
– everything of this world, even your own life in this world,
and to take hold of Christ and the Blessings He has won
and the Blessings He offers in the New Creation!
1) In Baptism, we die to the Curse, to sin, to self,
and we are raised to new life in Blessing in Christ.
4
We were buried therefore with Christ by baptism into death,
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life. – Romans 6
2) In Baptism, we are born again as “sons of God”,
children bearing His image, righteous in Christ.
After this I looked, and behold,
a great multitude that no one could number,
from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10
and crying out with a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!” – Revelation 7
CONCLUSION
WYSIWYG. If you live your life seeking only the things of this world,
then WYSIWYG is what you end up with – What You See Is What You Get!
WYSIWYG is one SNAFU, one FUBAR! You are stuck with the Curse.
In Baptism, God ended your life in WYSIWYG.
In Baptism, you died to the Curse and to all that is Cursed!
In Baptism, God raised you to a new life in Christ, free from the Curse!
1
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
– Colossians 3
All God’s Saints live by a new Acronym:
WICIWYG – (wik ee wig) What’s In Christ Is What You Get
HOTAMOTANOTA – (hot-a-mot-a-not-a) [See Colossians 3:1-2]
Hearts On Things Above,
Minds On Things Above
Not On Things Accursed
SAINTS – Seeking An Inheritance NoT Seen