th
7 Sunday of Easter
“Death to Resurrection”
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
June 1, 2014
We believe that through death we are raised up to heaven. This is what the Bible means when it
speaks of the resurrection of the dead. What I wish to focus on today is how the same principle
happens to us in daily life. I am not referring to a literal death but a figurative death, the kind of death
that happens through difficulty and struggle. And the resurrection is not literal either. The resurrection
that happens in life brings hope, renewed joy, and meaning to our lives. It is what Peter refers to when
we wrote, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you.” And again
Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God. And after you have
suffered a little while, the God of Grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself
restore, establish, and strengthen you.”
My favorite sculptor is Michelangelo. He was a man acquainted with inner struggle, hardships he
endured, as well as many difficulties that impacted his work as an artist, writer, and architect. This
affected him so much that he never finished any of his works done at the end of his life when his talent
and skills were at their best. The works that are complete were all done in his early years.
When Michelangelo would begin to work on a piece, he would describe it as seeing life within the
stone and desiring to be set free. It wasn’t as if he was shaping the stone as much as he was getting rid
of the excess. The removal of the unwanted stone allowed for the life to be born. Through chiseling,
hammering, the removal of stone by force, the desired effect was achieved. The process of growing in
faith is quite similar. It is the rough edges of the stone of our lives that needs to be removed.
Much like an artist with a chisel, God uses difficult times to shape us. Like an artist, God chips away the
rough edges of our lives, those things that hide the new person yearning to be set free. As the rough
edges are removed the new person takes shape, revealing a beauty that was unseen and unknown
until the chisel of God’s love was laid against the stone of our lives.
“Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you.”
Peter was addressing people who were experiencing some rather tough times. Nonbelievers were
persecuting them. Peter wants the believers to see past the suffering and recognize the hand of God in
the midst of the turmoil. Peter wants them to see the greater good that is being achieved. God did not
design the hardship, but is using it to produce a greater-good that is a blessing upon all who call on the
name of Jesus. God using the difficult times like a chisel against stone, removing the rough edges of
their humanity, those things that keep their hearts from God, are being removed. In time a new
person, a new life will emerge. It will be one that recognizes the love of God in their lives, especially in
those times that feel the most difficult.
“Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you.”
Pastor Greg Uthus
73 N. Hill Avenue ● Pasadena, CA 91106 ● 626 792-4169 ● www.hillavenuegrace.org
Michelangelo’s last words about his final masterpiece were: “The course of my life has finally reached
in its fragile boat, over the stormy seas, the common port where we must account for all our past
actions. No painting or sculpture can quiet my soul, now turned to the Divine Love that opens to
embrace me in His arms. For ten years of sleepless nights I’ve been designing a Pieta. The body of our
Lord was too heavy with death to be held up by his old mother…. He backs inward to fuse with his
Mother’s body, as she leans forward to raise him up. Mother and Son, the living and the dead,
become one – Death becomes a resurrection.”
It is ironic, that it is often as we come through the most difficult times in our lives that we grow the
most as a human being. I suspect that if you were to look back over your life you would recognize this
truth in your own life. I suspect that through the difficult times, times that were challenging you may
have grown the most, developed into the person you are. As you look back I hope you can see in those
times the hand of God chiseling away at the stone of your life, removing those things that get in the
way of you becoming the person God intends. I know this has happened to me.
And it is equally true, that as we come through those times, when the rough edges have been chiseled
off, that we can grow in our understanding and faith towards God. New life is born. The stone of our
history takes shape. Our faith becomes more resolved. We discover a strength of conviction taking
shape. It is as if we are able to remain steadfast and hope is stronger than before, confident in the
presence and movement of God in our lives. The old way of thinking, the past misconceptions of God,
the young immature faith gives rise to a new person, a resolve that leads to a stronger faith. Death
becomes resurrection.
“Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you.”
AMEN
Pastor Greg Uthus
73 N. Hill Avenue ● Pasadena, CA 91106 ● 626 792-4169 ● www.hillavenuegrace.org