Ephesians 1:11-23.                                           All Saints!!                                                           3/11/13

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 As we draw close to the end of the church year our focus is turned more toward the end of this world and what lies beyond. Here today particularly, we reflect on and remember those who have gone before us in the faith. We give thanks to God for the great assurance that he gives to us in knowing that those who have died in the faith have eternal life with God in heaven. Our loved ones who have gone before us in the faith are saints in eternal glory.

 It is good for us to have this time of reflection for it seems that we all have this inbuilt knowledge that there is more to this life than what we see around us: There is more to life than the short period of time that we have on this earth: there is more that we are experiencing at the moment. This understanding, we are reminded, is what God has put into our hearts and minds from the very beginning. So our hearts are uneasy until they find and are joined to that which is truly life in all of its glory.

 This is why there are so many restless souls in our society today. Even though we have got so much and we from an earthly perspective are living quite comfortably, there is an aching emptiness in people’s lives. We long for the ongoing togetherness and peace that we know deep down is what life is all about; despite what is peddled about in our society today. We are meant to be with our loved ones and God for all eternity.

 This is why nearly always in the face of death people speak of the one who has died, as going up there, somewhere: they are shining star in the heavens: they are now looking down on us: they are now forever playing golf or whatever. We know that there is something more and we know that there is a God out there somewhere.

 However because of our choosing not to listen to God and follow his ways, but instead live our own selfish lives, we have brought disharmony and death on ourselves. So now matter how hard we try to make life good for ourselves it always fails to deliver what we know should be there for us; and our relationships are torn apart by death or other means and our aching loneliness increases.

 The uncertainty that surrounds death is so unsettling, because we know that there is a God, but also that we have not heeded what he has said to us, and so have no right to a better life beyond. But we hope and speak that they are with God because the alternative is too unbearable to think about. We want to believe and know that somehow it will be all different and better.

 However that that is why the Christian message is so comforting and life-giving. Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection does give us a sure and certain hope in the midst of the emptiness of this life. For those who are prepared to look to and trust in Jesus Christ there is no uncertainty or fear: The whole future does end well. Not because of who we are or what we do, but because of Jesus and his death on the cross.

 That is where this reading here today is so encouraging and helpful for us, but also so challenging for those who think ‘she’ll be right Jack’. So let us work through it and so again be strengthened by this wonderful Good News.  The reading begins: In him [Christ] we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Yes, there is a plan and purpose to our lives. Despite the mess we humans make of things, God still chooses to work for our good. Right from the beginning his plan was for us to put our hope in Christ and so that people then will be drawn to acknowledge and praise God for his glory and greatness, rather than trying to simply live for the glory of humanity. We are chosen to look to Jesus and what he has to say to us so that we can truly live in a right and good relationship with him, as well as with our loved ones and others around us.

And [here remember that] you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 Then the more we allow the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to work in our lives, the more we may know him better. Following on from that the eyes of our heart will be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

 So the more God’s people gather in his presence the more the Spirit enables us to know the things that are important and which will keep us strong and focussed on the sure and certain hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  Then we can have a greater sense of peace that comes from the certainty that we and our loved ones who die in the Lord will be raised up on the last day to join with our Lord in eternity where there will be never-ending goodness and permanent relationships.

 Those who regularly remember their baptism find great assurance in knowing that they were marked in him with a seal. They have the Holy Spirit working in their lives, ever seeking to remind them of that which is important and that hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

 Then as they regularly hear and read God’s Word and receive Jesus’ body and blood in Holy Communion they are further strengthened and encouraged as his people. They come to rely on the incomparably great power of God not only for this life but also for the next.

 That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

 Yes now we as God’s people have the assurance that our Lord is greater and more powerful than any other force or thing. The powers, technology and dollars of this world are nothing compared to this God who is so much greater and more important. Yes he can even raise this Jesus who was punished and killed for the sin of every one of us; raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. No one or thing can stop him from also raising up all believers who have died in the Lord giving them a place in heaven as well.

 However not only did he set Jesus alongside himself in heaven, but he placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 This even further assures us of the fact that all believers will be in heaven. Surely if Jesus died for our salvation and is now head over his church, he will also ensure that his people will be with him in eternity. So we can have every confidence as we look to him and place our trust in him to know that we will be in heaven with all of our loved ones who have died in the Lord as well as all the other saints who have gone before us as well.

 So now as we go about life in a world that is longing for a better future beyond and merely hoping in a very uncertain way that somehow even though they have not taken God seriously, but simply tried to live reasonably good lives, that somehow that will count for something when it comes to dying and going to heaven or not; we on the other hand now have the full and certain assurance that in connection with Jesus Christ we will be together with all the saints in heaven. Not because we are good and saints in our own right, but that through Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection,  and our connection with him in baptism and through faith.  He alone is our source of hope and confidence that this is right and true.

So again to him then be all glory and honour now and always. Amen.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish