Real rest, peace and joy
Rev. Mark Eichler, Faith Lutheran Church
Friday, July 24, 2009
By the Rev. Mark Eichler
Faith Lutheran Church
Did you hear about the man who swallowed an egg whole? He was afraid to move because he was afraid it would break the egg. But he was also afraid to sit still because he was afraid the egg would hatch inside him. Now that’s real pressure, isn’t it?
Yet, isn’t that the condition in which we often find ourselves? In this day when we are suppose to have so many devices to save time, we are still so hurried and restless! If the computer, the laptop, the cellular phone, and all of these other technological wonders are suppose to save us time, why do we so often feel like we are behind and have to rush? Doesn’t it seem at times that all we’ve really added is speed and noise? We get there faster, but we don’t know where we are going. And when we get there, we’re out of breath.
But could this being so hurried and busy all the time actually be a desired state of anesthesia, to deaden the pain that often enters our life? Is always staying busy and always being “on the go” an attempt to bury our pains as if they are not really there? When we have no project to finish, no friend to visit, no book to read, no television to watch, no music to play, and when we are left all alone by ourselves, it’s so easy to experience an all-pervasive sense of loneliness that we think we need to get busy again and continue the game which makes us believe that everything is fine.
But what happens when “the batteries run low?” What do we do when it “all breaks down?” Is there really any rest for our souls?
According to the Bible, God’s Word, Jesus renewed people with the power of his compassion. He cared for them, no matter who they were and no matter what their challenges in life. As a true man, he experienced challenges and problems and sadnesses and griefs, so He knew what they were going through. As true God, Jesus did miracles like healing the sick to relieve their suffering. But to bring real rest for their souls, to bring real healing for the deep down hurts, Jesus showed just how much God loves all people, just how much compassion God has for us all, by going to the cross and suffering and dying to pay for our sins and to win for us forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus completed our heavenly Father’s work. He carried out God’s plan for our salvation. As our substitute, Jesus satisfied God’s law by his perfect life, suffering and death and then God raised him from the dead to demonstrate that his justice is satisfied and we are forgiven. Thus, God provided a fountain of forgiveness and mercy for all people of all generations. And all this is ours, given us through the gift of faith.
The resurrection of Christ is the source of Christian joy. To be sure, Christians can and do often weep, but Christ’s resurrection keeps those tears of sorrow from becoming tears of bitterness or despair. This joy fills the Christian’s life. It doesn’t come and go. In fact, it can’t be shattered, even when tragedy strikes, because it enables us to look past all the present sorrows and see our resurrected Lord. That is where we find real rest for our souls.
• “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Mark Eichler, pastor of Emporia’s Faith Lutheran Church.