Revelation 1.
Sermon at Holy Rood Church, 27th August
2000
Sherlock
Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip. They set everything up and went to
sleep and all was fine. In the middle of the night, Holmes woke up, nudged
Watson and said "Watson, look up in the night sky. What do you see?"
"I see a billion stars Holmes", his friend replied.
"What does that tell you?" Holmes asked.
"Well, astronomically speaking, it tells me there are billions of stars
and planets out there. Astrologically speaking, it tells me that Mars is
prominent just now."
"Very good", said Holmes, "What else does it tell you?"
"Theologically speaking, it tells me God is great to have created all
this, and meteorologically speaking, the clear night tells me the weather will
be fine tomorrow. Why do you ask Holmes? What does the sky tonight say to
you?"
The world famous detective stretched out and thoughtfully stroked his chin.
"To me", he said, "This view of the night sky tells me that
someone has stolen the tent!"
There
is something comforting about this place – years ago people prayed here. But there is also something discomforting
about it – things end, they die, they decline.
It might remind us that the days of man are but as grass. It might also speak to us of the way that
God moved here once, but now the Spirit is moving somewhere else.
So
we need a bigger perspective than our own human story. We need to see that God’s plans are greater
than ours, our history is only a part of his.
We grow old and pass away.
Churches build and fall. Empires
come and go but Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He had the first word “Let there be light”
and he will have the last “They shall be my people and I shall be their
God.” . He is with his churches always,
to the end of the world, filling them with light, and life, and love. Do you
despair at the decline of goodness history seems to bring? He is the one who is clothed with a robe
down to the feet, representing his everlasting righteousness. Do you feel
history makes our hearts grow cold? He
wears a vest was girded with a golden girdle, which shows how precious are his
love and affection for his people. Do you get disillusioned with world
leaders? His head and hairs are white
like wool and as snow, and signify his majesty, purity, and eternity. Does the
complexity of the modern world alarm you?
His eyes flame like fire, representing his knowledge of the secrets of all
hearts, and of the most distant events. His countenance is like the sun, when
it shines clearly and powerfully; its strength too bright and dazzling for
mortal eyes to behold. What happens
here this evening, what this place has been in history, only makes sense if we
can fix our eyes on the one who is Lord of history.
We
can learn from our past, and we can celebrate it. But even more than that we can trust in the one who holds the
past present and future of our lives.
Where we and the church have been is important because its formed who we
are, but to keep our eyes fixed on who we are headed to is by far the more
important task.
THIS
IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE ACTUAL RADIO CONVERSATION OF A US NAVAL SHIP WITH THE
CANADIAN AUTHORITIES OFF THE COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND IN OCT 1995. RADIO CONVERSATION RELEASED BY CHIEF OF
NAVAL OPERATIONS 10/10/95.
CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a
collision.
AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North.
CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the
South to avoid a collision.
AMERICANS:
This is the Captain of a US Navy Ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
CANADIANS: No. I say again, divert YOUR course.
AMERICANS: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN. THE SECOND BIGGEST SHIP IN
THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE
CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15
DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE
UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.
CANADIANS: We are a Lighthouse. Your call."
It’s
a confusing world, things come and things go.
But we need to be focussed on what’s ahead. And while we do this, what matters is not where we think
we are headed or how our plans are going.
What matters is where he wants to take us.