In
my hand I am holding a silver globe overlaid in 24k gold
that was designed and created by artist, Sam Philipe to
commemorate the establishment of Jerusalem as the
capital of Israel by King David over 3,000 years ago.
Scattered around this globe are
representations of buildings and locations that have
become symbolic landmarks for the peoples who have
inhabited this city. Rachel's Tomb, the Church of the
Nativity, Absalom's Tomb, The Church of the Holy
Spulcher, El Aksa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, Synagogue of
Judah the Prince, the Western Wall, etc.. Obviously,
these are places that religious pilgrims and moneyed
tourists have visited for centuries and these sites have
enduring meaning - tied as they are to the history and
struggles of several nations and religions.
America even as young as we are
has its locations. Walk the streets of Washington D.C.,
the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument,
Smithsonian Museum. Head to Philadelphia to the Liberty
Bell, Betsy Ross House. Head West to Mount Rushmore.
Down to Texas for the Alamo. These are locations that
symbolize the purposes and strength of our nation and
the willingness to die for freedom. Even nature can
evoke the character of earth's peoples. The vastness of
the Grand Canyon. The slow steady power of the moving
glaciers of Alaska, the enduring life of the mighty
Redwood trees, the flight of the bald eagle. You get the
idea.
Now, what happens when these
places are threatened by natural disaster or human
aggression? The people rally to protect and defend. They
gather together in memory of the departed ancestors, in
memory of the struggle of a life shaping event in
history. An event that forged an identity. Human passion
rises and falls with the relative security of the
symbols of its heritage.
But can we truly depend upon our
initiative, our technology, our strength? Fires, flood
waters, bombs destroy in a matter of minutes. And all we
can do is create a replica. Time alters memory.
Generations upon generations eventually forget what
really happened here. And historians reinterpret the
significance in light of new discoveries. Graffiti mars
the walls, cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and beer
cans litter shrines, young students sit slouched at
their desks asking what is the point of learning this
stuff. So, what is the point?
Interestingly enough, this
Jerusalem commemoration was created in the shape of a
globe to symbolize the city as the center of the world.
Certainly the news would bear this out to some degree.
Israelies and Palestinians battle over possession.
Muslims, Christians, and Jews continue to demand the
right to worship there. Pretty much any time period you
choose you will find major struggles on Jerusalem's
soil. In fact, our reading in Isaiah reflects a time
period when the Jews lost possession of their land,
their temple was destroyed, and the people were sent
into exile in Babylon. Truly, Jerusalem is the center of
the world for many people, but maybe not for the same
reason.
So, let's look at our reading
for a moment. The author of this portion of Isaiah is
addressing a people that are longing to return home.
During the years of exile, children have been born and
others have grown into adulthood. Many have mainstreamed
into their surrounding culture, intermarried, and
perhaps become successful in business. Others, however,
have remained faithful to their heritage, their God,
their culture. They purposely isolated themselves from
getting too close to their captors. Their memories cling
to the locations and events surrounding Jerusalem. Many
are downtrodden and discouraged and they pray to God to
answer their cries. "Why did this happen?" "When may we
return home?" "Where were you when the enemy killed our
friend and family, carried us off and destroyed your
holy temple?"
Isaiah responds with reminders
of God's steadfast promises of deliverance and
salvation. "Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to
Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he
was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and
made him many."
Their physical origin was one
old man and one old woman around 100 years old. But
identification of their ancestors was not what Isaiah
was getting at. When we look back at Abraham we find a
man of faith. We find a man who was willing to get up
and follow without question when God said, "Go." We find
a man who believed in God's promise. In Genesis chapter
12 verses 1-3, the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your
father's house to the land that I will show you. I will
make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and
make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses
you I will curse, and in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed." And Abram went - with all his
household based solely on a promise. It was 25 years
later that God established the everlasting covenant with
Abram involving the son that Sara was to bear. It was to
this promise and the faithfulness of God and Abram that
Isaiah was pointing. It was to the epic story that
followed, the rescue from famine and ultimate bondage in
Egypt, and the monumental exodus out of slavery. God's
intervention again and again in the history of these
people.
These were the events that spoke
of the rock from which they were hewn. God's steadfast
promise. "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at
the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like
smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those
who live on it will die like gnats, but my salvation
will be forever, and my deliverance will never be
ended." What is being said here? I think with all the
apocalyptic fervor of our time we should be careful not
to assume that this is a prediction of future events,
but rather a hyperbole that assures us of God's ever
present faithfulness. We know that the earth and the
inhabitants on it are part of God's good creation and
humanity has been able to count on their enduring
existence since the beginning of known time. What Isaiah
is saying is that even these could pass away and yet
God's promise of salvation will continue to protect us.
So, in our zeal to revere our
human landmarks, to honor our historic events, and to
find identity in our own achievements, perhaps we are
missing the one and only thing that lasts. The one and
only thing that gives any of our lives real meaning. The
one and only thing that offers hope for a future. God.
Now, in the days of Babylonian
captivity, the Israelites did not know of the coming of
Jesus. But they did hear of the hope of deliverance. In
just one more chapter they would hear of the servant of
the Lord who was to startle the nations, who would bear
their infirmities, who would be wounded for their
transgressions, who would be led like a lamb to the
slaughter. I don't need to read those two chapters, I
believe we can recognize the description of the one we
know as the Messiah, the Christ. We who stand in the
future know the rest of the story. But the Israelites
did not. They were simply asked to have faith in the one
who had always been faithful and to trust in the one
sure foundation.
Isaiah reminded them of the
covenant made with Abraham but in so doing it also
reminded them of the promise that Abraham - and hence
Israel - would be a blessing to the nations. Ultimately
that would occur with the advent of Jesus. But in the
meantime, God says, the coastlands wait for me and for
my arm they hope. God chose a nation. Why? So that only
they would have special privileges and honor? NO. So
that they would be God's messengers of hope. He says, do
not fear. You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides
me? There is no other rock, I know not one." 44:8
Isaiah 42:1-4 says, Behold my
servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul
delights. . . he will bring forth justice to the
nations. He will not fail or be discouraged til he has
established justice in the earth. And the coastlands
wait for his teaching." So, we hear again of the promise
of the Messiah but we also hear of the coastlands who
are waiting. Who or what are the coastlands and why are
they important? God says in chapter 66 verse 18. I am
coming to gather all nations and tongues and they shall
come and see my glory. It talks about sending survivors
out to all the nations and to the coastlands far away
that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.
God called Israel to be a part
of God's unfolding plan to bring salvation to every
nation, family, and individual on the face of the earth.
In the painting of Jesus I shared with the kids, he
wears a robe that is made of the fabrics of many
cultures and the flags of many nations symbolizing him
as the light of the nations. Yet, we know that even with
the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus - every
nation still does not know him. I spoke with a
missionary from Thailand two days ago and she shared
with me that ¼ of the world's population have never
heard of Jesus. Some internet statistic sites such as
American Religious Identification Survey revealed that
29.4 million people in 2001 in the US have no religious
background at all. In 2000 it was claimed that only 5.7%
of China's population was Christian. There are people in
war torn countries, others with oppressive governments,
still others whose geographical and economic challenges
make ministry and mission difficult. Many have
experienced hardships, abuse, and tragedies that make
believing what they hear next to impossible.
We have been called as
Christians to be Christ's witnesses to the nations. The
opportunities are vast and some right before our very
eyes, in our communities, our neighborhoods, perhaps
even in our very pews. Some may hear the words, but not
hear the promise. Some may see our bodies but not see
the life-changing affect it has on our attitude and our
hearts. There are without a doubt people in this room
who are going through some crisis for which they are
praying. Some are relatively new seeking the reality of
the promise. Some ask for a sign of assurance or
affirmation or direction. Often God uses us,
unknowingly, to deliver that message. Paul constantly
appealed to his congregations to be transformed by the
gospel. To be renewed and to discern God's will. We form
the body of Christ. So let's look. Are we living out our
faith? There are those who wait for God's arm of hope.
Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago. Now he walks
through us. How will they feel God's arms except through
us?
Brothers and sisters they are
waiting. We know that the rock upon which this church is
built is Jesus' love and faithfulness. God has revealed
it to us just as the Father revealed it to Peter. Trust
in it. Honor it and live a life worthy of that
knowledge.
Amen