Cross of Christ Lutheran Church - Liverpool, NY (WELS)

It’s been almost 2000 years since the Apostle John saw the vision he wrote down as the book of Revelation. He saw a new heaven and new earth. And God said, “It is done.” 2000 years later, does it look done?

We do have a certain kind of freedom here—freedom that people died for. We’re free from the tyranny of kings and dictators. We’re free from slavery. We have religious freedom to worship where and when and how we want. As long as we’re not infringing on the freedom of others, we’re free to live and act and do whatever we want to do. Is that real freedom?

Today, along with congregations across the country, we are celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. But today is not a day to thump our chests and shout, “Look at us! Look at how faithful and committed we are to God!” The miracle of Jesus we’ll look at today teaches us who really gets the credit.

When we think about the Flood, we don’t want to think too carefully about the details. We don’t want to have to wrestle with how dark the Flood was. And maybe most of all, we don’t see what Noah’s ark has to do with my shift on Monday, my kid’s schooling, or the latest news stories. Noah and the flood have nothing to do with my life. Except, we’re still living in the same world.

Hosea put his heart on the line to get this visceral message across to God’s people. How you feel someone is unfaithful to you, that’s how God feels every time we sin.

You are what you eat. What you put into your body, whether food or knowledge or something else, has a profound effect on who you are. So choose healthy food and read good books. Psalm 1 carries that same encouragement and warning. You are what you delight in. It’s like two roads diverge in a wood, the one you take will make all the difference.

We understand how foolish it is to think you can be part of a rebellion and live as a faithful citizen at the same time. No jury would side with you. The Jews who turned their backs on God thought they could live along with the rebellious world and make up for it by visiting the temple. They put on a show of piety. God saw right through it. Do we think we can get away with it?

Wildfires have been more common recently. Often we can’t stop them until they burn themselves out. But that’s not even close to the kind of global fire Jesus brings up.

Is your faith in God “blind faith”—a faith that believes beyond logic and questioning? Should your faith in God be blind?

Apostle Paul urges us to set our hearts on things above.