ALL SAINTS SUNDAY 07

This 85-year-old couple, having been married almost 60 years, had died in a car crash. They had been in good health the last ten years, mainly due to her interest in health food and exercise.

When they reached the pearly gates, St. Peter took them to their mansion, which was decked out with a beautiful kitchen and master bath suite and Jacuzzi. As they "ooohed and aaahed" the old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost.

"It's free," Peter replied, "this is Heaven."

Next they went out back to see the championship golf course that the home backed up to. They would have golfing privileges everyday and each week the course changed to a new one representing the great golf courses on earth.

The old man asked, "What are the green fees?"

Peter's reply, "This is heaven, you play for free." Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisines of the world laid out.

"How much to eat?" asked the old man.

"Don't you understand yet? This is heaven, it is free!" Peter replied.

"Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods?" the old man asked timidly.

"That's the best part...you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is Heaven."

The old man looked at his wife and said, "You and your bran muffins. I could have been here ten years ago!”

Have you ever thought what heaven will be like? Many people base their view of heaven based on jokes like this one.

In our second lesson today, St. John attempts to describe a vision so wonderful that I am sure as he is describing it he is thinking to himself, “Man, how am I going to describe something so glorious that I can’t even comprehend? I can’t think of the words to write.” He has to write down and describe what he sees in the vision. In so doing, he is describing in human terms the indescribable.

Many have viewed this vision as an exact description of heaven. However, it could be that it was meant to describe the relationship between God and his redeemed and not meant to be taken literally. We can’t dismiss this as a literal vision of heaven, but it seems to reflect a deeper reality than just what is described.

The vision describes the very throne of God the Father and the Lamb of God (Jesus). He describes seeing 144,000 out of every tribe of the sons of Israel. Many believe this to represent the complete number of the Jews who are children of Abraham by faith, foreknown and chosen by God, who will turn to Christ during the closing days of the present age. Others believe this is a select group of Jews who will be witnesses for Christ in the last days.

The great multitude which no one can number represents all of the saints who put their trust in Christ’s saving grace and survived the great tribulation. Clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands, they cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb.”

There is perhaps no greater description of a saint then we find here. To be sure, these saints were special. They survived great persecution as Christians with their faith in tact. Some of them were martyred for their faith.

We see a picture of heaven as a place where God is and a place where his saints shall be basking in the glory of his presence; that presence of complete life and love, light and joy, peace and security. Whether you choose to view this picture of a throne literally or view it as figurative, the point is that the scriptures make it abundantly clear that heaven is a real place where saints of God will be with him when they die.

But you may say to yourself, “Yes, I believe the saints are there, but I am certainly not a saint, so do I have a chance to go there?”

Well, let’s look at what it takes to be a saint. Most people think of someone very special when they think of the word saint.

During a trip to New York, the Pope begs his limo driver to let him behind the wheel.  Unable to say no to his holiness, the driver agrees and gets in the back.  Within a block, the two are pulled over, but when the officer sees who's driving, he calls his sergeant. "Sarge," he stammers.  "I stopped someone really important and I don't know what to do."

"Is it the mayor?" his sergeant asks. "No, sir, more important."

"The governor?" "Negative, sir.  More important."

"Don't tell me you stopped the President!" the Sarge yells.
"I don't know who it is," the officer responds. "But the POPE is driving him around!"

Some people think that a saint would be someone like the Pope or someone special like that.

On Christmas afternoon, the Pastor's wife dropped into an easy chair saying, "Boy!  Am I ever tired?"

Her husband (the Pastor) looked over at her & said, "I had to conduct two special services last night, three today, & give a total of five sermons.  Why are you so tired?"

"Dearest," she replied, "I had to listen to all of them."

I think my wife falls in the category of saint, not just because she has to listen to my sermons, or because she is a very special person to me, not because she is perfect, or always exhibits saintly qualities, but because of a special quality which I will describe later.

We get a glimpse of what a saint is in our lesson from Revelation when John writes in his vision of the saints being clothed in white robes.

In the vision, John is addressed by one of the elders standing around the throne who says, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?” John replies, “Sir, you know.” The elder said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

This analogy sounds strange, especially to you women who have tried to wash blood out of a garment. That is hard enough, but you certainly wouldn’t think of washing something in blood.

Let’s analyze this concept of the blood. We are told in the Bible that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of or payment for sin. That is why there were the Old Testament animal sacrifices and ultimately the final animal sacrifice (if you will), Jesus, the Lamb of God.

You see, our sins separate us from God. Without the shedding of blood it would be impossible for sinful humans to be in the presence of a holy God. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross, he took upon himself the sins of the world. He fulfilled that which the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

In one of his epistles, John states further, “If we walk in the light as God is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.”

We are told in chapter 12 of Revelation that the saints overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Satan’s greatest desire is to steal us from God and kill our souls. But he is a defeated adversary because of the blood of Christ. We avail ourselves of that victory by our confession of Christ and the testimony of our lives.

So what does it take to be a saint? Does it take holy living? No, though that is often a sign of a person who is a saint. Is it living in a monastery? Reading the Bible 24/7? Is it praying? Going to church? Witnessing? The answer is no! These are all things that might happen as a result of our being a saint.

What does it take to be a saint? The key is in the blood. We are told in scripture that a saint is one who has put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for their sins and the one who reconciles them to God.

Earlier I mentioned that my wife has a quality that demonstrates that she is a saint. It is her faith and trust in her savior Jesus Christ to cleanse her sins by his blood.

How does Christ’s blood accomplish our salvation and entrance into heaven?

Christ’s blood accomplishes seven major things for those who believe in and follow Jesus.

1. First Peter chapter one tells us we are redeemed from sin by the blood of Christ.

2. According to Romans 3 and 5 we are justified by the blood – God declares us to be righteous and releases us from the guilt and penalty of sin.

3. Hebrews 13 reminds us that we are sanctified or made holy by the blood of Jesus.

4. We are cleansed by the blood- “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Eph 1:7-8).

5. According to Colossians 1 we are reconciled by the blood. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col 1:19-20).

6. We have access to Christ through his blood according to Ephesians 2.

7. We have an eternal covenant with God sealed by the blood of Christ. Nothing can take it away from us or separate us from the love of God.

So, what makes us a saint? It is nothing we do except to respond to what Christ has done for us by reconciling us, justifying us, sanctifying us, cleansing us, and giving us access to God.

The Bible says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, no minds has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” We really can’t fathom what heaven will be like. But we know it will be a place of eternal happiness, well-being and security.

In the reading from Revelation today, the vision of those around the throne is that they will be sheltered with the presence of God. They will hunger no more, neither thirst no more; the sun shall not strike them nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Why should we believe there is a heaven? Why should we believe that the blood of Jesus cleanses us? Why should we believe that there is a God in heaven? We believe these things not because it is wishful thinking, but because the divine Word of God says we should believe them. There is so much that commends the Bible as being divine rather than human in origin that we can have confidence that what it says about heaven or any other subject we can trust and believe.

As I have visited with some of you at various times, I have discovered that there are a lot of hurting people in our congregation. People who have lost loved ones, children who have not lived up to your expectations, unfulfilled goals and dreams, failed relationships., physical suffering, never really feeling loved, and certainly foremost on our minds right now, the pain we are suffering as a result of denominational issues that face us.

I believe God wants to heal us of these hurts. He wants to replace those hurts with his love and presence. But even if you and I are never able to receive the healing he wants to give us, we can be assured that when we get to heaven God will truly guide you to those springs of living water which will lift the burden, the heartache, the pain from us and replace it with perfect peace, love, and joy.

If you find yourself hurting today, “blessed are you poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.”

If you find are mourning over the loss of a loved one –“Blessed are you, for you shall be comforted.”

If you endure injury, hurt or rejection with patience and without resentment – blessed are you meek for you shall inherit the earth.

If you trying to live a better life for Jesus’ sake. Blessed are you who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for you shall be satisfied.

Do you have compassion on those less fortunate than yourself or those who suffer? Blessed are you merciful one, for you shall obtain mercy.

Do you really want to see God? Blessed are you pure in heart, you shall see God.

Are you are a reconciler? Blessed are you peacemakers for you are a child of God.

Are you persecuted for your faith? Blessed are you.

Are you a saint of God? If you believe in and put your trust in Jesus and his shed blood on the cross then you are a saint.

There is an old gospel hymn written by Robert Lowry which reflects this path to sainthood:

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”