what is our promise 3.8

Texts: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38

What is our promise? What comes to mind when you think of this question?

Last week’s text (which Mark spoke on) from 1Peter 3 mentioned Noah. I’m sure we all are somewhat familiar with the story of Noah. But I’d like to remind you of a few things: Noah was an old guy – Genesis says he was over 500. Do you realize how old that is? I googled “oldest guy living”… and it took me to Wikipedia which gave me this great listing of record holding old people. The one who astounded me was a lady named Jeanne Calment. She died in 1997. Does anyone know how old she was when she died?

She was 122 years old. One hundred twenty two! Can you believe it. 122!

Well, back to Noah, he was married, had 3 sons and they all had wives – and together they built an Ark.

At the time of Noah, God was saddened at the wickedness of mankind, and decided to wipe the earth clean. So he spoke to Noah, and asked him to build an ark – a big ‘ol boat which would hold his family and 2 of every animal.

Remember that lady who lived to be 122? On wikipedia they had a picture of her that was taken at her 121st birthday… She looked old. I can’t imagine someone 4 times older than her – building a giant boat. But, that’s what Noah did. And once the ark was done, God sent the first rain the earth had seen in a long time. And Genesis says the rain quickly became a flood. The flood we’re talking about isn’t in inches or feet… It was nothing compared to what Mark and Christa experienced in their basement. It was nothing like what we saw take place down in Mosaic in May of ’06, it was worse than the damage of Katrina. The flood covered. Remember, it covered everything… It killed, it wiped out, it cleaned up. And Noah and his family along with a ton of animals… lived on. God told Noah “I will establish my covenant with you…”

This week our text talks to us about Abraham. Paul is reminding us that God told Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. What we should do is go outside, but not here in Wallingford or near the city… we should think about this text this summer when we’re out at Camp Camrec… after the home run derby… out in the field looking up at the stars at night. Wow. The stars in the Sky, the sands on the beach, that’s how many children Abraham was promised.

Abraham was 86 yrs old when Ishmael was born and 100 when Isaac was born. Abraham is interesting isn’t he. There’s fourteen years between the births of his two sons. He first heard God’s promise to him about having a son when was like 76… Ten years later – Sarah, his wife, tells him to sleep with her maid servant, and fourteen years later Sarah gives birth in her old age.

What is interesting is that Abraham was credited as faithful… as righteous… You know he is seen as righteous even though he took things into his own hands. Even though he tried to force God’s promise to come true. Even though he slept with his maidservant, even though he lied to pharaoh about who his wife Sarah was. Even though… Even though. Even though all these things can be said of him… he was seen as righteous. Even though all these things can be said of him, God still came through on his promise to Abraham. In the hard times of feeling left and abandoned, God came through. Even though he was 100 years old - he had a son. Abraham is the father of nations. Abraham is righteous! God upholds his covenant and his promises.

But, what does this text have to do with us today? What does this text have to do with our journey through Lent, in this season, to the foot of the cross? What does this text have to say about our promise?

Last week Noah was mentioned and we talked about our HOPE. This week Abraham is mentioned and we’re talking about our Promise.

What is our Promise?

I believe our promise is found in the last sentence of the last chapter in Matthew. Jesus says: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” One translation puts it this way: “I will be with you, day after day, till the end of the age.”

He says, I will be with you, day after day, always – forever! There’s something beautiful about that. There’s something comforting about that. There’s something hopeful about that, because he will be with us good day after good day, bad day after bad day, good day after bad day, and bad day after good day. He will always be with us.

This makes me think of that Footprints poem. You know the one I’m talking about. We’ve all seen it. It’s pretty cheesy, but its message is powerful. If it wasn’t so over commercialized it might have more meaning for us… But its words seem to ring true with this promise.

God is with us. Jesus is with us. The Holy Spirit is with us.

Jesus says: I will be with you, day after day, always – forever!

When I got home from service last week I opened up my computer and had an email from a Wallingford neighbor. His name is Mike, and he’s the one who coordinates the Wallingford walks, and a few months ago set up a walk around Wallingford to all the church buildings.
Well, last Sunday I got an email he sent out to those who he referenced as the “caring community” about our current Economic Woes. In it he referred to a conversation he had with a friend of his who while at church last Sunday morning in his small group of 8 men, 5 of them had been laid off. Five of eight, in a small group – had been laid off.

We are in a weird position aren’t we? We hear of friends and neighbors in need of jobs… being laid off. We hear of thousands of people applying for a handful of jobs. Over qualified, under-qualified, friends are willing to take anything they can get. I have one friend, an accomplished architect, now digging holes and trenches to make ends meet.

I believe our promise is found in Jesus’ words to his disciples. Day after day, I will be with you. Through the hard times and the good ones, I will always be here. I believe this promise has as much to say to us today as it did for the disciples.

We speak of Hope. We hear of the power hope has on a country, in family, and for an individual… and we have this promise, that Jesus Christ is with us.

What more hope do we need?

Noah found hope in the promise God gave him. Abraham found hope in the promise God gave to him. These were not men who were out on a limb by themselves. Noah wasn’t out on a boat floating atop the waters with his family alone. God was with them! Abraham waited 10 years, tired something on his own, and then 14 years later, at the age of 100 saw the promise fulfilled. God was with him.

These aren’t just stories found in the Old Testament. God was with Noah. God was with Abraham. God was with Isaac, and Jacob. He was with David and Saul, and Solomon. God was with them all.

God wasn’t just with the people of the Old Testament. He was with those in the New Testament! He was with Peter… remember when he walked on water. He was with Paul… remember when he was blinded. He was with the disciples… when they were alone, scarred, freaked out cuz their messiah had just been crucified. He was with the women. He was with the children. He was with those who had no rights. He was with those who had no possessions. God was with them!

God isn’t just bound in a book; limited to the Old Testament and the New. We often read the bible and want to see it as a great narrative, a great work of writing…which it is, but it is more than that… It is living. It is breathing. It has life!

How so? God is with us. God is not bound within the Bible! These words found in this book have meaning. Ya, they have meaning in the lives of those who read them. These words find life, new life, daily – as people engaged in a relationship with the Creator God live out his love. Live out his story! We are the wind. We are the movement of the Spirit. Like the patriarchs of the Old Testament; like the disciples of the New – God is with us! God is with us, you and me, here today, in this room. He is with our families; he is with our nation, our world, in 2009! God is with us!

What is our promise? Our promise is that we are not alone.

We have a living, mighty God who does not leave us nor forsake us. We have a mighty God who infuses his love in us, that we may love others. We have a mighty God who allows us to make mistakes. He wiped the slate clean once, brought a flood which washed the earth of its filth… and we, his creation, continue to mess it up. But he, in his wondrous way, has not abandoned us. God is still with us. We see it daily. We see it don’t we!

We see it in the way a community gathers together to find a way to support those losing their jobs. We see it in the way a group of people come together to save a dying congregation. We see it in the way boys and girls are cared for, through educational programs, sports activities, and gentle hugs. God is still with us! God is always with us. God is still speaking, he is still loving, and he is still engaged in our lives!

Our lives are God’s. The interactions we have with one another, our love and support, they bring God’s iridescent light to this world.

I was talking with a friend of mine this week about Love. We were talking about how to love and be loved. It’s a hard thing isn’t it? It’s a hard thing to love our enemies; perhaps even harder still is to be loved by them. But here we are, called to Love.

There’s something about Love which brings hope. There’s something about the flood narrative, with Noah and his family on the boat… and God’s Love for his people. There’s something about Abraham, with his faith in God, knowing he will come through. There’s something about Isaac, and his willingness to walk up the mountain with a load full of wood on his back to offer a sacrifice, be tied up, and trusting in his father and their God! There’s something about Hope. There's something about Love!

I think what it is is that there’s hope wrapped up in Love. There’s hope that things will change. There’s hope for the future. There’s hope in the promise that Jesus will be with us – Day after Day. There’s love in that promise. Out of the Flood, came a covenant of love. Out of the sacrifice of Abraham – there came a covenant of love.

This week I was reminded of friends and neighbors who are without work. I was reminded of a local congregation praying for help to simply continue in God’s work. This week I’ve been thinking about this morning’s scripture – and wondering “what’s our promise?”

In all of this, I keep being drawn to the end of Matthew, the Great Commission. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." I am with you, day after day, always… in all things… I am with you.

This is our promise. This is our hope! This is what we know! God is with us. God is for us and God Loves us! In John, Jesus tells us if we love him, we will do as he commands. And we hear him this morning, during this Lenten season – saying pick up your cross and follow him. It’s an act of Love. It’s an act of self giving. It’s an act of receiving… It’s our call, we are to love.

Our promise is found in the assurance of the scriptures, in the love of our friends, and our relationships founded in Jesus Christ our Lord!

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says “these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” It comes from God above. It is offered to us today! It’s founded in the promise of the Great Commission. It’s rooted in his love. Allow your love (for your family, your friends, your neighbor… your enemies) to be your witness to the faith, hope, and love found in Christ! He is with us. He is walking with us, strengthening us, empowering us, and loving us – as he encourages, stretches, and enables us to Love beyond our broken self centered selves.

This is our Promise! God is with us!

God is with you on the good and the bad days. God is walking with you as you approach things beyond your capability. God is with you, loves you, and cares for you. God is not out off in the distance. God did not step out of our lives, God is with us.

During this Lenten journey, as we remember Christ’s death on the Cross – we must remember, he did not stay there. He did not stay in the tomb. He rose. And he lives… and he has promised us, that he will be with us, day after day, always and forever! Amen!


As you go, go with God - day after day, always, forever…Go and Love!