It's funny that every once in a while, I will remember something clear as day - just like it happened yesterday. Some memory, a song, something that was said. Sometimes you remember a lesson or sermon you heard, that you forgot until right now. I don't believe in coincidences, so I thought I would write it down.
It's a sermon that has stuck with me off and on over the years from my Lutheran days. I don't remember who preached it and when it was from. To be honest, it might have been a true story (that's how it was presented) - but you never know. And in my retelling, I may misremember some of the facts or embellish them. Time does sometimes play havoc with memories.
The sermon was about another church and apparently one Saturday night, they were broken into. Stuff might have been stolen, but the church was definitely ransacked and vandalized. During the vandalizing, some spray paint had been used. One of the perpetrators wrote in spray paint behind the altar "God is Nowhere!!!" This was in plain view of the congregation as they faced the altar.
Since the discovery was made on Sunday morning, there was no time to cancel the service or clean up all the damage. So, the congregation saw the damages and especially the writing on the wall. It was in clear view as the service began. From what I remember, their hearts were heavy as they saw the sanctuary, their haven ransacked and the words "God is Nowhere" mocking them. I am certain that it was hard to concentrate or to fully worship.
I am also certain that doubts could have crept in their minds. Their church was violated and maybe it was true God wasn't there. People damaged God's church and got away with it. I know I would be a little discouraged. How would you feel walking into that scene? How would that affect your worship? Might you be sad and discouraged at what you witnessed? Would doubt creep into your mind about God?
As the story goes, there was a young girl in the congregation who was learning how to read. Unable to say the full word "nowhere", she broke it down into its component parts. She then said to her mom that it said "God is now here" And as good sermons go, it spread like wildfire throughout the church. By the time service was done, their hearts were lifted and they were worshipping full strength. They left the words there, cleaning it a bit to show God is Now Here as the phrase.
Good sermon. One that has been struck with me over the years.
It strikes me that we serve a God in the here and now. That God is not just a character from the bible that did wonderful things back in the day. He isn't just the God of Israel or for the early Christians. The miracles He did back then are still relevant and are happening today. He's not only the God of the past, but He is of the present, and will be in the future. God is now here!!! His presence is now here!!! You can have hope because God is in the here and now.
The God of Abraham is the same as the God of David as well as the God of Paul. Going by that reasoning and logic, he is also the God of you. We read in the bible all the amazing things God has done and shouldn't fear that it wouldn't happen now.
The message is clear. God is here!!! He wants to meet you now. Not in the past, but right now. The promises made in the bible are yours to share as well. If you are experiencing pain or suffering, God is here to meet with you. If you are experiencing joy, God wants to meet with you. No matter what you are going through, God is here.
"Let us approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews 4:16
There's a lot said there in that passage. We can approach God with confidence. That doesn't mean with arrogance or be proud of ourselves or be self-righteous. But, that we can be confident that we can go to God no matter our situation. There may need to be repentance on our parts, or healing, or thanksgiving as we approach God's throne. But we are allowed to approach now. God wants to be with us, even when we don't want to be near us.
My thought is we worship a God who is presently here. A living God. We don't worship gods of stone and wood, unloving representations. We serve a living God. A God that is now here.
It's a sermon that has stuck with me off and on over the years from my Lutheran days. I don't remember who preached it and when it was from. To be honest, it might have been a true story (that's how it was presented) - but you never know. And in my retelling, I may misremember some of the facts or embellish them. Time does sometimes play havoc with memories.
The sermon was about another church and apparently one Saturday night, they were broken into. Stuff might have been stolen, but the church was definitely ransacked and vandalized. During the vandalizing, some spray paint had been used. One of the perpetrators wrote in spray paint behind the altar "God is Nowhere!!!" This was in plain view of the congregation as they faced the altar.
Since the discovery was made on Sunday morning, there was no time to cancel the service or clean up all the damage. So, the congregation saw the damages and especially the writing on the wall. It was in clear view as the service began. From what I remember, their hearts were heavy as they saw the sanctuary, their haven ransacked and the words "God is Nowhere" mocking them. I am certain that it was hard to concentrate or to fully worship.
I am also certain that doubts could have crept in their minds. Their church was violated and maybe it was true God wasn't there. People damaged God's church and got away with it. I know I would be a little discouraged. How would you feel walking into that scene? How would that affect your worship? Might you be sad and discouraged at what you witnessed? Would doubt creep into your mind about God?
As the story goes, there was a young girl in the congregation who was learning how to read. Unable to say the full word "nowhere", she broke it down into its component parts. She then said to her mom that it said "God is now here" And as good sermons go, it spread like wildfire throughout the church. By the time service was done, their hearts were lifted and they were worshipping full strength. They left the words there, cleaning it a bit to show God is Now Here as the phrase.
Good sermon. One that has been struck with me over the years.
It strikes me that we serve a God in the here and now. That God is not just a character from the bible that did wonderful things back in the day. He isn't just the God of Israel or for the early Christians. The miracles He did back then are still relevant and are happening today. He's not only the God of the past, but He is of the present, and will be in the future. God is now here!!! His presence is now here!!! You can have hope because God is in the here and now.
The God of Abraham is the same as the God of David as well as the God of Paul. Going by that reasoning and logic, he is also the God of you. We read in the bible all the amazing things God has done and shouldn't fear that it wouldn't happen now.
The message is clear. God is here!!! He wants to meet you now. Not in the past, but right now. The promises made in the bible are yours to share as well. If you are experiencing pain or suffering, God is here to meet with you. If you are experiencing joy, God wants to meet with you. No matter what you are going through, God is here.
"Let us approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews 4:16
There's a lot said there in that passage. We can approach God with confidence. That doesn't mean with arrogance or be proud of ourselves or be self-righteous. But, that we can be confident that we can go to God no matter our situation. There may need to be repentance on our parts, or healing, or thanksgiving as we approach God's throne. But we are allowed to approach now. God wants to be with us, even when we don't want to be near us.
My thought is we worship a God who is presently here. A living God. We don't worship gods of stone and wood, unloving representations. We serve a living God. A God that is now here.
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