The Chapel of Our Lord, Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL
St. Luke 21:5–28
In the name of the
Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A song from the 80s
told us, “It’s the end of the world as we know it. And I feel fine.” But over
the course of this past week, many people around our country, and perhaps many
around your campus, see the end of the world as they know it. And they don’t
feel fine. Maybe you don’t either. There is a lot of fear and anger in the air.
In the face of uncertainty and hurt, some people resort to outrage. Others fall
into despair. We’ve all been there, when it feels like the world, or at least
our world, is collapsing upon us. If it wasn’t the election for you, maybe
you’ve been there, at the end of the world as you know it, in a class, or a
job, or the death of a loved one. How do you respond when the world is crashing
down all around you? Fear? Anger? Despair? To whom do you turn when you don’t
feel fine?
Let
me tell you what I told my congregation last Sunday before the election: It’s
going to be OK. Our
citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
(Philippians 3:20). Even if
things turn out badly for you. Even if Donald Trump turns out to be a bad
president, or America fails. Even if you don’t get the job, or the chemo
treatment doesn’t work. It’s going to be OK.
We
know things will not last in this world; Jesus has told us this. All the great
achievements of humankind have an expiration date. The advancements in science,
the great works of literature, the political theories, everything that you
study here, they will all end one day. And that will be OK. Don’t be afraid,
but pray for the End. Don’t give way to anger, but long for the End. Don’t sink
into despair, but hope for the End. When
these things take place, when the end of the world as we know it comes upon
us, when we’re surrounded by the distress
of nations and people fainting with
fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world, when these things begin to take place, then straighten
up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. It’s
going to be OK. Our
citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
(Philippians 3:20).
That
also means we live as citizens of heaven right now, dwelling where His kingdom
is found and doing the works of His kingdom. Jesus told the Jews about the end
of the world as they knew it: the destruction of the Temple. And in the year
70, about 40 years after Jesus uttered those words, the Temple was in fact
destroyed, and Jerusalem along with it, as the catastrophic conclusion to the
Jewish war with Rome. But this was not something to fear for Christians. Frankly,
this was not even a problem for Christians. Centuries later, the first Muslims
came to Jerusalem and wanted to see the site where they believed Mohammed had
ascended into heaven for an audience with Allah, so they asked to see the
Temple Mount. And you can imagine their surprise to find the Temple Mount was a
garbage heap, and the glorious stones that once stood there were all but
forgotten. Because the Christians of Jerusalem no longer worshiped on the
Temple Mount, the site of animal sacrifices. But instead they gathered at the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Christians
gather around Jesus Himself, the New Temple, made without hands. We dwell where
He is present on earth, not in a Temple of stone, but where His Word is made
known and His Sacraments are given. This is where the Kingdom of Heaven is
found right now, and this is how we live as citizens of heaven right now, even
while this world is ending.
But
citizens of heaven don’t just stay put between the four walls of a church
either. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Republican or a Democrat in the White
House, we still serve as witnesses to Christ by speaking His Word and by
serving our neighbors. We don’t let political parties, persecution, earthquakes,
or wars control us or hinder either our testimony or our works of love. So the
world is ending, the world is a mess, why is that such a problem for you? You
are a citizen of heaven, and your life in that kingdom is guaranteed by the
holy blood of its King. And when your life, or this world comes to its end, your
new life and the new world will begin. So for now, do what is at hand. Do what
you can to serve your neighbor. And bring the love and life of heaven into the
world around you.
Despite
the sad state of this world, and even alongside our knowledge of sinful human
nature, Christians are the eternal optimists in this world. Not optimistic FOR
this world, but even as we live in this world, we are optimistic for the life
of the world to come. That means Christians can, and should, be a patient,
calming presence for their neighbors. Rather than the rash actions, the
hysterics and rage of those who only have hope for the here and now, we work
for the good of others in this world while our hope for eternity is secure with
Christ. We live in this world as citizens of heaven, bearers of real hope,
voices of wisdom and truth from God, workers of love, the kind of sacrificial,
self-giving love we have come to know in Christ.
My
fellow citizens, the world IS ending as we know it. But go to the temple of
Jesus Christ and receive the treasures of His eternal kingdom. Then go do
whatever you can to serve your neighbor. And keep your head up. It’s going to
be OK. Your redemption is drawing near.
Come quickly Lord +
Jesus. Amen.
