Sunday, February 17, 2002
Sunday, February 17, 2002
They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is
seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
When the big moment arrived, she brought her baton down with a sweeping flourish and lo,
nothing happened. The band gave forth with a resounding silence.
Sometimes the church is like that. Lay people are uncertain of their roles and they look to the
pastor and church officers for leadership. But sometimes the pastor and the church officers are
uncertain where the church should be headed. Thus the group of people to whom Christ
entrusted his symphony of service is silent, and he waves his baton in vain.
In order that we might understand the story that God has written for the church it might be
helpful for us to turn to the end of the Book, to see how the story turns out. The end of the
Book, as far as the church is concerned, is the book of Revelation. In the seventh chapter of
that mysterious document concerning the things that are yet to come there is a most vivid
picture of where the church is headed. John, to whom the revelation is unfolded, sees a great
innumerable multitude of persons, drawn from every tribe and nation, standing around the
throne and before the Lamb, which is Christ, and they are all dressed in white robes, waving
palm branches and shouting, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to
the Lamb!"
(Revelation 7.10
NRSV)
The new music teacher at the Junior High school had just organized a band. The principal
decided that the band should give its first concert, but the music teacher was not certain that
the band was ready. Just before the concert, the music teacher whispered to her nervous
musicians, "If you're not sure of your part, just pretend to play."
Loving God, thank you for loving us enough to send us Jesus Christ. Amen.
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