THE LOVE OF GOD
Rev. Bernt P. Tweit
Old Testament Lesson; Isaiah 55:1-5
Gospel Lesson; Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon Text; Romans
8:35-39
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a young boy who had the desire to go swimming. There was an old swimming hole behind his parents’ house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was on the other side of that same little lake. When the alligator saw the boy jump into the water, it slithered down and began swimming toward the little boy.
His mother, who was in the house, was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran out the back door, toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could, telling him to turn around because the alligator was approaching him. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a quick U-turn to swim to his mother. But it was too late. Just as he reached her at the dock where she was standing there waiting for him, the alligator reached him. The same moment that he reached out for his mother’s arms, it was the same moment that the alligator came and took hold of that boy’s legs.
That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let her son go.
As the mother was screaming for help, a farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital the little boy survived, and his scars began to heal. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs, to show the scars from the alligator’s teeth. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. These scars are from my mother’s fingernails. I have them because of the love of my Mom! She wouldn't let go."
Who
shall separate us
from the love of God?
As we look at the text for today, we can see the obvious love of God in our lives. We can relate a little bit to this little boy who was attacked by an alligator.
Because of our sin, we will have trails and temptations in our life that come from the alligator, which is the Devil.
But even though these trials come to us in this life, we can see that God is always working things out for our best interest. Because of the love of God, He looks to our best interest and will turn all things out for our good.
And, finally, right now, we have heaven in our hands!
Trials will be in our life.
Just like the little boy in Florida, we will have trials in our life. Our trials don’t come from alligators. Rather, they come from the Devil. Our text says, "We face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
Such trails will be characteristic in the life of God’s people.
Our text lists 7 trials, which we, as Christians, face or experience.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or
hardship or
persecution or
famine or nakedness or
danger or
sword?
Romans 8:35-39
The first trail listed by Paul is Trouble. All people go through trouble, which really is the least of the trails that can come into the life of a believer is stress. They are the easiest trials to endure. They are the simple stresses we have in our life. Stress is that knot in our stomach. And that knot in our stomach comes from a lack of trust in God.
Hardship is a very difficult trouble. Maybe you are going through a serious illness, have had a death in the family or are feeling financial burdens. Again, when hardship comes into the life of a believer, we may have a tendency to look to ourselves for help.
Persecution is anything mental or physical - anything done against you, because of your faith. Just this last spring for our mission festival here at Holy Cross, Missionary Peter Reed was here. After September 11th, he had to flee from Indonesia, due to his fear of persecution.
Famine and Nakedness is what Paul talks about as a result of persecution. These are the persecutions that become so severe that you need to flee, hence having a lack of food and clothing.
Danger and Sword is the final trial Paul talks about. The sword Paul was talking about was a Roman short sword. In Paul’s day this was the most lethal street weapon, because someone could carry it and conceal it. Today we might say the handgun is used for assault or robbery.
Even when all these trials come upon us, we can say,
"I can do everything
through Him
who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:13
We can say this, because God looks to our best interests.
God looks to our best interest.
This chapter of Romans is very powerful. Just prior to our text it says,
"We know that in
all things
God
works for the good of
those who love Him,
who have been called according to his purpose"
Romans 8:28
Today as we see the love of God, we also see that God looks to our best interest. Last weekend, at the Lutheran Youth Association (LYA) Convention, Pastor Steve Petersen gave a presentation about our different foreign missions.
He was speaking about our mission in Peru and mentioned a lady by the name of Lydia Soplin. Lydia was about 16, when she came from the village of Tarapoto to Lima. Like many others, she came looking for work. She intended to send money back to her family. But in Lima, she became pregnant by a man who refused to take responsibility for her and their baby. She asked his parents to help, and they took her into their home, where I think she still lives today!
She got involved with our church’s Mother’s Club at Ano Nuevo, looking for the educational and nutritional benefits offered there. She met the missionaries, became a Christian and joined the church.
Now she is an important element of the educational program. At first, she worked in the pre-school/day care, taught VBS, and was a youth leader for the congregation. When the school opened, she became one of the teachers in the lower grades.
At her urging, our ELS missionary went to Tarapoto. He met her family there, and they became Christians. Her sister-in-law, Nelly Rodriquez, operated a neighborhood restaurant out of her home. Some of the regular customers, Ramon and Soccora, became Christians, too. Their people had come from the river village of Pelejo and asked missionary Terry Schultz to visit there. He went… and the rest is history!
Just recently our synod has built a thatch roof church in Pelejo, where many children are being baptized and many adults are coming to faith.
A man from the next village introduced Terry to Chayuita tribes in other villages. Babies were baptized and eventually a school was opened in Nueva Baranquita.
God turned the pregnancy of Lydia Soplin from a trial into a blessing. Lydia came to faith and many other people came to faith. Now Lydia is a teacher in one of our schools in Peru
You and I can identify with that little boy from South Florida and Lydia. We have scars. No, not scars from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but the scars of a sinful past. Some of those scares are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds are also because God has refused to let go.
In the midst of your struggle, God’s been there, holding on to you! The Bible teaches about the love of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril, and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.
That’s when the tug-of- war begins. And so, if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be thankful that He did not and will not let you go.
The alligator couldn’t separate a boy from his mother. Pregnancy couldn’t separate Lydia from God.
And nothing
can separate us
from the love of God!
The love of God is seen clearly in Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Anointed One, our Savior and our Lord. The love of God is seen at the cross, where the Son of God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and for the trials we fail. And with our sins forgiven, we have eternal life.
We have eternal life right now!
When will we receive eternal life? John 6:47 says,
"He who believes has everlasting life."
Therefore we have eternal life right now. But if we have eternal life right now, why don’t we more fully enjoy it? That’s because "our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" I Peter 5:8. We have eternal life right now, but the blessing of Heaven will have to wait until the Lord calls us home.
May the love of God be with you.
Amen.
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