Scripture reading: Acts 16:9-15.

Sermon text: Revelation 22.

Given the circumstances, who could think of the future? An egocentric ruler controlled the government and ruled as he wished with almost no opposition. The Church suffered intense persecution, its leaders imprisoned, tortured, and in some instances, martyred.

Yet, in one glorious vision, God granted one man a glimpse of the final days of history and of the rapturous inheritance all believers in Jesus Christ will receive and enjoy. The sermon text today concludes St. John’s vision recorded in The Revelation. This passage also reminds us the Church will inevitably triumph over all her enemies, regardless of their supposed strength or of her apparent weakness.

However, we will not conquer in this world by might or by power. Instead, this passage calls us to conquer by fulfilling Jesus’ call to His disciples. The passage today serves as both a comfort and a challenge to us.

Following his account of the new Creation and New Jerusalem, the angel in St. John’s vision took him to the river of the water of life. On either side of this river, St. John saw the tree of life, the leaves of which will heal the nations. We will never again encounter anything “accursed” because sin will never afflict us there. In this new city, “God Himself will be with His servants” in a way we cannot experience in this world, marred as it is by  the effects of our sins. We will “reign” with Jesus Himself “forever and ever.”

St. John then heard Jesus repeat His promise to the church of Philadelphia: “Behold, I am coming soon” (3:11). St. John remembered the words of the angel following Jesus’ ascension: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). St. John had heard this promise more than 60 years before his exile to Patmos. St. John had begun this day of exile with worship. Now, Jesus had assured St. John that his worship and service to the Church were not in vain.

All this beauty and assurance overwhelmed the Beloved Apostle; he fell in worship at the feet of his heavenly guide. The angel quickly discouraged this act, stating, “You must not do that!” Instead, the angel gave St. John a new mandate: “Do not seal up the words of this prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” The Church would survive Diocletian’s reign, for she remained the world’s last chance to escape the coming judgment. Although sin would seem to flourish, and Jesus would bring judgment to those who refused to hear and obey the message of salvation carried to all nations by His Church, everyone who will believe the gospel will inherit eternal life.

What message must the Church carry to the world? “Come.” Through the Holy Spirit and His Bride, the holy Church, Jesus says, “Come.” To all who thirst for mercy, grace, and love, Jesus says, “Come.” To all who will confess their need for forgiveness from God for sin and transgression, Jesus says, “Come.” Jesus offers the “water of life without price” to everyone who believes in His death, burial, and resurrection.

This comforting offer -- free salvation to all who will humbly accept it -- brings with it a major challenge to the Church in general and to our congregation specifically. 

My family spent the past week on vacation in New York City. We heard more languages in La Guardia Airport than most people here in Alabama will hear in their lifetimes. We also visited churches with vibrant ministries serving in a city most people here think of as totally godless.

We visited St. Paul’s Chapel, the tiny Colonial-era church across the street from the World Trade Center towers that Muslim terrorists destroyed in September 11, 2001. Of all the buildings around the Twin Towers, only St. Paul’s survived unscathed when the Towers collapsed. The staff of St. Paul’s immediately opened the doors of the church to the survivors and rescuers, even emptying the church of its pews and replacing them with cots. For the next 8 months, church volunteers worked around the clock ministering to the workers who recovered the victims from the wreckage.

We also visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Manhattan. The cathedral offers daily half-hour services beginning at noon and running through 1 p.m. so workers in downtown Manhattan can attend worship services during their lunch hours. Our tour guide at St. Patrick’s informed us that the church staff open the doors every day for anyone who wishes to enter: Worshipers, tourists, homeless, anyone who needs a place of refuge, salvation, and peace.

I refuse to believe that only New York Christians can reach out to the people of the nations. The healing of the nations began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it continues with us. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must support efforts to spread the gospel around the world.

We must first recommit ourselves to our local congregations. Most people in American churches today expect to hear something about Mother’s Day. Very well, here's the Mother's Day reference for the day: “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” When St. Cyprian of Carthage penned these words in the third century A.D., the church faced serious problems with disunity following severe persecution. We may not face persecution here in the American church today, but we still face a lack of fellowship among Christians. If you call yourself by the name of Christ, you owe the Bride of Christ your allegiance, including regular attendance at worship.

We must also do more to reach out to the people of our communities. This means we must live godly lives before our families, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our fellow students. We must also demonstrate Jesus’ love to others by inviting them to our fellowship and welcoming all who come. No one in our local mission field who needs to hear the words of salvation need stand before Christ at His return and say the Church refused to minister to them and accept them into her fellowship.

On this Mother's Day, find peace for your soul; come to your spiritual mother, the Church of the living Christ, the Son of God. If you already claim the Church your mother,  then join us at New Hope as we go forth and proclaim Jesus' call to our world: “Come.”