Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

 I have had a large, yellow fish in my office aquarium for the past 11 years...till yesterday.  Yesterday the big guy (I do mean big - a foot long - nicknamed 'Butkus'  by one of my members) succumbed to old age and disease after a 3 week battle with sickness.  I tried my best to cure him.  Water changes, medicine, careful attention to ammonia and pH levels only prolonged his demise.  When he died, it was neither pretty or comfortable (for either of us).  I have been dealing with death for 30 years as a pastor, and I never get used to it.  It is NOT a "natural part of life" as the pundits would have us believe.  It is the wages of sin, and the struggle between life and death is always disturbing...even with a fish!

As I was deliberating about the nature of today's Tune-up one phrase kept coming to my mind, "I hate death!"  I am sure two recent deaths at church, and some lingering illnesses have intensified my sense that, "I hate death!"  I hate everything about it.  The grief, the struggle to live, the loss, the pain, the helplessness all remind me how ultimately out-of-control we all are when it comes to dealing with death.

My deep distaste for the "Wages of Sin," has one saving grace.  It regularly points me to Jesus...my Savior...literally!  Only Jesus has the ability to rectify death.  Only Jesus can give the hope, life, reunion, future, relationship that death seemingly rips from our grasp.  Only Jesus can take me and all those I love home to heaven.  Only Jesus can understand my fear, because only Jesus has been there inside the struggle when death steals away life...and...only Jesus was there when, by His own power, immortal life surged back through body bringing Him to life again, forever.  Now He gives that life through His Word and Sacrament to the world!

 Death surely will come...but it surely will not win!

I may hate death, but I love Jesus!

"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Romans 6:23

Don't forget there's Homework:

+ Love Jesus more.

Prayer Requests:

+ Pray that death may neither enthrall nor apall us, but that we may live everyday in the victorious life of Jesus.

+ For all who battle the foes of pain, hurt, and death, pray that the Lord will grant them visions of life, love, and reunion in Jesus - "Because He lives I CAN face tomorrow!"

 Don't forget to check out the latest Hope sermons and Bible studies at: www.hopewarren.org

Jesus is our Hope!

+ Pastor John