January 30, 2012 by Matt Herron 1 comments

Posted in: Immanuel Gathered: A Retrospective

Yesterday was a great day.  It started at 9:30 AM for our weekly gospel re-presentation...it ended with the Morris Adoption Fundraiser a little after 8 PM...and it did not disappoint!

IN SONG

We started our service with a time of singin.  We were invited to focus our hearts, repent of sin and be again reminded of our assurance in Christ alone.  The songs were (both musically and lyrically) so helpful in doing this heart work.  We sang a new song titled "Shine into our Night" that points out what we often want to hide from - that we have turned away from our Father not just once but many times.  Then the chorus cries out:

Jesus Christ shine into our night
Drive our dark away
‘Til your glory fills our eyes
Jesus Christ shine into our night          
Bind us to Your cross, where we find life

I needed that.  We all needed that.  Thanks to Ben and the musicians for leading us not just in music but in true, gospel-shaped worship.

IN WORD

After we sang I had the privilege of opening the Word of God to Ecclesiastes 3 to consider some challenging thoughts on work.  (You can find the audio here.)  The writer of Ecclesiastes, Qohelet, tells us that the situation here on earth is tough.  He says that:

• in the places where justice and righteousness should be found, we instead find wickedness
• those who have power unfortunately use it to oppress people without power
• the primary motivation for people to work is envy/selfishness  

Those are terrible working conditions and Qohelet understandably sounds hopeless and helpless!

So what is a Christian to do? 

• We must understand that God has designed us to work.    Work is good but it is not ultimate!  It can never satisfy you.  Some become workaholics in order to find happiness.  They think that by achieving or gaining MORE they will fill their longings.  Others quit working in order to find happiness.  They think that being from the burden of work will fill their longings.  Nope.  Work (more or less) won't give you what you most need. (Eccl. 4:4-6)  Are you trying to find true happiness thru work?
• We must understand that God's design for human work is the flourishing of all people.  (Gen. 2:15)  We must use our labor to help people...to take raw materials and rearrange them to produce human flourishing.  A Christian's labor should be driven by human flourishing!  By justice, righteousness, equality, balance and wisdom - not wickedness, oppression and envy (Qohelet's observations).  Does the "work of your hands" result in human flourishing?
• We must understand that the only way we will be able to work like this is if we have hope.  Hope that this can actually be accomplished!  That justice, righteousness and equality can actually win.  However, try as you might you can't do it.  Get as much help as you can, you plus a lot of others still can't do it.  But there is ONE who can!  Jesus Christ is coming back to make all things new and the result will be perfect human flourishing!  He will provide true justice, righteousness and equality!  He started the project 2,000 years ago and ever since his people have longed for this kind of a world.  We should give our lives every day to see it happen...but, at the very same time, we know that only He can actually do it!  (Titus 2:11-3:2)

IN CLOSING

We ended by singing "Before the Throne" (which calls us to see Christ as our perfect Righteousness and to hope in Him alone) and reading Revelation 21:1-7 as our benediction.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son."

BONUS

Then, as icing on the cake, we had the privilege as a church family to gather AGAIN at 6 PM for something completely different but produced from the very same gospel.  Last night was the Morris Adoption Fundraiser.  If you weren't there, I am sorry!  I wish I could communicate the impact of being there...but I can't.  Words aren't good enough.  We laughed, ate, reflected on how the gospel motivates adoption, prayed, gave and played.  The gifts of so many were on display: serving, cooking, decorating, creativity, teaching, encouraging, motivating, generosity and more.  The gym was full, the people were generous, fellowship was sweet and the gospel was clear.  I am thankful that Jack and Connie have invited us all into their journey! 

 

By the grace of God, may we have thousands of more Sundays like January 29, 2012!

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