MPC 13th February 2005.February 13 - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 "The Power to Persist"
Garnet Swann MPC 13th February 2005.
My cousin Sonya was working in the Maldives when the Tsunami hit. And of course all the family were worried about how she was. Phone calls and text messages were sent out - Is she OK? Was she spared? As it turned out the hotel where she worked copped little damage and Sonya was fine. I was talking to Mary Hanson last week and she said that she had a similar experience with her daughter Anne living in Phucket. Mary and all the family were worried, but Anne finally made contact to say that she was in her car at the time and she could see it coming in her rear view mirror and she just sped out of there to beat the oncoming wave - amazing story.
But right across Australia, there were people sick out of their minds with worry for those they love. "Was my son holidaying at that beach?" "Is he safe?" "I need to make contact." "I need to tell him that we love him and we're here waiting."
It's natural that at times like that - people are concerned about those they love. We want them to pull through. We want them to be safe.
Now the man Paul was concerned that his friends would pull through. He wanted to make sure that those he loved would be kept safe. And that is why he wrote a letter nearly 2000 years ago which we now call 2 Thessalonians. It's not so much that the Thessalonian Christians were in danger physically.
It's more that their faith was in danger of being washed away - in the face of persecution and danger and threat. And so Paul in this letter wants to encourage them to keep going and not give up.
Today we're going to see - that in the face of hardship and tough times, Paul wants to give these Christian people a picture of what God is like. He wants to give them perspective on what God does. Understanding more of God will help them to keep going. And it's the same for us. If we are going to have the power to persist - we need to understand God. Well let's get into this together.
Firstly and perhaps surprising, he starts this letter on a positive note. He's concerned for them. They're in danger. But - despite that - there is much about them that he can give thanks to God for.
Paul has heard the news that even a midst the persecution and hardships their faith is growing, their love for each other is expanding - that's in verse 3. And v4, Paul says he boasts about them because of their perseverance.
These are three things that Paul has heard about - their faith in God, expanding love for each other and perseverance in tough times.
I've clearly been watching too much CSI - but these are the marks, the evidence, the fingerprints that God has been at work. It's just obvious. And Paul can't help but be thankful for them.
As v4 tells us, these Thessalonian Christians are in the midst of persecutions and trials - but they have not given up on God and God has certainly not given up on them. God is bringing wonderful growth in their lives.
I don't know if you have you ever traveled through central Australia . But it's harsh and desolate and dry. You would think, how could anything ever grow out there? But then you get to a little gully area - which turns out to be a sort of oasis - with flowing water and fish. There are ferns and palm trees which are so lush and green. Where you would expect nothing - life is abundant. Well, this is like what God has done in these people's lives. Even when things looks so hard and harsh, God has produced wonderful lush abundant growth in them.
And before we go on I reckon there is a good challenge for us, really. We don't suffer a whole lot, but what sort of things do you want to see happen here at Mitchelton?
You know, we've still got most of the year in front of us. So what sort of things do you desire for our church in 2005? You might want more and more people to come each week. You might want new ministry areas to begin. And that is all good but if that is the sum total of what happens, then God still may not be at work. A church where God is at work, is a church in which our reliance upon God is growing, our love for each other is increasing and we are preserving in our Christian walk.
This is how Paul starts this letter to these Thessalonian Christians. He wants to encourage them by saying - I know what God has been doing in your life. It's just terrific. I'm so thankful to God for you.
Well, as Paul continues with this letter - he still wants to encourage and strengthen his friends in the midst of trials and hardships.
And he now moves from giving an encouraging word about what God is doing in them now - to what God will do in the future. See you're finding it hard, you are mistreated and abused but there will come a day when God will end your pain. And this is verses 5-10.
Verses 6 and 7:
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.
Paul is saying - hang in there, don't give up. It'll get better.
I think it's always hard for us to really appreciate this living in quiet, comfortable Brisbane. Do most of us really know what persecution feels like? Christians back then in Thessalonica did and even today there are Christians who know persecution. A few years ago I got to know an older Christian man from Nepal. Chitra Cheetri was his name. And Chitra told me that members of his family were arrested for openly trying to convert people. If they wanted to baptize a person they would go down to the river at night so that they wouldn't get caught. See this is the experience of some Christian people. These are the sort of fears that the Thessalonian Christians had back then.
And so for these people experiencing this sort of trouble Paul wants to remind them what God will do in the future. God will bring relief. Your pain will turn to pleasure. Your distress will turn to delight.
Future relief. Hope for a better future. It is something so basic to life really.
Let me tell you a story about Primo Levi. Primo was an Italian Jew at the Auschwitz extermination camp. It was a frozen winter and he was thirsty. And seeing a fat icicle hanging from the roof just outside his hut, he reached out his window to snap it off to quench his thirst. But before he could get the icicle to his mouth a guard snatched it out of his hands and threw it to the ground. Primo Levi yelled "Why?". The guard answered brutally, "Here there is no why!" See, this is the situation Primo found himself in. So how did Primo and others survive in a place of such evil? Primo said it was hope in relief. His hope was that one day his suffering would end.
Well, God here is saying to Christian people - such persecution, such hardship - though you are in the midst of it now and there seems no way out - you are actually in a tunnel and there is light at the end of it. The light may not be in this life. But when you have persevered through, you will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God. God will give us blessed and eternal relief.
I don't know what sort of hardships you are going through for being a Christian. You might be on the outer with your family. You might have made some sort of stand at work which has costed you. But know this - in the end it will be worth it.
Well, in these verses there are words about future relief, but there's also the flipside, there are words about future retribution. And this in no less way is given to provide hope for people who are suffering.
You know, Primo Levi the man at Auschwitz was an atheist and in 1987, more than 40 years after his release from that camp, he took his own life. He threw himself down the stairwell of his home. In part it was because he could stand it no longer - he had been given relief, but for him there was still no justice? See, some Nazi's had denied all involvement and had got away with it and there was the horror of those who denied the truth of these camps.
See the point I'm making - though there may be relief for some, but what is the point, if there's no retribution? This is the flip side of the future. Perhaps we try not to think about it too much but right is done when injustice is met with justice - relief for those who have suffered but also punishment and retribution for those who have caused that suffering. There is no justice without it.
And now we get to the hard part of this passage. As I was preparing for today I was thinking - this passage is my first sermon at Mitchelton! How is this going to make me look?! This is so hard. And am I alone in this or do others have the experience like me that when ever I talk about hell and judgment it sort of gets caught in my throat and I feel the pressure to hedge around it, and apologise for it. There is something so unpleasant about this subject.
But you know, for me it at least shows the value of working systematically through books of the bible. That way we can't just pick and choose bits we want. We are learning from all over, what God's word has to say to us.
And what do we learn about this future punishment or retribution. We learn at least three things - the when, the what and the who.
The 'when' is given in the second half of v7:
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
The 'when' isn't any exact day or month or year, but the 'when' is the time that Jesus is revealed.
And the time of Jesus' coming will not be like the fireworks of a New Year's night - when people sit around and go 'oooh aaaah, look at that'. No he will come in a blazing fire with his powerful angels. People will not be able to sit as spectators - this fire will be a consuming fire of judgment.
The 'what' is the what form of punishment. And it is given in v9:
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.
Is there a more scary verse in all of the bible?
See, there is no sense that hell is a place where naughty people get to have a party with their mates. It will be a place of eternal punishment and eternal separation from God. There will be no parties.
That is the 'what'. And the 'who' is given in v8.
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Now this is an important word to understand. It's so clear and striking in its simplicity. God will not punish people because they don't go to church. God will not punish people because they've done some bad things in life. God will punish people because they didn't want to know him. If I was to ask someone, do you know God - people always want to change the question in their answer. "Yes, I've been a good person". But that is not the question. Do you know God? "Oh, yes - I believe in God". No, that's not the question. Do you know God? It is the critical issue.
So let me ask you now this morning - 'Do you know God?' It's the question you'll have to face one day - so better now than later. Do you know Him? To know God is connected precisely to the second part of verse 8 - do you obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus? To obey the gospel does not mean that you obey a set of rules, but have you responded to the call to put all your trust in Jesus. To know God is to follow and trust Jesus.
And so the critical issue for all of us is - not how long you've been a church member, not how many years of good service you've given to the community, not the quality of husband or wife or father or mother you've been, but do you know God?
That's our look at this retribution - the when, the what, the who.
It's not comfortable. But you know it's not right that Christian people are arrested for following Jesus. It's not right that Christians are tortured. Even in our own experience it's not right that Christian people are mocked and treated as fools when living good, upright lives. But God's judgment will come and it will be right. And for those who hatefully and violently reject God and even for those who calmly and respectfully reject God, God will reject them when Jesus is revealed and his terrible punishment is given.
You know, this whole topic raises lots of questions for us. So it should. We should think about it. But verse 10 tells us that on that day - for those who know God now and trust in Jesus, all our questions will just... drop away - for we will marvel at Jesus, it says. We will stand before our Lord and Saviour, our relief giver - simply gog-eyed. We will marvel at this goodness and glory.
Well, with the passage we're looking at today, lastly, the focus shifts again. Verses 3-4 are about the present. Verses 5-10 are about the future. And verses 11-12 are about the present again. And remember Paul wants to help these Christians who are doing it tough. They are persecuted. So how should these Christians respond to the abuse and mocking and exclusion they're facing? Well, Paul prays that they would live a certain way in the present, in light of the future he has just spelled out for them.
Read v11-12 again.
See notice the start of verse 11. It says: "With this in mind we constantly pray for you". "With this in mind!" He does not give this perspective on the future so they just know they have something to wait for. That's true. But this perspective on the future, actually should do something now as well. The future is a motivating force for action in the present.
And so He prays that they may be counted worthy of his calling. In other words - you've been called, you are Christian now. So live in a way that is worthy of who you are. Not make yourself worthy of being Christian. We cannot make ourselves worthy. This verse is saying you are a Christian already - you know God - but live in a way that fits that.
It's like when I took on the position of being a father. When it happened I could not change it. I could not reverse it. I cannot do anything to make myself any more of a father. I'm a dad, I'm a dad. But now that I am a dad I should live as if I am one, living out all the right responsibilities.
And so Paul says, live according to your calling as Christian people.
And he prays for this with the future in mind. If there will come that day when God will deliver his judgment - relief and retribution - then it should affects how you live now.
So Let me ask the question. Now that 2005 is all before us what do you value? What do you want to see happen this year in your life?
Do you want to save a certain amount of money?
Do you want acquire a certain level of success in your studies?
If you have kids - do you want your children to acquire a certain level of success in their studies?
Or if your children are grown up - do you want your children to have a particular level of comfort and prosperity in life?
Now how will such values appear in 40 years and 40 billion years. Will they really matter when we're talking about eternal relief and retribution? Perhaps we need to re-evaluate our values in light of the future. If this biblical vision of the future, is really our vision of the future, then it should change us.
If I go back to those marks which Paul gives thanks for in verses 3-4 - faith, love, perserverance. These are the sort of things that we should pursue more and more and more as we want to be counted worthy of our calling.
I'll just pick on one of those three and offer you an action step. This could be your very belated New Year's resolution. And the resolution is this - "This year I will love people at church more." Forget the diet - this is a resolution! If you're married, take 15 minutes today to talk about how you can do this together. To love people better - it's going to require real action and stepping out and maybe some creativity. But what a great goal! What a great achievement!
The future makes the difference. The future brings meaning to true Christian living.
This passage has got lots in it. But throughout Paul wants to encourage and urge his Christian friends to keep going. You are enduring hardship and persecution but don't give up.
God is at work in you now and I give thanks. And he will be at work in the future. Though you suffer now, God will bring his judgment upon all - relief for some and retribution for others. So hold on. Wait. God's justice will come and things will be put right.
But also - with this eternal future in mind, live accordingly. Don't live for this world that will cease and end. Live in a way that pleases God and is according to your calling as Christian people.
Let me end by telling you the story about Florence Chadwick. Florence was the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. And in 1952, she set herself the feat of swimming from Catalina Island to the shore of California which is a distance of around 50kms. The day Florence set out was foggy - she could barely see the boats that were following her. For 15 hours she swam. But after a while she tired and eventually begged to stop. She said she couldn't do it. Her trainer urged her to keep going. But finally she gave up, totally exhausted. Now when she got out she discovered she was only a mere 2kms away. At her news conference, she basically said, "I do not make excuses for myself. I am the one who asked to be pulled out. But I think that if I could have seen the shore I would have made it". And two months later Florence proved her point. On a clear day she plunged into the water and swam the distance.
Christian living requires a biblical vision. And a biblical vision is one in which we know that God's justice will come. Eternity will swallow up this world. And so let's live in the light of the end.