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Institutional First Baptist Church Weekly Sermon Delivered By
Dr. E. G. Sherman, Jr
Dr. E. G. Sherman, Jr
Delivered On
December 28, 2014 at 10:45 AM
December 28, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Subject
Ending To The Beginning
Ending To The Beginning
Description
| Dr. E. G. Sherman, Jr. | Sunday December 28, 2014 |
| Ending to the Beginning | |
| “...I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end... Rev. 21:6 | |
| The Book of Revelation is associated with the end of life and its aftermath. So to select a sermon anchor for the last Sunday of the year 2014 may well cause ambivalence regarding its application to the contemporary calendar which is ending Wednesday night at 12:00 PM. In the Book of Revelation, John records that Jesus said of himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending”. This assertion shows that Jesus is infinite whereas humankind is finite. Jesus is immune to time whereas the humanity is intricately woven into time. Accordingly, the human group must think and live within a time boundary. Accordingly, humanity functions with a time established “box” known as the calendar. The sermon topic for today was selected to explore some implications of time in human existence. It was entitled, The End and the Beginning. The sermon will be undergirded by the following dimensions, namely: response to the calendar’s end of the year; response to the mortal end of life; and your response these ends. Since the textual anchor was lifted from the Book of Revelation, the most symbolic Book of the Bible, it is deemed appropriate to provide some background information on this Book. Its author is Saint John, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. The book was written between 95/96 AD. It is referred to as “The Revelation of of Saint John the Divine”. It “can only be properly understood in the light of scores of symbols...”. The book is an apocalypse, or view of events yet to come. His apocalypse was multi faceted; it include a new heaven and a new earth, the great white throne judgment, and the end of time. The date of this finality was not revealed to him, but John was fully convinced that this even would occur in accordance with God’s plan. With these sketchy observations of Revelation, attention will now be focused on the earlier specified three concerns of the sermon, the first of which is - response to the calendar’s end of the year. Twenty Fourteen will official come to an end in three day at 12:00 PM. This event will encompass innumerable activities ranging from dropping of the time ball at Times Square, popping of champagne bottles, ball room dancing, special hats, exotic attires, the singing of Robert Burn’s song “Auld Lang Syne” immortalized by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, blowing of the New Year party horns, hugging and kissing, multiple toasts, and the protracted dancing until for most of the predawn morning of the New Year. Thus, the old year of 2014 is replaced by the 2015 New Year. It should be noted, however, that the calendar transition is accompanied by another celebration, less well publicized; it is religious in nature and generally labeled as “Watch Night” meeting. According to historians who study the African American evolution from slavery to the post slavery, this service started secretly in slavery and continues, in diminishing frequency, in contemporary times. The third festivity of the annual calendar transition is that of parades and football games. Closely akin to the thrills of the New Year is that of traditional customs and quasi suspicions that include: to make "resolution" and plan to lead a better life, to feast on a meal of black eye peas with pork, collard greens and corn bread - in anticipation of adequate finance during the New Year, and having a male to be the first visitor at the home - an act designed to protect the home from unwanted guest. No attempt is herein made to evaluate the effective of these actions; instead, the emphasis will now be directed to the second dimension of the sermon which is - the end of mortal life and the beginning of immortal existence. It is the change in which the individual will have no consciousness nor physical mobility as in moral life. That reality is known as death and it can be described as from the end ( life ) to the beginning ( death ). This is a change that the calendar carries no designated dates, events, for seasons. Hence, humanity must turn to the Bible for teachings on the change from ending to beginning. The sermon, in this connection, will submit a few biblical teachings on the change. The Holy Bible is replete with references to the inevitability of death. The references are found in both Testaments and they include assertions about death, designation of persons who died, statements on the certainty of death, names of persons who died, the unknown time of death, and the reward after death for having been faithful in moral life. The Bible, among its many topics, can be studied as a chronology of decedents - persons who lived and died; symbolically, their life like 2014 had an ending and their immortality, like 2015 was the new beginning. Beloved, all of us along with the whole of humanity will ultimately encounter the same reality. In support of this somber event, attention will now be directed to a few scriptural citations. The list is by no means exhaustive; it is rather a partial delineation. It includes: “ a time to be born and a time to die” ( Eccl. 3:2 ); “Is not there an appointed time to man upon the earth...” ( Job 7:1 ); “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble...” ( Job 14:1 ); “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow, I will fear no evil...” ( Ps. 23:4 ); “...and the day of death than the day of birth” ( Eccl. 7:1 ); “...man goeth to his long home, and his mourners go about the street” ( Eccl. 12:7 ); “ watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” ( Matt. 24:42 ); “if we have been planted - died - in his likeness, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” ( Ro. 6:5 ); “ And in those days shall men seek death, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” ( Rev. 9:6 ); “...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a life” ( Rev. 2:10 ). Beloved, let us take confident in the power of Jesus to deliver on his promise. Remember, He said of himself, “ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” ( Rev. 22:13). This glorious assurance leads to the, third, phase of the sermon which is - What is your response to the Ending and Beginning phenomenon of life? As noted in the sermon, there are to crucial areas that the who of humanity face; they are the calendar time frame, and the life sojourn. The first is general knowledge and earthly experiences for humankind. Each normal person knows and experiences the passing of the Old Year and the entrance of the New Year. The second area, however, is encumbered by a common reality for everyone. That problem is the fact that, while knowing about the beginning of life, on one has ever experienced the ending of life nor its consequences. Hence, there is an urgent need, first, for information about and making plans for the end of physical life and, secondly, being or becoming firmly committed to Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is in response to the second need - that of passing from life to death - that this final phase of the sermon is directed. Unlike the physician or attorney who used their training and professional references, this pastor is using his training and professional book - the Holy Bible - to present the prescription for the ending of life and preparation for the immortal existence. Heading the list of spiritual medication is the fact that there is a time to be born and a time to die. This certainty leads to a daily dose of prayer and thanksgiving, remember the Bible teaches that man ought to always pray. Another ingredient of the spiritual medication includes regular exercise in helping the needy as described in Matthew (25:31-46), remain confidence in the Lord to walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death, and before retiring at night think of, if not utter, the childhood prayer - Now lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen. |
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