Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Does knowing the ending of a book or movie make it more enjoyable? That might seem like a strange question as we often talk about not spoiling the endings of such things. We all want to experience them for the first time ourselves. We like the surprise and amazement we get when we reach the ending, seeing how all the troubles of the characters are worked out. Yet, sometimes, the endings aren’t what we imagined. Endings don’t always tie everything up in a nice neat little bow. Then all that we read (and enjoyed) before is spoiled by a potentially bad ending.

Consider the same question with life. Would knowing how your life plays out make life more enjoyable or would you be afraid to find out? That’s a much different question. If we knew that everything turned out alright, that all of our gigantic troubles now were really just a footnote, then wouldn’t we be able to relax and enjoy things more? 

Now, I’m no psychic, nor can I tell you the future. But I do know how everything will end because God has told us. This is our focus this week as we celebrate All Saints’ Day. As Christians, we know the end of our story. Even as we mourn those who have died, we remember that there is yet more to the story. Just as Revelation says, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” Revelation 7:14. As Christians, we know that death isn’t the end for us. The conclusion of our story is not the grave. Rather, the end of everything, the end of our lives shall be meeting Jesus Christ when he returns in glory. The end of our story is the resurrection of the dead and life in the world to come!

This is why we, as Christians, do not weep at death like the rest of the world. We mourn the loss of loved ones because we know death is evil. But we also rejoice because we know that death has been defeated! All the struggles and suffering we endure here on earth is finite. There will be an end to it all. For this is our hope even in the midst of our present struggles. As Christians who know the end of the story, we are free to enjoy life more as God intended of us. We are free to place our worries and our cares in God’s hands knowing that He will care for us and see us through to the glorious end that awaits us!

On this All Saints’ Day, we remember that those who have died did so in faith. They believed in Jesus Christ as they’re savior. They believed that Jesus’ death on the cross paid for all of their sins. And they believed above all else that though they die, yet shall Jesus return to raise them from the dead because Jesus himself was raised from the dead. Indeed, this is the end of the story for all who believe. Thus, as we live here on earth in this life, we are able to trust in God that even death shall become a footnote for us. By Jesus’ death and resurrection, He has secured for us the best ending of all, the resurrection unto life everlasting! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!