🔊 Judgment and Suffering

Welcome to AnchorCast, a weekly podcast of homilies and sermons from Christ our Anchor Anglican Mission in Nashville, Tennessee.

Let us pray.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

Amen.

So I think it’s difficult sometimes to make sense of the world around us.

Why do so many suffer and lack when others have so much and are seemingly blessed?

It’s hard to look out at all the injustice in the world and not ask this question.

It’s hard knowing what’s going on in our streets and yet continue on living our lives.

We do it, of course.

What other choice do we have but to live?

It’s only natural to look after our own concerns.

But the question, the unease still lingers.

Why Lord?

Why the imbalance?

Why the suffering?

Why do so many hunger and thirst?

God’s judgment and wrath towards sin is another topic that seems to linger in the air.

Another topic we’d rather avoid than confront head on.

And while they don’t initially seem connected, I think judgment and suffering have a lot to do with each other.

You see, as much as I hate the idea of being judged, knowing that there will be judgment for those who hurt and oppress gives me great hope.

In judgment, there is an end to suffering.

God’s judgment means there will be retribution and justice for those who lack and those who are ignored.

I don’t know the mind of God and I don’t know why we’ve had to wait so long after Easter in this world still riddled with sin.

I do know that I’m thankful God gave me time to find Him.

I’m thankful to Him for each and every brother and sister He’s given time to over my ministry.

There’s something to the time we’ve waited.

There’s something good.

Even in the unknowing and mystery, I can look hopefully towards the future when He will make all things right, when no one will suffer, when no one will hunger, when no one will be made afraid.

He’s promised us that and He’s kept His promises in the past and I’ve no doubt He’ll continue to do so.

From the cross, the entire world was judged and found lacking.

All had sinned.

Everything was messed up.

In a world with more than enough for everyone, people went hungry.

People were enslaved.

The sick were ignored and left to die outside the city walls.

People were driven out of their homes and forced to wander in the wilderness.

Jesus saw all of this and judged it evil.

On Easter morning, He declared that this time of evil would end.

He would stop it.

The reign of Satan would end.

God would once again walk in the garden.

God had become man, He had dwelt among us, and He wasn’t going to leave us again.

So hear the good news today.

Jesus sees the brokenness of the world and He judges it evil.

From the cross, Jesus calls all people to His side.

When Jesus returns, He will purify the earth.

He will judge and destroy wickedness.

The fire will come and all will be judged.

The question is not who will be spared from the fire, but what the fire will find.

For those alive in Christ, the fire will cleanse.

It will burn away all that is evil and leave us clean and ready to live in the presence of our Lord.

The light and fire of His glory will warm our hearts and coolly burn away the muck we’re covered in.

For those who stand apart from Him, the fire will burn.

It won’t be cool and God will have justice.

Lord have mercy.

So friends, I ask you today to look to Jesus.

In Him only is our hope.

In Him only is the hope of the world.

So stand in His light, serve in His body, and be the channel through which He allows a glimpse of the peace and justice of His kingdom to break through.

Stand in the mystery of suffering, holding tight to the promises of Christ.

Go where He goes and be the church.

The name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, amen.

Christ Our Anchor is an Anglican mission in East Nashville that meets on Wednesday evenings for prayer and fellowship.

And join us on Wednesday evenings at 530 as we live into what Jesus has called His church to be.

Everyone is welcome.

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