God’s Justice: Christ’s Reign

“God’s Justice: Christ’s Reign”
REIGN OF CHRIST Sunday November 26, 2023
Churchill and Gilford United Churches
Krista Moore

Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24
God gathers the lost sheep of Israel, judges between the fat and the lean.
Matthew 25:31–46
Jesus will come in his glory to judge the sheep from the goats.

Scripture Summary: Ezekiel prophecies God will restore Israel as a Shepherd gathers his sheep; Jesus will return in glory to judge how we treat the least of these, separating the sheep (righteous) from the goats.

Introduction to the Scriptures

It is 593 BC.
The Israelites have lost their way again.
They had it all in the land of Canaan, the Promised Land.
The Land of milk and honey.
But they got too comfortable and forgot about God.
So their enemies raided and ravaged them.
Now they are held captive in BABYLON,
What did we do wrong? They cry.
Don’t worry, the prophet Ezekiel says.
God has a plan.
God hears your cries and will restore you.
Like a Shepherd gathering his sheep,
God will restore the lost tribes of Israel,
and make them to lie down in green pastures.
And no one will be able to ravage them again.

Jesus is just about to be crucified.
The disciples and followers are worried.
They will all be scattered, like sheep without a Shepherd.
What will they do?
Don’t worry, Jesus says.
God has a plan.
I will return as the Good Shepherd.
I will gather my sheep and they will know me.
I will separate the sheep from the goats – the ones who would not listen to me, who turned away and refused to follow.

They ignore the needs of the poor, the hungry and thirsty, the oppressed, the widow and the orphan.

And on that day, they will be sorry.
But those who choose to love will live forever.

SERMON

I’ve often asked myself:
WHY do bad things happen to good people?
Have you ever asked that?
WELL, let me attempt to answer based on the scriptures today, and what we witness in our own lives and the world.

I can attest that bad things have happened to me, as many of you can too.
I haven’t always been a perfect angel – though I try.
And even though I consider myself a good person,
I have done things I regret in my life.
I did not put God first.
I did what I wanted, and thought was best.
I insisted on MY OWN WAY,
I didn’t realize the consequences of my actions.
And I have to say, that what followed was not pretty. I experienced sadness, depression, fear, anxiety, grief, all human emotions.
It didn’t seem fair.

BUT THOSE BAD times HONED me and made me who I am today.
When I was suffering most, I realized my need for God. and so, I turned to God, and asked forgiveness.
and sought another way. And I found it!

GOD was merciful and showed me a new path.
And here I am today.
So, WHY did GOD allow me or anyone to go through those tough times?
Or to make mistakes, or hurt themselves or each other? I can honestly say that making mistakes made me a better person. I now have compassion for others who make mistakes, and I now see how much compassion GOD had for me. God didn’t give up on me or judge me harshly.

God was waiting for me to MAKE A BETTER CHOICE. And that is a GIFT every human being gets.
FREE WILL. FREE CHOICE.
WE ALL have the GIFT of FREE WILL to make decisions and experience the consequences. So we will CHOOSE God over the many things of this world.

BUT STILL, WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW US TO SUFFER, OR EVEN DIE?
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

STORY/SCRIPTURE: BABYLON

In the story of the captives of Israel, the Israelites stopped listening to God.
They began worshipping other idols, things made of clay, wood, stone, or metal.

They did not pray to God or thank God for all the good God had done for them – leading them out of Egypt to Promised Land. After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, this was an amazing boon! They had their own land.

They were growing and expanding.
They were prosperous and happy.
God wanted them to be happy.
But God also wanted them to Worship God above all.
TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
The two most important commandments.
They failed
The people got comfortable.
They took God for granted.

Isn’t that often the case, when things are going well, we forget about God?
But when bad things happen, we start praying! And Praying! Now the Israelites forgot about God and didn’t have God’s protection. And the wolves were at the door…

King Nebuchadnezzar and his army came and led them away in chains to become slaves in Babylon. They were in exile – AGAIN!
Why did this happen?

Everything was going so well. And then – BAM.
Something bad happens.
And THEN they turned to God

US:
Like them, maybe it takes a calamity or loss for us to realize we need God.
Maybe we don’t always pick up the signs that God was trying to get our attention.
Maybe we get too comfortable and forget about God.
Or we put other things first Like
money, our jobs, our comfort, worries, possessions
and other priorities.

And then something BAD happens – a sickness, disease, a loved one dies, and BAM! Then WE WAKE UP AND REALIZE – WE NEED GOD.
THEN we pray. THEN we ask.
Or we get angry at God and turn away.
Thankfully, God is merciful. God knows our hearts.

b) Bad News in Our World – Story

We may see bad things happening in our world right now – war, strife, conflict, battles, pandemics.
And wonder, WHY God? Why are bad things happening to innocent people?
And we mourn. We even get angry sometimes.
It seems so unfair, so wrong.
WHY would God allow that?
WHY won’t God intervene?
God cannot STOP human beings from choosing to hurt each other. And we cannot stop EXTERNAL Forces that act against us.
But WE can control OURSELVES and choose to turn to God for help. To pray and trust that God will guide us through it.

EXAMPLE: PARENTS AND CHILDREN
God is kind of like a parent. That is why we say, “Our Father.” We cannot force our children to do the right thing. A parent can teach, guide, and love their children, pray for them, and forgive them when they mess up. They cannot take away their lessons or protect them from every hurt.

GOD is like that. God cannot take away our lessons or prevent us from getting hurt. God cannot force us to Love God or others. We must choose. That is why it’s love. If God forced us to always do the right thing, we would never learn to love on our own. LOVE cannot be forced. It must be felt and chosen.

JESUS knew God wouldn’t force us to love. GOD gave us Jesus to show us LOVE.

But because people still loved power and money and worldly things over God and each other. And ultimately they chose to crucify him.

So, BAD THINGS happen to good people – even to the savior of the world – the one we call KING today.

Maybe we would never understand God’s love if we didn’t experience pain and sorrow. Like Jesus on the cross.

Sometimes God allows our hearts to be broken so they will feel pain and turn to God for help.

GOD doesn’t TAKE AWAY ALL our pain and sorrow – And to be honest, sometimes I feel like pain and sorrow make me feel even closer to God.

It is in those quiet moments when I turn to God most. When I depend on God for strength.
It isn’t only in the BAD times that we need God, but also in the good times, to THANK GOD and DEPEND on GOD every day. to remember God in good times and in bad.

EXAMPLE: MARRIAGE

It’s kind of like a marriage isn’t it – did anyone take that vow? You promise to love someone in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, for better or for worse.

YES, for WORSE! Don’t look at your spouse right now.
We are human beings who experience all things.
That is a beautiful thing.

a) Good News in the Bible – JESUS IS KING
IN today’s Gospel message – Jesus comes to us as a Shepherd, and as a righteous King who will judge the world.

But I believe God is merciful. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Righteous and Loving King.

In John 3:17 it says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” I think that is why I love Jesus the most.

Because when I mess up, when I feel the most hurt or sorrowful or afraid, Jesus is there to comfort me, to uplift me, and to reassure me that this too shall pass.

And it always does.

When I have faith, when I turn to God, in good times and in bad, God is always there for me. Pointing me in the right direction – but not forcing me to take it.

Now I choose God. Even though I still fail at times.

We all fail at times.

But God is a merciful God.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep.

Jesus will come to judge not to condemn, but to compensate us for our many losses. To turn our tears to laughter. To bring joy where there was sorrow. To make us righteous with him.

To live with him forever –

Like God promised the Israelites as it says in PSALM 23:
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

In the end, whatever happens, in good times and in bad, in joy and in sorrow, God is there. God will restore us and give us new life in Jesus Christ.

God is good.

Amen.