Daniel 12.1-3, Hebrews 10.11-14, 19-25 Mark 13.1-8
In 2001 the first of the the Lord of the Rings movies came out and we went to the cinema to watch it. I thought it was an amazing story and as I had never read the book I decided to read it to my 9 year old son, Thomas. For several weeks as soon as he came home from school, I read for 30 minutes, keen to know what was going to happen next. I wonder if you enjoy reading stories and if so what sort of stories? What sort of genre? Stories can lift us up and take us to unknown worlds, imaginary worlds, and we can find ourselves drawn into them walking in the shoes of the hero or heroine, whether in tragedy or success. And sometimes they paint a future or a fantasy world with strange creatures, incredible technology, very different from daily life.
I wonder if you feel about some of the Bible like that. The book of Daniel certainly has strange imagery in it especially in the chapters prior to our reading today, and scholars tend to think that the prophecies in those chapters refer to a point in history that has already passed, already happened in the second century BC. In our gospel reading Jesus declared that the temple in Jerusalem would be torn down and this happened in 70AD. Another historical event is prophesied about and it comes to pass. The Holy Spirit imparted to Daniel and then to Jesus these events foretelling what would happen and God does that occasionally for our benefit. I have been given two prophecies in the past which both came to fruition and their proclamation was really helpful in preparing me and strengthening me for the changes that God later brought about. They helped me to know that God was with me and that he knew the future and had got it all sorted and all I had to do was trust him daily and keep faith. By the way the first one led me to meeting Emma.
I have also had another personal promise of the future which I occasionally go back to, and find really helpful to hold on to, particularly when I am worrying. God wants to be with us, for us to know that he walks with us and supports us. That applies to the present and to the future.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 12 switches from prophesying about future historical events to prophesying about the end times. Daniel was given a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled in which the Archangel Michael, the protector of God’s people will arise and there will be huge anguish never seen before, and some people will be raised to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. We all know which group we hope to be in! When the disciples press Jesus he also speaks about the end times. This earth will one day be replaced by a new earth. We do not know when and neither does Jesus, only God the Father knows. Jesus says many will claim to be Him, but they will be false and many will be led astray, and there will be wars and rumours of wars - lies and deceit alongside truth. Nation will rise against nation, and there will be earthquakes and famines. Sound familiar? Am I the newsreader for today? This is London. The BBC, news at 10, chimes of Big Ben. Throughout history people have been distressed at the tragedies they saw, the awful sin, violence, war, famine and disease they lived amongst and have cried out to God expecting the end times to be here. That is natural but life goes on. Elsewhere Jesus says live in the present do not worry about what you wear, or what you will eat, remain faithful to me, trust me and love God with all your being and love your neighbour as yourself. Take a leaf out of Daniel’s life who remained faithful and true to God through many different and challenging situations and who God blessed and communicated with in profound ways, and used mightily among the leaders of his time.
So how do we live with hope in our hearts and how do we love God with all our being? Firstly it is understanding, recognising and appreciating the enormity of what Jesus has done for us and living life as if that mattered and indeed is the most important thing in the world to have taken place. The book of Hebrews is great at laying this out. Look at verse 12 again: Jesus has offered for all time, all time, a single sacrifice for sins. We have confessed our sins this morning, we are forgiven. It does not just work in some months, on just on Sundays in church, we can ask for forgiveness any time, any place, and that is so important for keeping the communication open with God. Keep your list of sins short, confess often. And if anyone thinks they do not sin - that is probably the biggest sin of all!
And because we are forgiven we can enter the sanctuary of God by the blood of Jesus (verse 19). Jesus’ death on the cross enables us to do that. I have never been to Buckingham Palace, but I doubt that I could turn up tomorrow and say I have come for tea. I expect I would be turned away. Yet we can at any time approach God with confidence and enter his presence.
Look at verse 22 again. Let us approach the sanctuary of God, the holy of Holies with a true heart…Is your heart truly set for God? .. Do not panic. Verse 16 which we did not read says that God will place his law in our hearts and write them in our minds. Have you ever experienced being invited into a group you thought was a select group? And now they are including you? Welcoming you in? It was a good feeling? Boosted you? When we are invited into God’s presence, it changes us - because we are included into the most exciting, loving and wonderful group ever.
Verse 22 again. We approach with full assurance of faith. Do you have a full assurance of faith? Are you sure? Faith is not something we can drum up, you cannot increase it by trying harder. If I really concentrate here I shall have more faith - sorry that does not work. Faith comes by looking at Jesus and focussing on him. The whole letter of Hebrews is about Jesus and about who we are as a result of what he has done for us. Focus on that and it produces this assurance of faith.
Do you ever feel guilty about something you did or failed to do? Or failed to do? I get periods when I beat myself up for past failures, and I am learning to say get away from me Satan. My heart has been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, I have been purified by the blood of Jesus. He has forgiven me. The sprinkling from Jesus has the power to wash away every stain, every sin, till I and you, all of us are whiter than white. Let it happen. There are no shadows with God.
Finally from verse 22 our bodies are washed with pure water. Pure water, not dirty river water or salt sea water, not even chlorinated Severn Trent water. This is pure water from heaven. Allow yourself to receive this cleansing of the heart, mind and body.
These verses are all about an invitation to draw near to God. Imagine for a moment entering the sanctuary of God…. What is it going to be like? What will you do first? What do you think will happen? Will you want to stay? Or will you be distracted and want to leave? I think we will be so overwhelmed by the love of God that we will naturally want to stay and worship him, to adore him, to just be still in his presence, absorbing his love for us. It is an invitation to worship God.
We can have a glimpse of that now in our communal worship together. The Holy Spirit revealing the presence of God to us. Yes we can also do this in our own quiet times, but most commonly we need to be with others to really experience it. We need the encouragement of each other, the mass of spirit filled Christians to transform a place into an act of worship. So let us encourage each other to continue to meet regularly for worship. And if you have never tried the quietness of Taize or the joy of Songs of Praise or the spirit of the Gathering then come and join us.
To return to the future and what we read. The Bible is full of different genres some of it very confusing and strange. Yet they are all part of a whole which reveals the truth about God, and his incredible love for each of us. I encourage you to read the Bible every day and to take hold of the truths that lie within and let them become a part of you. There is always something more of God that we can experience here and now. We will never exhaust the wonders of God this side of death. Daniel had an amazing relationship with God, learn from him and seek God with the same passion and determination. In doing this we are given the assurance of hope that whatever difficulties we experience now, the future will be brilliant. Our ultimate destination is already prepared for us, the tables laid, the silver polished, the food prepared, the wine ready for pouring as Christ waits to welcome us home. Believe that, hold fast to that.
Amen.