Sermon: November 5, 2023

“On Their Faces Before The Throne”
Revelation 7:9-17

Memory is a tricky thing. Particularly as we get older. You may know the story about three women who were talking. The first said, “Sometimes I go to the refrigerator and forget what I need by the time I get there.” The second woman said, “When I go upstairs, I can’t remember whether I’m going up for something or I’m on my way back down.” The third woman said, “I’m lucky, I guess, [knock on wood], I don’t have that problem. Oh, I think there’s someone at the door.”

Memory is a tricky thing. I heard a comedian say once that when he got older, he could always find his car in a parking lot, it would be the one with the lights on.

Memory is a tricky thing. There are some things, however, and some people, who we should never forget.

Dr. Carlyle Marney once remarked that a person can be understood as being similar to a house. We have our living rooms, where we entertain, and our basements, where we hide our trash. The way to observe All Saints Day, he suggested, is to walk out into our front yard and salute the people on our balcony. The balcony people in our lives are those who have gone before us, who have been the encouragers, who have left a legacy. That’s what we are doing on this All Saints Sunday. We are saluting the saints who have gone before us, whose faithfulness provided us with the faith we have today.

The crowd that John sees in heaven is composed of all those who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. No true believer ever needs to worry about which group he or she will be in. God includes and protects all those who follow Him, and we are guaranteed a place in His presence.

This crowd in heaven is said to be wearing white which is the symbol of purity (thus the white colors in the Sanctuary this morning), and they are holding palm branches which symbolize victory. They are shouting or singing praises to God that their salvation comes from Him and the Lamb of God.

The definition of a “saint” isn’t necessarily when a person succeeds in living a virtuous life, but whenever God takes over that person’s life, whenever that person embodies what God really wants for that person, not in some future state, but right here and right now. The Bible uses “saints” to refer to the faithful—all the faithful—not just those who have passed on but to those of us who are here right now.

John mentions “The Great Tribulation,” which some believe refers to the suffering of believers through the ages—others believe there is a specific time of intense tribulation yet to come. Either way, these believers came through their times of suffering by remaining loyal to God and having their robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

In my former life, when we were stabled at our farm or all together at a racetrack, we had an old wringer washer we used to wash things for our horses. Their blankets, bandages, towels, etc. But when you went on the road by yourself with a stake horse you weren’t able to carry such a convenience. To wash things, you used what we called a “Maytag.” This was something similar to a washing machine agitator on a broom handle. You put soap and water in a five-gallon bucket, or a manure basket, along with what you were washing and with old fashioned elbow grease you went to work.

When washing your white things, you used bleach. Too much bleach would ruin the fabric. Not enough bleach and things didn’t come clean. You had to know the correct balance.

After the horse business I worked at the old cotton mill on the river in Hawkinsville. I worked on the bleachery side, and we worked with straight bleach. When you filled the tank where the cloth ran through you had to pay attention because when the tank was full the bleach started to run out on the floor. That stuff will eat the bottom off your running shoes.

We don’t talk much in the church today about being washed in the blood of the lamb. It’s a little graphic for our modern sensibilities. In Revelation, it is simply a symbolic way of saying these saints have been made worthy to inherit that which was promised by the Father because of Christ’s death on the cross. In other words, they are standing around the throne the same way all of us will one day stand around that throne, by the grace of God. If getting into heaven was a matter of merit, we would all be in trouble.

There’s a story about Mother Teresa. In this story Mother Teresa is in heaven and she is dining with God. The only thing in front of them is a couple of tuna fish sandwiches. While they’re eating. She looks down into Hades and sees the citizens of that realm feasting on steak and lobster. “Not that I’m complaining,” Mother Teresa says to God, “but why are they eating lavishly, and we’re having tuna fish sandwiches?” “Well,” says God, “with just two of us up here, I figure, why cook?”

If getting to heaven were based on merit, maybe Mother Teresa and a few others might make it. But you and I? We would be on the outside looking in. Our admittance to the select company will not be based on merit, but on God’s unconditional love for us—God’s amazing grace. You may think sometimes that we talk about grace too much in the church today. You need to understand that there are many people—even many church people—who do not really believe that God loves them unconditionally.

Those bandages and other things that I washed in the five-gallon bucket depended on my elbow grease and the correct measure of bleach. It was due to my effort and experience that they were made clean. Our salvation is not dependent on our efforts. Our robes are made white by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus has done all the work for us!

My friends, we are in a war with an enemy that we can’t see! We are in a war with an enemy that doesn’t play by the rules! Yes, we are going to win some of the battles, and we are going to lose some of the battles; but in the end, God is going to win the war! “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5 NIV).

God will provide for His children’s needs in their eternal home—where there will be no more hunger, thirst, or pain, and He will wipe away all tears. When you are suffering or torn apart by sorrow, take comfort in this promise of complete protection, relief, peace and joy.

Who are the saints around the throne of God? Everybody on this earth is a candidate for sainthood. None of us is worthy of it, but because of what Christ has done on our behalf, it comes to us as a free gift. Once it is received, however, we are to join the holy company seeking to be a bright light to a world of darkness through lives that reflect the glory of Christ.

Thanks be to God!