"An Eternal Gospel to Proclaim"

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.'”

St. John saw the angelic messenger of the Lord flying in the mid-heavens, proclaiming the eternal Gospel to all the people who dwell on earth. The angel's message is that of all Scriptures and every preacher of the Gospel: “Fear God and give Him glory.” That is, believe the Word of God, and honor Him in repentance and faith.

But that is not the message that so many preachers of this world proclaim. There are so many “gospels” out there, each claiming to save us from our enemy, each naming a different ill of our age as your obstacle to true happiness. If you look long enough and hard enough, you will find something that soothes your itching ears.

Maybe your particular message of choice is the social gospel. There are those who would have you believe that Jesus came to liberate us and motivate us toward social justice and harmony among men. We should devote our time and money to ending hunger, to healing the sick, to curing cancer, to clothing and feeding the needy. So it goes, that you have proclaimed this “gospel” when you fix your neighbor's car or donated your clothes to the thrift shop or dropped some coins into the bucket of the Salvation Army Santa. The gospel of liberation means that we should all love one another, and the ideal world is where people of every nation under the sun hold hands and dance through the fields, then sing cute songs around the campfire. Everyone is loved and affirmed, no matter what your belief or status or position in life. Jesus is the great equalizer, so no one is right and no one is wrong.

Or perhaps your gospel of choice is one more trendy right now – the so-called green gospel. According to the prophets of this message, Jesus came to show us how to care for the earth and God's creation. Our great sin, both individually and corporately, has been neglect and abuse of our natural resources. God's love moves us to love His creation. So go plant trees. Plaster your house with solar panels. Fill your fields with windmills instead of corn. The “church” of this gospel becomes the great outdoors. The object of devotion becomes the beautiful sunset, or the V of geese, or the trees of the forest.

If those fail to soothe the itch, you could listen to the prosperity gospel. Prophets of this message appeal as much to the eyes as to the ears. Where Jesus' love is, "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average," of course. If you can name it, you can claim it. God is just waiting by the heavenly telephone, anxious to give you whatever you wish, as long as you can find the right magic words to trap God into your particular little corner. Say this prayer fifteen times a day, every day, and you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. If you know the secret, you need never be impoverished, sick, or unhappy again, and your teeth will be pearly white and perfectly straight.

Or, better still, perhaps, is the cheap-grace gospel. God loves you. Jesus died for you. Your sins are forgiven. So go, eat, drink, and be merry. Do whatever you darn well please. After all, Jesus already died for you, and God already staked His claim on you. Whatever you do, it doesn't matter, because God has already taken care of it. If you run into a spot of trouble, just pray a little on the way to the medicine cabinet, and God will get you through. Get God on your side, and life is a stroll down Easy Street. Who cares about your neighbor or those starving kids in Africa?!

And so the list goes on and on. There are as many different “gospel” messages as there are sinners on this planet. Each of us would have God reinvented in our own image, to our own comfort and liking. We want a god who bows to our whim and gives us what we want when we want it. We don't want a father; we want Santa Claus.

Repent.

Our Lord says to you, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Abide in His Word. Trust God, rather than princes or the prophets of this age. Hear His holy angel, who cries out, “Fear God and give Him glory.” Repent of your self-centered remaking of the Word of God. Repent of your idolatrous imagining of God's will and favor. Fear God and give Him glory.

Fear God, because His judgment is upon us. His wrath for sin burns hot and long. His righteous, holy condemnation is inevitable and inescapable. Fear Him, because you have not feared Him in the past. You have acted as though He did not exist. You have acted as though He were a tame god, a genie in a magic lamp for you to summon forth at will to do your beckoning. You have ignored the Creator and worshipped the creation. His wrath is due for your sin. Therefore fear the wrath of God, feel the terrors of conscience aroused by His holy Law, and repent of your sins.

Then give Him glory. Give to God the glory due His Holy Name. In His hand are the scales of life and death, and He has seen fit to give you forgiveness, life, and salvation. At the cost of His own beloved Son, your heavenly Father has turned from you His wrath and judgment, and has given you a new life in Jesus. The glory of God was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ as He was lifted up upon the cross. As the light of this world failed, the true Light of the World triumphed. Once for all, our Victim-Priest accomplished the true, eternal Gospel. He died that you might live. He rose that you might rise again. The Light of Christ shines in our dark, muddled world with a bright, piercing radiance that illuminates you and me and obliterates all the confusion and darkness of our hearts and minds. In the light of Christ, we see the Truth and we know the Truth. The Truth is our Savior, our Lord, and our brother. The Truth is our friend and guide. The Truth is the warrior that fights before and beside us, defending us from the assaults of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature.

“You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” You know the truth, because you know Him who is the Truth. And You have been set free. You have been set free from the lies and assaults of the evil one. You have been set from from your bondage to sin. You have been set free to live in the truth, and in to live in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You have been set free to love and serve your neighbor. You have been set free to care for creation as the steward God created you to be. You have been set free to live a life of joy, giving glory to God for all the blessings He gives you daily and richly.

“Fear God and give Him glory.” Repent. Believe the Gospel. Join with all the faithful and all the company of heaven, and sing:

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb!

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen!

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.