20th Sunday after Trinity

Can you imagine something so good, so perfect, so incredibly awesome that for many, the very thing is too good to be true? After all, many have probably fallen victim to the scheming of the not-so-honest and landed face-first in the reality of something that was, indeed, too good to be true. It’s why many will even give the advice that if you come across something that seems - too good to be true - it’s best if you avoid it.

‌ It’s unfortunate, really, as there are many kind and well-intentioned folks out there who wish to do something nice for others only to be ignored or treated with suspicious prejudice. Put something on the curb for free, they say, and it will likely sit there for a while. Put a small dollar amount on it, and it will disappear sooner. Why? Well, it’s supposed that if it’s free, it’s not worth anything - there’s something wrong with it. Then, there’s also this little reality with which all humanity wrestles, called pride, that whispers into your conscience, “Oh, come on, you don’t need something for free! You’ve worked too hard in your life to need handouts. You’re not weak and impoverished to the point of needing something for free. You work hard for everything you have!”

‌ Dear child of God, as your soul has been fed from the truth of God’s Word this day, something of which many may try and convince you is too good to be true has been done for you. The unending grace and mercy of your loving Creator has clothed you with a robe of redemption that covers you perfectly by way of your daily walk of sanctification as a child of God. As a baptized child of God, your identity is marked upon your forehead and heart, your name written in the Book of Life, and seen not as the sin into which you were conceived but as the redeemed creature you’ve been saved to be.

‌ The eternal wedding feast is prepared. Now, yes, the time of your arrival is to be determined. That’s annoying, right? But you’ll be fine. In the meantime, there’s much to focus on, so don’t lose sight - don’t be deceived. You are invited. There’s a spot for you. The dress code is set. You’ve been clothed with that which is required already - and not only that, you’ve been given the means by which your eternal dress is kept untattered and pressed - ready for any moment that will be your last upon and within this waiting room that is the world.

‌ But how can this be? This really is too good to be true, you may say to yourself. Or worse, the devil may tempt you with such words of thought. Too good to be true? No. Good? Yes. True? Yes. This is the love of God on display in its most regular, gracious, and merciful manner. But, indeed, the devil will influence many to reject such blessed truths as the world goes about its ever-chaotic spiral into the end times. Many who have been given the same invitation as you, who have been clothed, cleansed, and claimed, will snub their nose to their heavenly Father only for the tantalizing lies of their worldly deceiving prince. And in their demise, they will try to bring you with them. Stand firm and stand fast, dear child of God; your invitation is sure, but so is the ability to misplace and reject it.

‌ “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) You look carefully as you follow the path that is lit by the Word of God. Your Lord and Savior is the light of the world who brings you onto the path of righteousness, pulling you from the ditch within which your sin left you to die. Jesus further pulls you onto his beast of burden while being the beast of burden for your sin. He provides you with the healing salve that cleanses and seals your wounds from the gangrene that threatens your precious soul. Further, so that you are well nourished and cared for, He brings you to the ark of the church wherein you find further nourishment, rest, and comfort through the means of grace - Word and Sacrament - the foretaste of the feast to come.

‌ Here in the church, dear child of God, you find the light that shatters the darkness of the devilish realms of this world. This place is counter to the culture that wishes to smother you in the darkness of pride. The best use of your time is the prioritization of receiving said light as often as possible. No other light does the work of the church. All other light dims and dies. “Only the Church throws light onto the gloomy prospects of modern man - for she belongs, herself, to a realm that has its past and present in time, but its future in the World without End.” Not just on Sunday, but every day, do you do well to be in the Word of truth that assures you of this very thing. In the Word and by the Word is how the one who holds an invitation to the wedding feast maintains their true, heavenly identity.

‌ “Do not be foolish...” Harsh words, indeed, from our Epistle lesson, but necessary words. It’s easy to sit back in judgment of, yes, even the Lord Himself and believe that any reminder of Law to steer clear of sin is harsh, unfair, and outdated. But again, dear Christian, you know too well the reality that losing your invitation is a lowered inhibition away from poor choices and behavior that pull you into the realm of death and leave you gasping for life.

The world and those who have chosen to live the way of the world will work hard to destroy any sense of peaceful truth sent by the King. You may fall prey and victim to such destruction. You may be tempted to recant your confession of faith for the sake of living in false peace with those who hate you because of Jesus’ name.

‌ But you must stand firm. Stand on the truth that has set you free. The truth of who you are in Christ is the only one that will keep and sustain you and bring you into the eternal feast. All sorts of tactics will be used by the evil of this world, as you heard in the Gospel lesson. The last thing you want to have happen is to be thrown out because you have left your true identity behind. You do not want to gain the whole world only to lose your soul.

‌ “Understand what the will of the Lord is...” The ultimate - bottom line - most important reality - what you must come to know, believe, and confess is that the Lord’s will for you is your salvation! He wishes not for you to choose the weeping and gnashing of teeth - because that’s what it really is - your choosing to throw the garment of salvation to the side for the sake of slipping into perhaps something a bit more comfortable - such as the way of the world. But remember, the false comfort of stroking the idol brings on eternal torment.

‌ You have been loosed from that which binds. As a child of God, you have been given something that certainly, at times, may seem to be too good for you. But let not your hearts be troubled as the truth you hear this day is that the Lord loves you. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!” Isaiah 55:1: “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant...” Isaiah 55: 2-3

‌ As you hear regularly and often, “Come.” Here in the church is the waters the Lord has promised you. Here in the church is the eating of what is good, the rich food of salvation as you partake of the body and blood of Jesus. This is all so that your soul may live. The invitation is yours. Hold fast to it. Live according to it. And when you are worried, wearied, and worn down, rest assured that there’s nourishment at your fingertips by turning to the Word and entering the place that gives you refuge: the church. The blessing of Word and Sacrament is never too good to be true. It is indeed - good. It is, indeed, true. Good and true in that through these precious gifts, God reassures you of your invitation in that you are forgiven for all your sin. Amen.