What Have We Heard?!

This past Tuesday we acknowledged two things, Groundhog Day and Presentation of the Lord. We all know what happens on Groundhog Day. Poor Punxsutawney Phil is pulled out of his warm hole in a tree stump placed just for him and paraded around as we crazy humans look to see his shadow. Then these prestigious men in top hats read a declaration supposedly from him on if we will have 6 more weeks of Winter or if Spring is right around the corner.

The presentation of the Lord wasn’t so prestigious as it is for this groundhog. When Mary and Joseph took the eight day old Jesus into the temple for the ceremonial circumcision, they did not think of planning for any pomp-and-circumstance or any kind of prepared speech. However two prophetic witnesses where hopeful and looking forward to this event.

So both Simeon and Anna proclaimed their joy at getting to meet the Savior of the world, the Messiah, the Immanuel. Mary and Joseph knew that the Son of God was born to them, yet this child looked like a child. But of course this was the Alpha and the Omega, the First Word spoken and the Last to speak.

Now we are coming towards the end of the season of Epiphany. Next Sunday is the last Sunday before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. So I want us to take what we have learned and recognize this for the big “Epiphany” that it is. Let us be like Anna and Simeon! Have you not known that the Lord is coming? Have you not heard the voices of the prophets warning us to be prepared?

I want to give you guys a warning that this message covers many verses throughout the Bible. Each verse is important to know that not only is our God worthy of praise, but that He is worthy of our praise. God, in His greatness is speaking to us today, as in the beginning of time and forevermore.

Pray and Read Isaiah 40:21-31

Isaiah 40:21–31 NRSV

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

God spoke first!

Here and in Genesis we read that God created the world out of nothing.

God created each part of the world from the light and darkness, from the land and the water, from each plant and other living organisms. each kind of animal from those in the air and in the water and on land. In Genesis 1:26 it says that God created us in “Their” own image.

Genesis 1:26 NRSV

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

From the highest place in heaven, God looks on us with love and care. This whole universe is His masterpiece that he sows much love into from the beginning of time. As this text says, we are like grasshoppers compared to the vastness of His creation. How great is our God?! All the rulers on earth who think they are mighty and in total control are like withering grass. God gives them some authority, He who gives this authority also takes it away just as easily. Our God knows no equal. No one can compare from the beginning of time through our time. God is the highest in power and majesty. The beautiful thing is that this Creator knows you, made you special in his eyes and created you with a purpose. Your purpose is in God, not outside of God. God calls you by name. Have you not heard?

God will speak last!

In “Their” image we were created. Jesus Christ came to speak directly to His people. We read in the Gospel of John very first chapter and the first couple of verses (John 1:1-2 ), that ...

John 1:1–2 NRSV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

This same Jesus that came for you and me will come again. We read in the very back of our Bibles, in Revelation 22:12-13 Jesus says

Revelation 22:12–13 NRSV

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

God is speaking today!

Have you heard Him? Do you know Him? Do you know the voice of God? As I have told you before, we have His Holy Spirit speaking to each and everyone on of you. The Great, All-powerful, Mighty Creator created you special. He also came to earth in our form to speak to His creation directly, sacrifice himself for our failings, and rose again to give us life everlasting with Him. As Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father, His Spirit was sent to guide us today. God speaks directly to us today! This whole concept is nearly unfathomable. Why would such a mighty God have time and space for us personally? Why and How does God love each of us so much? He does! Thank you God for this love.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.