Looking After These Little Ones
Looking After These Little Ones
Funeral Sermon for Sevin Scott Vogan, Newborn infant
February 25, 1999
Mathew 18:10-14
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. … 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Questions! At times like this it seems there are so many questions to ask. Why did this happen to me? Why would God take a baby, my baby? Why would he let a mother and father build up their hopes and dreams only to have them dashed at the last moment? What is God thinking? Where is God when we need him? Why do bad things happen to good people? When in the midst of grief, questions flood our hearts and minds, searching for answers to questions that seemingly have no answer.
Asking questions, even of God, is not sin. Questions seek answers to something unknown, or perplexing. Even God asks “why?” Ge 4:6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?” The Psalmist asks questions of God. Ps 10:1 “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Even our Lord Jesus Christ cries out from the cross. Mt 27:46 "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Indeed, in the face of a baby’s death, we might be prone to wonder, why has God forsaken us? We might even wonder, who’s looking after these little ones? Little ones like Sevin. It might seem a bit trite to say, God is. It seems so contrary-to-fact at the moment. But indeed, God does care for us. The apostle Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” The problem for us in times of trial like this is trust. Can we trust a God who allows us to suffer such pain and grief? Can we trust him with life when what we see is death?
The questions just keep on coming and coming. But where do we find answers that will comfort our heart and quiet our soul. The answer, of course, is in the very one we find so hard to trust, God.
Listen again to verse 10 of our text. [Jesus says] “I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Jesus is talking about little ones. Little children whom he loves. He is talking about those he has made his own. He is talking about those, who in simple child-like faith, have come to him. But this is right where our hearts become troubled and unsure. How do we know if this little one was his? The answer to this question can only come from faith and trust in God and his Word.
You see, the Word tells us what God’s attitude is toward all people, especially “these little ones.” It says, “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” Consider how God has prepared the way for all. Paul says, “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he (Jesus Christ) died for all.” Consider also how Jesus blesses little babies. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Then the gospel writer goes on to say, “And he took the little children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”
When the Christian blessing was given to Sevin in the hospital, I would like to think that the Lord Jesus was also pleased to be there to take him into his everlasting arms of rest to bless him. The nurse who gave the blessing was at that moment in time God’s instrument and messenger of peace. That word, “messenger,” describes what an angel is and does, while at the same time beholding, as Jesus says, “the face of my Father in heaven.” Angels bring a message from God. A message that all too often is passed by unnoticed. But what greater blessing is there than to have this “little one” commended to our eternal God.
Yes, there are many things, that from our limited perspective raise a myriad of unanswered questions. Those answers can only come from faith and trust in God. Faith and trust is not so much a matter of believing something is a certain way as it is resting in the truth that God is Love, and that in him there is no shifting of shadow or changing of mind.
We know from Scripture what God’s mind is toward us and all people, young or old. We know from Scripture how God openly displayed his love for all on the cross of his Son, Jesus Christ. We know from Scripture that through the cross God has dealt first hand with everything that would hinder anyone from being held in his loving hands. Can you see how the question for us is really a matter of faith and trust in God. Do we trust him to do the right thing from his unlimited knowledge and wisdom? Do we believe that he has done the right thing and that he will continue to do so?
To God it matters not what we believe before he acts. You see, he didn’t wait for anyone to grow up before he acted in our defense and best interest. He didn’t wait until we somehow measured up to his standards to save us. Scripture says, “… we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” It also says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” {Cindy’s wall plaque, about the age of Kelsey}. Again scripture speaks, “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Faith and trust attach not to what we hope will happen but rather to what has already happened in the compelling works of God in Christ Jesus. There is where we find assurance and promise and grace and comfort in time of trouble. In Christ hope resides in fullest measure for all people, no matter how young or old. In Christ we find answers to our most searching questions. God does care. “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost,” scripture says. It is for this reason that Jesus says, “their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” The angels are not alone in looking after these little ones. Jesus has assured the place of “these little ones” with himself. He is looking after these little ones, with his loving Fatherly hands strong and capable. Amen.