2 Corinthians 1: 15-22

A young acolyte moved toward the altar in his catholic church. Nervously he approached the candlesticks. Suddenly he realized that they seemed a mile high. Try though he might, he could not quite reach the wick. Articles of importance were cutting off just enough of his reach. He turned around to look for help. His parents seemed frozen in their pew. The priest was fumbling in his prayer book for his next part. A look of panic crossed his face, and a sense of failure gripped his heart. His shoulders slumped with seeming defeat. Have you ever been there? I have been there.

As a young boy, I spent many summers in Idaho with a wonderful family. There I learned to ride horses, and entered friendly competitions. I was about ten years old when I felt like that young acolyte. We had to clear the arena of some poles to make way for the next event. Bigger fellows on their horses, swooped out, and in one hand, picked up a pole and rode to the side. "I can do that," I said to myself. I dashed out on my horse, grabbed a pole with one hand and tried to lift it. I just about fell off. I didn’t know each pole was set in a cement bucket. Talk about embarrassed. I had to leave it standing there. I wished I could have dug a hole and disappeared. Hoots and laughter followed me. I watched as another rider grabbed it and allowed the competition to go on. Amazing what we remember about success and failure.

Stories like that often remind people - perhaps some here - of how we might feel about our Christian faith. We see the Lord’s Table spread and ready before us. We remember the great sacrifice our Lord made on the cross for us. We remember the call to follow Him. (I’ve tried to follow Him for over fifty years now). I’m sure, like many of you, we feel we have done nothing for Him. Like that acolyte, our shoulders slump. Panic and failure rise up within us.

It is absolutely amazing to me: those of us who have striven all our lives to love and serve the Lord should be the ones needing to hear the Gospel? Our best efforts often fall way short of what we might want to do. I believe Paul wrote these words to as much as to us, as to Corinth! We who want to serve the Lord and seem to fail, need God’s good news!

There was trouble in his beloved Corinth. Friends wanted Paul to come and knock heads together and get things right. God had other plans for him. All that Paul could do for his friends was tell them to remember the promises of God.

Consider his closing words before we are renewed at the Lord’s Table. For the Son of God, Christ, Jesus, who was preached among you by us...was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (2 Co 1.19-22)

First, remember GOD LOVES US MORE THAN ANY OF US CAN IMAGINE! Try to think of all the promises that God has made to us through His Word. God fulfilled them all in His Son Jesus Christ. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes..(20) He is God’s YES to the world! He is better to us than we can imagine!

I heard a story of President Lincoln, who came to visit a field hospital of the Confederate Army. Many of the soldiers feared his visit, for they expected a monster. But when Mr. Lincoln entered the tent, he began to cry. Moving to each wounded man, he bent over them and gave words of comfort. When he left, the men were transformed by the President. They expected a tyrant. Instead they met a kind, gentle and forgiving leader.

One day we will discover that is the way of God. He is kinder, gentler and more forgiving than any of us can imagine. We will wonder why we were so reluctant to trust Him with our lives and our plans. Paul helps us: Look at Christ, not at those who let you down. Christ is God’s "Yes" to us. He really does love us!

Also, remember WE ARE A SPECIAL PEOPLE. We belong to Christ. His Spirit dwells within each of us. He says, "Yes" to our lives! Listen: He who establishes us with you in Christ is God,..(21) Do you trust Him in your life? Or, do you hold some trust back? Zachary Hansel, age 5, was hiking around some big rocks with his father Tim. Zac was above Tim at that moment. Tim was looking down, not paying attention to his son. "Hey, Dad!" Tim looked up just in time to see his son plummeting down straight for him. Both Tim and Zac tumbled to the ground. "Zac, can you give me one good reason why you did that?" "Sure," he responded, "because you’re my dad!" He believed his father was trustworthy. He could jump into life, knowing that Dad was there for him.

If you had your life to live over, what would you do differently? That question might haunt some of us here. We know the dreams and schemes we had. One woman, at the close of her life gave an answer I want to give today: "I would believe God more." Think what we could do, if we believed God more. Others before us have shown this kind of trust. Dwight L. Moody said, "The world has yet to see what God could do with someone totally committed to Him. I want to be that man."

God loves you! Do you know that? Do you believe that? You are special to Him. Do you know that? Do you believe that? What is holding you back from being all that you can be for Him? Christ is God’s Yes for you and me!

Now, before we break bread together, there is one thing more.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME! God...also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge (22) Another way to say this: God made a deposit on you...a guarantee that what He has promised to do in your life...He will do! You and I may not know all the promises of God. We may wonder about the place He has you at this moment. But the best is yet to come!

Our Gospel is not heavy! Our Gospel does not come from an unreachable, untouchable and remote God. God gave His Son for us. He says Yes to you and to me! Why do we get down life? One reason simply is that we see our problem, not our Promoter. Broken hearts and broken lives Christ restores. He calls you and me to lift our eyes from our place to His face...from our mess to His message: He counts you and me as precious! He will not let you go!

Joseph Scriven had planned to marry his sweetheart. But before that could happen, she drowned in a lake. He was crushed. It was many months later, in his desperation for peace, he finally sensed the touch of Jesus Christ. He wrote a poem later set to music that has comforted all of us. "What a Friend we Have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.." He discovered that the best is yet to come.

As we grow with Him, He gives us the strength to live and love. O, remember the young acolyte? Slumped shoulders, a tear tumbling down his cheek, parents and priest unable or unaware to help. As though a light went on his head, he moved back to the altar and the daunting candlesticks. Reaching over his back and eyeing his target, he was able to arch just enough to light the first candle. He moved to the second and also triumphed. Then, snuffing the light and placing the lighter on the marble floor, jubilation burst out. With both his thumbs in the air he exclaimed for all to hear, "YES!!!"

That is our jubilation. God loves us more than we will ever grasp. We are a special people to Him. He made a good deposit on you and me. Join me with two thumbs up and say to Him - YES!