When Christ died for us He washed away our sins. If we really think about it, we were not in sin anymore as we were sinful by birth but that was taken away by Christ. Yet, we continue to keep bringing that sin in between us and God. Sometimes we need to step away from that and remember that because Christ diesd for us, He equipped us with something that allows us to approach God that is Christ. However we always keep bringing this sin and separating ourselves. I refuse to believe that this lifetime is meant to be nothing more than just knowing that there is heaven. I refuse to believe in God only for the after life. There is more to it than that. This life matters and the troubles of this life matter. And if they not than what is the point of crying about this life. Might as well believe and then kill our selves so we can get to the after life part quicker. It does not work that way. After life is after and present life is present. If we cannot approach God and trust Him with our present why would anyone do it with their after?

Thanks Sasa. These are good questions. While I was citing Yancey’s discussion on life being unfair (which I find helpful), the broader frame is that we live in a fallen world. We cannot claim that the world is fallen and then expect it to be paradise. How does God respond to the pain and suffering of the world? In several ways – the most important being that God does not allow the fall to be the last word. Death is not the end. Ultimately justice is an eschatological category and thing are set right over eternity – rather than in this lifetime. How then does God help in this life? First, the promise of something beyond brings hope, second, God promises to journey with us through whatever we face (so as Christians we never face difficulty or trial alone) and third, sometimes God intervenes to change the difficult or painful situation we face. We can’t bank on that, because God’s purposes are not always easy to understand, but we do continue to pray that God will take our cup of suffering away. But even as we pray that, we must accept that God may reply, “No – but my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor 12:9).

I impressed Lesley. The original of this sermon was indeed preached at Roskill – about 20 years ago now. This was a bit of a refresh of the original – but I am really encouraged that some of it was remembered. Hope the move has gone well for you and Mark.