Cornerstonekaty

LIfe and Death

Psalm 139:1-16

Did you know that God ordained not only the day you were born, but the day that you die? That’s what this means. Death does not surprise God like it surprises us.

For the Sake of His Name

Ezekiel 20

The Boston Red Sox have one of the most passionate fan bases in the nation, evidenced by their reverence for Fenway Park. It is considered one of the most beloved and historic stadiums in all of sports. The emotional well-being and “mood” of the city hinges on the Red Sox performance. Sadly, most of their history has been one of disappointment. In fact, they felt that they lived under the “Curse of the Bambino” having not one a WS for so many decades, attributed to their trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees all the way back in 1919. That curse seemed to rear its ugly head time and again. The Red Sox would make it to the playoffs only to get beat and disappoint their fans. The farther they got in the post-season, the harder the loss was felt.

When the team looked good in 2004, fans wondered if they dared hope for a trophy. That hope grew as they reached the postseason, and then blossomed when they reached the American League championship against their bitter rival, the team that brought about the “curse of the bambino” and their 86 year championship drought, the Yankees. Would it be another heartbreaking loss? The Yankees had beaten them the year before for the championship. And It was looking that way again. They lost game 1, then game 2, and then game 3 in dramatic fashion, 19-8. No team had ever come back from 3 games down. As loyal as Boston fans ordinarily were, the emotional heartbreak that loomed was too much for some who sold their tickets to that 4th game, angry at their team for letting them down.

But not all were fair-weather fans. Those that kept their tickets were witness to one of the most dramatic comebacks in sports history. The Red Sox went on to win the next 4 games to win the championship and then went on to win the World Series.
The God of Israel too appeared to be 3 games down, so to speak, against the world as his people suffered under the rule of the Babylonians. God’s people were on the verge of collapse. And many of his followers had lost their faith. Yet, those who kept it to the end would see the most dramatic comeback in world history. For God would not forsake His name.

So do not give up on your faith, no matter the circumstance. For God will not forsake His name. That is the theme in this chapter. We find it summarized best in verse 44

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.

The Church Seduced by the World

Revelation 2:18-29

Justice and Exile

Ezekiel 18

“God is not just.” is a sentiment that has caused many to reject the Lord. Have you ever run across this? It can happen in a variety of ways. For some who grew up in the church and were part of a church for a time saw or experienced things that shouldn’t have happened; things that brought pain, and went unchecked. That’s a tragedy. They feel justified in leaving not only the church, but the faith they once thought they had.

There are others who see the way of the world around them, the great inequities of people. When George Floyd died in May of 2020 it brought attention to social injustice and how black people did not have the privilege that white people had in society. This is just the tip of things, however. It isn’t limited to black people in Western societies, it is true when you compare one country with another. It is why so many people desire to immigrate the United States. As a whole, there is more wealth and comfort in the US than in many other countries in the world. That rubs against our innate desire for justice. Shouldn’t everyone get to start with an equal footing? Shouldn’t we seek to spread the wealth equally if life is to be fair?

While we may not like it, but we recognize that this is the way it is. You can’t escape the economic conditions of your birth, or the stigmas that society pins on you because of your birth. This reality has been the justification for many to reject or turn away from God and try and find their own way in the world.

This is a bit like what was happening in Israel. Frustrated by their situation, but recognizing it is the way things are, they sought to justify their rejection of God’s calls for repentance. “Why bother?” was their attitude. This is at the heart of this proverb that was popular in their day,

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’ (Ezekiel 18:2)

It was something they accepted as true and used it to make their case against God. “Your justice, God, is wrong!” God addresses this proverb in this chapter and concludes, “no, you’re confused. It is your ways that are unjust.”

the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? (Ezekiel 18:29)

What are we to do in light of this? Turn and live. That’s how the chapter ends.

Faithless Bride, Faithful God

Ezekiel 16

God’s wrath is understood when we can empathize with him as a betrayed husband to his people; how his heart is broken over our unfaithfulness. Breaking the law is not the breaking of some rule written on paper, as a judge might evaluate in a courtroom. Breaking God’s law is personal with God. It is like a spouse’s betrayal. And so, we understand his atoning work, completely underserved, as all the more an expression of how wonderful his love is.

The Glory Departs

Ezekiel 10-11

One of the most tragic moments of the Old Testament is seen by Ezekiel in this vision. In case you don’t remember where we are in the book of Ezekiel, we’re looking at his 2nd vision. We find it in chapters 8-11. In this vision Ezekiel is carried away to Jerusalem where God shows him the abominations that are going on in the temple and the judgment that is coming as a result. It’s been a pattern for centuries: the people of God forsaking their covenant obligations and facing the judgment of God through their enemies. But this time is different. It ends not with repentance and God’s rescue. Instead it ends with the glory of God departing from the temple.

Wise Men Worship

Matthew 2:1-11

How do you respond to the news that Jesus has come? Herod saw him as a threat and disdained him. The chief priests knew the details of prophecy that told of his coming, yet ignored him when he came. Others risked their lives to come and worship. What about you?

The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18

Christmas Turns Duty into Desire

John 1:29-37

Some of you are here this morning with a desire to change. You feel the frustration of trying to live a better life but struggle to change. Two steps forward are often followed by two steps back. How do you break free from this cycle? That’s a good question. John has an answer for you and his name is Jesus.

Before we look at his answer let’s spend a moment reflecting upon the problem, for it isn’t a new problem. In fact, it was the principle problem that God’s people experienced through their history up until the time of Christ. Their story started with Abraham, when God chose him and his family to be His people. It was a future filled with great promise. Specifically, “Go and see a land that I will give to you and your children after you. I will make you into a great nation and through you all the people of the earth will be blessed. You will be my people and I will be your God.” Such high hopes! Abraham obeyed. Two steps forward. And yet, it wasn’t long before Abraham’s descendants reached a low point when they sold their own brother into slavery. In just a few generations they found themselves enslaved to the Egyptians for 400 plus years. Three steps back. Eventually God sent Moses to lead the people out of slavery. God entered into a covenant relationship with him. They would be his people and He would be their God. Two steps forward! But when they got to the border of the promised land, they were afraid of the people there. And so God took them back into the wilderness for 40 years. Two steps back. When that generation died off, he led them once again to the promised land and this time brought them into it. Two steps forward! But they soon forgot God as they blended into Canaanite culture, and as a result, God allowed their neighbors to overcome them. Two steps back. They repented and cried out for another deliverer. God answered and raised up a judge to lead them out of trouble. This was a repeated cycle we see in the book of judges, summed up

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. (Jdg 2:18–19)

Two steps forward, two steps back.

Eventually, the people asked for a king and so God answered. They took two steps forward with King David and two steps back when the kingdom was divided two generations later. There were occassional steps forward with kings such as Jehoshophat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, but they were short lived. One step, two steps, three steps back until God had enough and drove them into exile. But in their exile God promised something new; something better. The cycle would end when the promised one came.

They assumed the cycle would end by once for all conquering their enemies around them. One day this will be true. But Jesus had another mission first. He came to solve with the root of the problem. The cause of all the enemies rising up around them was not because their enemies were too strong, but because God’s people were guilty of sin. Jesus came to deal with take away their sin. This is why he is introduced the way he is: “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This was the key to Jesus accomplishing his mission. This was the key to that cycle ending. Jesus takes away our sin.

Christmas Makes the Humble Holy

Luke 1:46-55

Right off the bat, in the accounts of Jesus we find that Christianity stands apart from the religions of the world. Religion is the practice of living in such a way as to find your way to God. The reward is for the wise, discerning, and disciplined person who has managed to live a good enough life to win the reward of god. In ancient Egypt the dead would be weighed on the scale to see if they were worthy. In ancient Greece the dead lived on through the glory of their accomplishments. Similarly in Norse mythology, where you went after death was largely a result of how well you lived and died. In Eastern religion you move closer and closer to oneness with the universe when you live a better life. But in all of these, there is no reward for the undeserving. Things only get worse.

But Christianity stands apart. It is good news for those who are least in society. It is why we find Jesus saying such statements as,

"So the last will be first, and the first last." (Matthew 20:16)

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Mary’s song shows us this.