Tag: Rev. Jaebok Gu

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12, and Colossians 3:1-11

 

Last Thursday, I officiated at the funeral of Will Kruithof, a longtime member of our church. I remember officiating about 30 funerals a year in Korea. But this was my first time in Canada, so I visited Red Deer Cemetery the day before. Looking at the many tombstones on Michener Hill, I thought about life. A person’s life is like a library and a long journey. Today, the author of Ecclesiastes speaks of the meaninglessness of life. At the same time, he invites us to find a core message that transcends that emptiness.

It is generally agreed that King Solomon was the author of Ecclesiastes. He expresses that everything that can be done is meaningless. He had great wealth and power, but something was missing. The author lived his life striving to gain something more. He feels a kind of unquenchable thirst, and he invites us to look beyond the meaningless beneath the sun and revere the eternal God above the sun.

The Bible introduces us to the various types of this vain and meaningless life through three characters. The first is through Job, who suffered countless adversities for unknown reasons. He complains of the injustice he faces and expresses that his life is in vain. Secondly, when David was king, he committed a great sin. He lost his child as a punishment for his sins. He also lost his honor and fame. At that time, he confesses. “When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth; surely everyone is but a breath(Psalm 39:11). We can confirm the repeated confession of Solomon, David’s son. He said, “When I became a king, I enjoyed many things, but I was not satisfied. So, I studied various knowledge and wisdom, but still failed to find the right answer that cuts through the futility.”

In modern society, this is sometimes called Success Plateau syndrome. The Plateau Syndrome, which means ‘flat land on a plateau’, implies that while individuals or groups climb to that plateau, they have a goal and overcome any difficulties to achieve what they want. Still, after achieving what they wish to, they face a crisis. That is, when some people have a clear goal, they work hard toward it, whether it is something they truly want or not, but once they achieve that goal, they don’t know what to do next. Since they only knew how to climb, they were confused when they reached the high plains. This often happens when they don’t anticipate the goal and its consequences, or when it differs from their expectations.

How can we overcome this meaninglessness? Every dead person in that cemetery has their own story and history. There are probably some people who have had a lot of wealth during their lifetime. Some people are very wise. Some of them are courageous war veterans. But Solomon felt that the wisdom and knowledge he had studied faced a limit called death. Sometimes we have goals and strive to live a successful life. Even so, after that, we must meet the end of this time, which is death. At the same time, we can open the door to a new world called death. For those without faith, death will be the end. But for Christians, life is just a set amount of time on this earth. And we pass into a new and deeper world of fellowship with God. We call that place heaven.

But today, Solomon addresses how we should live before we die. Even if we try our best throughout our lives, it will be full of futility. But there is one thing that is not in vain: fellowship with God. It is walking with God and faithfully believing in the Creator. I can’t do it on my own. It is not possible with my wisdom and knowledge. Discovering this principle is the key to overcoming meaninglessness.

On this matter, the Apostle Paul presents the same opinion as Solomon. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2). Who are we? We are Christians. Jesus bought us with his life and blood. He paid the price. We are given new life through Jesus. Because of Jesus, we are saved, and because of Him, we can hope for life after death. This allows us to meditate on actual values. He gave us this treasure of wisdom as a gift. Through this truth, we have become new people. We were baptized and became new beings. We have come to have a vision of a heavenly kingdom that transcends worldly values. He taught church members to look to Jesus Christ in the Colossae region two thousand years ago, an area rife with heresy. However, Paul’s teachings were not only valid for that time. Even in modern society, there are numerous heresies. How many things are there that take our lives away from God? What is it that blinds my eyes, covers my ears, and separates my thoughts from God?

So, Paul presents the basic principle of Christian life: to pursue the things above. He also provides specific directions and guidelines on how this principle should be reflected in real life. In 3:5-11, Paul mentions the old habits that Christians must put aside. The bottom line is this: Be renewed in the Lord and with the Lord. Become a new person. “Have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (10) When humans sin and fall, they lose the image of God.

Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, ‘The Last Supper’, tells the story of the models for Jesus and Judas Iscariot. According to legend, da Vinci spent a long time searching for a good and beautiful young man to be the model for Jesus. After that, he went out to find a model for Judas among prisoners, and it is said that he eventually found the image of Judas in a cruel prisoner awaiting execution. However, there is a rumor that these two models are the same person.

Paul gives us a goal to achieve through maturity, which is to restore the image of God, the Creator. It is to become like the image and mind of Jesus Christ. It is about trying to live like Christ. It is about living by restoring God’s holiness. I hope that we can live with the insight to realize all of this. Amen.

 

Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138, and Luke 11:1-13

 

Today’s reading from Genesis is an episode that is very familiar to us. This is a scene of conversation between God and Abraham regarding the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. At that time, many people suffered injustice because of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. We need to remember that God hears the voices of the victims. The perpetrators were sexually depraved and spiritually corrupt, which led many to think of Sodom and Gomorrah as representative of cities of sin. So God says in verse 21 that he will visit this place. God wants to determine the cause of the outcry of the people that He has heard. I want to meditate on three points together through the conversation between Abraham and God.

First, there are people who advocate on behalf of others. Ordinary people rarely encounter judges, lawyers, or prosecutors in their lives. They play a vital role in forming and maintaining society. Moreover, it was a new learning experience for me that in Canada, we have to meet with a lawyer when doing real estate transactions. In fact, in Korea, real estate agents handle most of the work from start to finish. However, since the realtor and the lawyer divided the work among themselves, I felt a sense of security because they handled the work responsibly. A lawyer represents the accused or the victim in the prosecution’s argument, and thus tries to get a good verdict from the judge.

Here Abraham plays this role. God is going to judge the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. At that time, Abraham raised the issue that it was unfair for a just God to punish the righteous and the wicked equally. “If there are fifty righteous people in that city, will you destroy it?” he asks. God answers that he will not destroy it. If there are 45 righteous people again, will you forgive them? God says. “I will not destroy it.” Abraham dares to ask God again. God says that if there are 40 righteous people, 30 righteous people, 20 righteous people, or 10 righteous people, God will leave the city alone.

But the important thing is that Abraham minimized the number of people needed for forgiveness from 50 to 10. It is challenging to haggle down the price of goods at a farmer’s market, but he reduced it by a whopping 80%. The subject of negotiation is not the people of the world, but God. Abraham had nothing to lose. Of course, Abraham would have been worried about his nephew Lot. And he might have expected Lot’s family to live righteously. However, it would have been possible to send a messenger to inform Lot of the news. But instead of taking this easy way, he decided to convince God. He may have risked his life here. Even if they are sinners, please preserve their lives. Have mercy on the righteous. Perhaps he represented the people of Sodom and Gomorrah with this mindset. This leads us to contemplate whether maybe we, too, can play this role. In this age, many people live forgetting God. They go out and find what they think is right and good. A generation accustomed to life without God may become mainstream in Canada. But we can pray to God for them, saying, “God, please give them one more chance.”

Second, there is a God who waits for the righteous. Conversely, from God’s perspective, God is still looking for righteous people today. He found 50 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. And he is looking for 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10 people. Can you sense the heart of God revealed through these numbers? I even feel like there was an intention not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. “If possible, I do not want the way of judgment and wrath. And I am looking for righteous people who believe in God and fear Me, even if they are few.” Of course, it wasn’t a large city with hundreds of thousands of people living there, but it was a situation where the two castles around the Dead Sea could disappear. Not only people, but also livestock, may disappear due to judgment and disaster. I believe that in the conversation between Abraham and God, God is seeking a reason not to judge the city. That is how much God waits for the righteous. Why is that? Because through them, others can come to God. Because that righteous person becomes the channel of life and blessing. We are familiar with this principle through Jesus. Even if thousands or millions of people sin, they can still be saved through Jesus Christ. Today, hundreds of millions of people have found salvation through Jesus Christ. You can enjoy a life of blessings. Through Jesus Christ, we can enjoy the peace of God. And today too, God calls the righteous. We hope to be those who respond and say Amen to that call.

Finally, there are those who pray. Just as our faith is our life, Abraham’s conversation is deeply rooted in religion. He prayed earnestly to God in his heart. And Jesus tells us very clearly about this prayer. That’s what we confess every Sunday morning. Jesus asked his disciples to pray to God first. He prayed that God’s name would be hallowed and that God’s kingdom would come to this earth. He taught us about sin, faith, and forgiveness for the daily lives of His people. He instructed us to pray for our daily bread, our most urgent need. Like Jesus, like Abraham, some people pray for us. And when we pray, the things God wants will come true. Even in suffering and disaster, we can still pray. Even in the face of judgment, we can pray. Let us live like this as people of prayer. Let us pray for Vacation Bible School this week, for our patient members, for those in need in Red Deer, and for our neighbors in need across Alberta, Canada, and around the world. We believe that God, our parents, will fill our needs with good things and bless us. Amen.

Genesis 18:1-10a, Psalm 15, and Colossians 1:15-28

 

#1. Fear and tension in dealing with strangers

The book of Genesis tells the story of Abraham serving three visitors. Some call them God and two angels, while the Bible calls them God and men. This happened about 4,000 years ago. If three strange adult males showed up in front of our house, we might feel afraid. We will be even more wary of them if their skin colors do not look like that of our local residents. But today, Abraham treats them with great hospitality.

Four thousand years ago, when people set out on a long journey, they needed someone to help them. The traders visited base camps along the way. They had to secure a safe route to get what they needed, including water and food. These traders and foreigners, on the other hand, caused anxiety among the long-time residents of the area. Nevertheless, the harsher the climate, the more cordially these guests were treated. The Mongols, Eskimos, and many other indigenous peoples of this land showed kindness to the traders and settlers who came from other nations. The same is true of the story of Abraham and the Middle East in today’s Bible. Although each region and culture is different, the basic feeling of wariness and fear of strangers is inevitable.

#2. God appeared to Abraham.

The important thing today is that God has come. God came to meet Abraham. Let’s look at the episodes up to Genesis 18. There are creation, the genealogy of human history, human sin and forgiveness, judgment through the flood, the story of the Tower of Babel, and the story of Abraham and his nephew Lot. There is a cycle of repeated human mistakes, judgments, forgiveness, and so on. And again, humankind sins and turns away from God. It is for this humanity that God himself came to us. And the Creator planned to begin with Abraham. He is a very suitable person for this job. We can know him today through his actions in entertaining God and the two angels.

#3. Jesus appeared to us.

God is invisible to our eyes. When I was in elementary school, when I told my friends that I went to church, they asked me, “Is there a God? If God is, show him before my eyes.” We know this is a very childish thing to say. That is impossible. Yet the apparent fact is that God often comes to us. He comes in human form, as in Genesis. God also usually accompanies Jesus when he sends him into this world. So, God revealed himself to be visible to human eyes. That is why Jesus said in John 14:9: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” These words of Jesus explain that he himself is the form of the invisible God. We see Jesus by faith. We meet Jesus in prayer. We have an intimate relationship with Jesus through faith. Of course, to see God, God must reveal Himself to us.

#4. Challenging service

When we meditate on Jesus, He is the firstborn from among the dead (18), He makes peace through His blood, shed on the cross (20), and He has reconciled you through Christ’s physical body by His death. (22) When we think of Jesus’ ministry, the path was hard. He was so desperate that, right up until the moment of his death, he wanted to avoid the cross if possible.  It’s a very shameful death. How could the Son of God endure such a shameful death? But in the end, he obeyed God’s will and plan. How could his disciples betray the Son of the omnipotent God? The Son of God suffers under the Roman soldiers, including Pontius Pilate. It was initially impossible. But God and Jesus made this possible. Although it was a shameful path, at the end of this path, he looked forward to the glory of God and the salvation of humankind. Jesus’ ministry on the cross. Through this, he became the firstborn among the dead. Through his blood, peace became possible for humankind. Through His perfect death on the cross, we can be fully reconciled to God.

#5. But the blessings that follow

Abraham served three foreigners. He treated them very kindly. Jesus served humanity by giving everything he could, even losing his precious life. This whole serving process was challenging. But we know the outcome. God promised Abraham a son when he was about 100 years old. Starting with this, he was made the ancestor of countless descendants. And God blessed him to live another 75 years. God also resurrected Jesus Christ with a perfect body. It was different from Lazarus, who was resurrected before Christ. He was not much different from the dead. However, Jesus’s body was now different from before, so the disciples did not recognize him right away. Through this service, Jesus finally attained supremacy over all beings in the world.

#6. Easy Discernment

What is the secret to making difficult service and permitted blessings possible? I think it lies in discernment. Throughout Genesis chapters 14 and 21, we learn that Abraham was a man of considerable influence in the area where he lived. He had the wealth and military power to defeat the tribal kings. Naturally, many people wanted to meet him. He must have had quite a few guests. But he was a man accustomed to serving, as he had given a tenth of his possessions to Melchizedek. Because he was sincere to everyone he met, he was finally able to serve God well when he met Him again. Easy discernment is not to discern at the same time. We believe that by serving others to the best of our ability without discrimination, God will grant us the blessings and grace that He promised to Abraham and Jesus. Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-10, and Colossians 1:1-14

 

Last week, while visiting with our church member, I talked with her about life and faith. And speaking of the church, she said that our Knox meant a lot to her. I was so touched by that story that I couldn’t help but think about her for the past few days.

What is the Christian life? Is there a difference between life in church and life outside church? Many people find it difficult to talk about faith. As Canadian society becomes more secular, conversations about God outside of church become increasingly restricted. Even with very close friends, we often do not know their religion or church. Of course, traditional values and different views on the gospel can sometimes make conversation challenging even among people of the same religion. However, as I begin my sermon, what I would like to share is that for us Christians, there is no separation between religion and life. Faith is life, and life is faith.

As I have often shared with you, there are not many Koreans in Red Deer. Half of them can be met by going to church on Sunday, going to a sushi restaurant, or going to a Korean restaurant. Sometimes, without me knowing it, some recognize that I am a pastor at Knox Church. So, I became cautious wherever I went. Also, if someone drives threateningly on the road, I no longer protest. Especially when I wear a clergy shirt on Sunday mornings.

So then, what kind of life does the Lord consider worthy? First, it is an attitude in which faith and life are not separated. Most of us feel that faith and life are not different. The reason is as follows. Because we know that God sent us here. We are disciples sent to Red Deer. So, we must make this place beautiful by meditating on God’s will and thoughts. God has given us this responsibility and mission. Of course, fundamentalist Christians may think that the world is too secular and evil. They even think that Satan and capital rule the world. Some people believe that only the church is good and safe. But we know that God created this world, and as stewards, we must preserve it well for future generations. So, as Christians, we must fulfill our roles at home and live exemplary lives at work every day. It is not easy, but it’s our responsibility.

The Colossae church was started by Epaphras, a disciple of Paul. The more I hear that story, the happier I become. So the Apostle Paul confesses: “³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—” I also look at your photos and pray every time I start work. Then I feel happy. You mean so much to me and are a joy to me. So I’m grateful for my life here, and I feel happy whenever I think of the members. Although we sometimes encounter differences of opinion, I am thankful. Because it’s proof that we are open and diverse in our opinions, it is also evidence of that much trust and stability. The members of the Colossae church lived with the hope of heaven. They had a strong faith based on the gospel. However, their knowledge was weak, and some members were influenced by heresy at the time. So the apostle Paul was concerned about this and wanted to convey to them the principles of faith. So he wrote a letter to help the members gain the correct knowledge of faith.

In specific terms, some members of the Colossae church at that time were influenced by Gnostics, so they claimed that the teachings of Epaphras, who taught the gospel, were incomplete. They denied that Jesus Christ came in human form. So, because He came as a spirit, they insisted that our bodies are not valuable, but only our souls are. So they tried to teach by adding some other things. The reason Paul explains the origin of his apostolic ministry from the beginning is that he had this situation in the Colossae church in mind. He supported Epaphras, emphasizing that the gospel they received was the only authentic gospel preached by Paul and Epaphras, the apostles, by the will of God.

Likewise, various heresies are  infiltrating North America today. Sometimes heretics from Asia came. Sometimes they come from South America. The important thing is to live a right life through a proper understanding of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in whom we believe.

Jesus Christ is the Redeemer in whom we have redemption. Furthermore, Christ, as the Head of the Church, has an organic and vital relationship with the body of the Church, and the Church can never maintain life apart from Him. And Christ, as the Reconciler, is the only mediator who reconciles God and humans. Christ is also the Secret of God and is a man of all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. That is, Christ is a perfect and excellent being who cannot be compared to anything else in His existence and work. Therefore, God will highly value the life of a disciple who completely believes in and follows Jesus Christ.

Next, we have to obey the Lord our God and keep his commands and decrees. The author of Deuteronomy says in verses 9 and 10: “The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, ¹⁰ if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Of course, it is difficult for us, like the Jews, to remember and keep the provisions of the various laws established in the Old Testament. So God gave us a very simple law of faith through Jesus Christ. It is to love God and love your neighbor. When we do our best in this work, God promises to bless our workplace and peace for our children and descendants. Therefore, I boldly ask you to approach the Word, serve God well, and live the gospel itself to your neighbors. Then, I believe that the blessings promised by the author of Deuteronomy will be yours. Amen.

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25

 

Last Sunday’s service was an intergenerational service. We also went on a picnic after the service. This is the first hail I’ve experienced since I came to Red Deer. It’s a series of new and thankful things. Additionally, a church member shared with me an article written by a seminary student for a newspaper about his experience visiting River Lutheran Church for two weeks. As we know, a variety of newcomers come to our chapel during the evening hours to worship and fellowship. We are grateful to be able to assist in this endeavor by providing the necessary facilities, including building rental.

For the past ten months, I have had one wish: that our church be filled with the energy of the Holy Spirit. The law of nature is that abundant energy flows to where it is not. So I had a dream that our church would be filled with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to serve the surrounding churches, the region, the presbytery, and the world church. I am very happy with this ministry because our church members actively participate in all of this process.

If I have one concern, it is how we can better serve the community and the church as a downtown church. Sometimes, when I see the graffiti on the walls of this building and the broken windows, or the countless downtown residents who need help, I have a chance to reflect on what my priorities should be. There is no correct answer. However, we have good motives for this work, and we have a great asset behind us, God. As Psalm 77 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. ¹² I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”  We remember the wonderful things the Lord has done. As a simple example, today’s reading from 2 Kings is the story of Elijah’s ascension.

Elijah and Elisha are going from Gilgal to Bethel. God had a meaningful plan for the end of Elijah’s ministry. It was to be lifted into the sky through the Whirlwind. Elijah knew this and made Elisha stay away from him, fearing that he might get hurt. “Stay here.” However, Elisha declares that he will remain by Elijah’s side as his faithful disciple.

We can understand today’s message more deeply when we understand God’s intention in calling Elijah to Bethel and Elisha’s heart. Bethel means the house of God. This is the place where Jacob, the ancestor of Israel, built an altar and worshipped while running away from his brother Esau. It is also the place where the Ark of the Covenant, which was in Gilgal, was moved. Against this historical backdrop, Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, created a golden calf here in Bethel. Through this, he aimed to create a religious symbol in Jerusalem’s temple. At this religious center, there was a school of prophets, and God invited Elijah to Bethel.

Next, what about Elisha’s heart? I will not leave you. His determination not to leave Elijah stemmed from his anticipation of an eternal separation. He may have felt insecure because he now had to walk in Elijah’s footsteps on his own. The religious situation he experienced at Bethel at the time was negative. The leaders, including the king, and the people did not worship God. They were just busy worshipping local gods who promised prosperity, like those in the surrounding countries. Elisha is left to fight against these forces of darkness and pagan religions. So, even if it meant risking his life, he wanted to become twice as good as Elijah. He earnestly desired that the power of God that came through Elijah would also come upon him, his disciple. “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” (9) This was necessary to demonstrate God’s glory, not his own. A double portion of the Holy Spirit was needed for the people who had lost their way and turned away from God. So, Elijah took his cloak and struck the Jordan River, and the water dried up, becoming dry land. And Elisha, his disciple, performed the same miracle with Elijah’s cloak after Elijah had been taken up into heaven. In this way, the disciple continues the work of his master. As disciples of Christ, we too can do it. You will be able to do the Lord’s work with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I hope that we will stand firm on this belief.

Secondly, to live and act in the Holy Spirit, we must practice the following principles of service. The Apostle Paul introduces this. Serve one another humbly in love. I think this advice from the Apostle Paul is excellent. The more we become leaders, the more we must serve. And at the center of it all must be love. We must get rid of the illusion of a higher position with a love greater than greed. Only then can we be free. Jesus Christ taught us that the greater a person is, the more they should serve. No one in history has ever humbled himself from the highest position to the lowest. No one has ever served humanity with greater love and humility. So, he became our eternal model. Therefore, we all must follow Jesus, our teacher.

Next, we must walk in the Holy Spirit. We have a powerful resource called the fruit of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is with us, human beings respond with various fruits of the Spirit. Christians who have been set free through Jesus Christ should strive to produce these fruits. These fruits also bring joy and happiness to their lives. The nine are as follows: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. Through God’s total love for us, we are given many qualities such as joy, peace, kindness, patience, etc. I hope that we can use these qualities as weapons to overcome the desires of the flesh and keep in step with the Spirit. So, I hope that we all become people who bear the fruit of a perfect relationship with the world and God, together with the Holy Spirit, who is our good guide. Amen.