Telosvision

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. -Hebrews 11:39-40

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews sets forth an impressive list of biblical predecessors including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, the sons of Israel, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the Prophets.

Each of these in their own right is worthy of a best selling biography if for no other reason than their names are noted in the biblical texts. Yet your name, too, by virtue of your baptism into Christ Jesus, is written in the Book of Life.

These biblical characters of note are waiting for you to be perfected along with them in Christ Jesus at the last day. They are waiting not in the sense you experience time and space, but hidden for now, as all that is seen has been created from what is unseen.

The continuity that extends from the beginning over the span of all human history is given in the promise of salvation, which promise has been fulfilled completely through the innocent suffering and death of the Holy Son of God and His resurrection from the dead.

We too, like the biblical characters of old and believers in the centuries shortly following your Savior's resurrection, are still waiting to be perfected. To the extent you are given to abide in Christ through faith, each moment of every day is one of peeling away the stuff of the old Adam.

Is it not remarkable that even these ancient, biblical characters – even though they have entered into eternal joy and felicity - are still awaiting that time when all things are complete, namely the Last Day?

There are yet children whom the LORD God is forming and raising up for the praise of His glory, among whom you are counted. Do not lose heart.
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Treating With Love

Among Christians it is the practice to forgive sin and bear one anothers' burdens. There is much need for this, because each and all offend both God and neighbor daily and much.

Scarcely a moment of one day goes by that a Christian does not sense and regret offenses given: words spoken unkindly; thoughts about the neighbor that would bring harm; actions which, when held to the light, are lacking in every way when it comes to serving others; every kind of preoccupation that by all appearances is all but godly. It is all there in spades, plain as day.

It is not as if the sin and offense is ignored. It is very much apparent to all, whether within the Body of Christ or without. But the sin, even being inherent and pervasive, is not treated as deserved, each one knowing his debt has been paid at a price so unfathomable as to affect all of creation.

My neighbor in Christ may show much weakness, but He participates with me in the same Christ who, having made all things for the praise of His glory, for our sake became weak. The malice and bitterness so deserved are instead, as of a new creation, turned to love and sweetness.

Among Christians there is great rejoicing, because not only do they know their sins are forgiven, but that they may freely forgive any and all trespasses as Christ has freely, out of everlasting love, forgiven them.

The Fourth Petition you have been taught from Above is lived out in the Body of Christ because Christ is joined to His people, the Holy Spirit giving urge and utterance to all that afflicts the soul as the offenses remain visible to the eyes, yet are removed so completely that even your weak body is destined for perfect glory.
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Treating of Greeting

The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." -Jeremiah 1:3

It is common in many local parishes for the congregation to leave the sanctuary in a procession of sorts, either semi-formal or informal, allowing the Pastor (or Pastors) to greet them individually. On many occasions I have been a Pastor who greets individuals as they leave the sanctuary, just as my Pastor has.

Here it happens that a man given to consider eternal things day in and day out is presented with an unpredictable onslaught of faces and names, each of whom he holds dear to his heart, having often thought through their lives and conditions, needs and cares, and yet never knowing for certain whether his notions are in accord with reality, except that they struggle with the same flesh he does.

For you, dear one in Christ Jesus, who greets your Pastor after Divine Service or on any other occasion, Your Maker is appearing to you from afar and saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness."

A Pastor is often distracted. To you it may even seem as if he is aloof. Although he knows better, human judgments about performance hound him just as badly as your own concerns in daily life do. Yet, as he looks at each face, he is seeing the faces of those who are baptized into Christ Jesus; whose bodies will at the Last Day be raised up pure and unencumbered by all that sticks to these bodies of death; whose lives are hidden in Christ Jesus.

A Pastor delights in seeing the congregation one-on-one, as it were. He knows that despite any and all weaknesses that attend to his person, those under his charge have received the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life that Christ Jesus lavishly bestows upon the Church He purchased through His holy and precious blood; His innocent suffering and death, all of which He most earnestly desired and intended before you were born.

It is for you as you leave the sanctuary just as it is for you going in: that all things delightful and good for you are ready and present according to the way your Creator set up your eternal well-being in Christ Jesus, that He has loved you with an everlasting love, and therefore drawn you into the body and blood of Christ who is risen from the dead, having made perfect payment with joy to purchase and win you to Himself; that He has placed this weak vessel in your very presence to convey gifts that even the highest powers on earth cannot create or offer.
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