Pastor Rich's sermon - Sunday, February 22, 2004

While walking down the street one day a female politician is tragically hit by a truck and dies. Her soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. “Welcome to heaven, says St. Peter.

“Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts. We are not sure what to do with you.

The female politician says, “No problem, just let me in.”

St. Peter responds, “Well, I’d like to but I have orders from higher up. What He wants you to do is spend one day in hell and one day in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the female politician.

“I’m sorry but we have rules.” With that St. Peter escorts her to the elevator and she descends to hell.

The doors open and she finds herself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a magnificent clubhouse. Standing on the patio are all of her friends and other politicians who had worked with her. Everyone was happy. They ran up to her, greeted her with hugs began to reminisce about the good times they had. The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the hot tub, playing some golf, dining on the finest cuisine. Why even satan was having a good time, telling a few jokes and dancing with the female politician.

When it was time to go spend her day in heaven everyone gave her hugs and kisses goodbye as she stepped into the elevator. When the doors opened in heaven St. Peter was there to greet her.

She spent her day in heaven moving from cloud to cloud, visiting with contented souls. Some were playing harps. Some were singing psalms, hymns or spiritual songs. Before she realized it her twenty-four hours in heaven were up.

St. Peter returned and said, “Well you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

She reflects for a minute, then the female politician answers, “Well, I would never have said this, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts her to the elevator and she descends into hell. The doors of the elevator open and she is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. She sees her friends, dressed in rags, picking up trash and discarding into a fiery furnace. The devil comes over and welcomes her.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the female politician. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club house. We ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland full of garbage, pain and misery.

The devil looks at her and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning…Today you voted for us!

The truth is everyday you and I cast our vote for God or the devil. From the smallest decisions to the greatest we are faced with a choice to live life for ourselves or to live life for God.

Hezekiah had this choice. Most of the time he got it right but not this time. Hezekiah was one of the few kings of Judah who had a close relationship with God. When he became king Judah's people lacked a trust in God. Hezekiah boldly cleaned house. Altars, idols, and pagan temples were destroyed. The temple in Jerusalem, whose doors had been nailed shut by his own father, was reopened. The Passover was reinstituted and there was a revival in Judah.

When Hezekiah became ill

“he prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.”

As I said most of the time he got it right, but not this time. This time he failed a test from God. The consequence of his failure was that the wrath of God was going to be experienced by himself and the people of Judah. What was this test that had such drastic consequences? The reason he failed the test was his pride.

“Hezekiah’s heart was proud
and he did not respond
to the kindness shown him.”

The test he failed involved showing the envoy from Babylon all storehouses of silver, gold, spices, and fine oil – his armory and everything found among his treasures. Hezekiah’s prosperity, success and deliverance from illness had made him proud. Rather than giving credit to God for all his blessings, he tried to impress the envoys. His actions were a slap in God’s face.

“…God left him to test him
and to know everything
that was in his heart.”

God tested Hezekiah, as God had tested Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, as God tests you and me. Everyday our character, faith, obedience love, integrity and loyalty is being tested. We are being tested by other people, problems, success, conflicts, illness and disappointments. One thing we can be sure of is that God doesn’t want us to fail the test.

“No temptation has seized you
except what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear.”
(1Corinthians 10:13)

No test is insignificant. Every trial and temptation tests our desire to conform to the to society and culture or be transformed by God’s Word and Holy Spirit. Every trial and temptation tests our trust in God, the absolute truth of His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit.

I firmly believe that our congregation’s willingness to wrestle with the recommendations of the consistory is a test. Are we seeking God’s will? Are we concerned about letting people know our desires? Are we just as concerned in hearing about other people’s desires? Are we willing to choose what is right even if it means change? Are we willing to pray for God’s will? Are we willing to trust God that God will make this a stronger church, a stronger fellowship because we wrestled with these issues? Are we willing to say, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in St. Paul’s, in my family, in my work, in my play, in my relationships, in my life, for everything that I have, like everything Hezekiah had has entrusted me to by God.

Life is a trust from God are you willing to trust God? You and I will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handle what God has entrusted to us.

“…God left him to test him
and to know everything
that was in his heart.”

What will your tests reveal about your heart?