Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Have you ever failed anyone?

Come on now. If you have answered “No,” you may want to rethink your answer. Be honest. You are, after all, answering a question from your pastor.

Have you ever failed anyone?

Of course you have. Of course I have. I think it’s just part of being human. Just this past week in fact, I had someone tell me that I had failed them, that I had disappointed them, that I had let them down. It made me feel pretty terrible. Letting people down always does.

Here’s a tougher question: Have you ever failed God? I believe the answer will again be “Of course you have.” I know I have.

That’s about the only thing I don’t like about today’s “Great Hymn of the Faith.” I love the words. I love the music. At least for me, it gives me the warm fuzzies inside. God asks over and over again, “Whom shall I send?” and, as the music changes from verse to refrain and creates a certain unexplainable powerful emotion, I answer God, “Here I Am, Lord!” This is a great song of commitment and dedication and sanctification until you stop to ask yourself if the song too often just gets left in church. When you and God are involved in intimate conversation, is your answer to His question always, “Here I Am, Lord”? Again, be honest. This time you don’t have to answer me, but you do have to answer God.

That’s really the beauty of the pure Gospel message that we find in the Bible. Thank God that He didn’t develop our salvation to be dependent upon you or me. Could you imagine what chance we’d have of ever inheriting eternal life in Heaven if God were to count and add up the times that we answered “Here I Am, Lord” – and actually followed through on that commitment – and if those times had to actually outweigh the times that we respectfully encouraged the Lord to find someone else to do His dirty work.

That’s the explanation of the comment made by the writer of the Book of Hebrews this morning, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire, to darkness, gloom and storm, to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them because they could not bear what was commanded ...” [Hebrews 12:18-19].

That’s the scene from Mount Sinai that had been passed down from one generation to another. It’s the scene of when the written law was given [Exodus 19], Moses on the mountain top receiving those two tablets of stone, the people keeping their distance from the mountain fearing that Moses was dead because of the terrifying sights and sounds they were observing. To those who witnessed that scene, you can be certain that every time they broke one of those laws, that frightening scene came back to mind and they feared having to face that angry God.

But the writer of the Book of Hebrews assures us that’s not the kind of God we approach. No, we approach “Mount Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem, the City of the living God, where thousands upon thousands of angels gather in joyful assembly, to the place where our names are written in Heaven. We approach Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant, Whose sprinkled Blood speaks to us a better word” [Hebrews 12:22-24], a word of needed forgiveness.

You see, when God delineated the magnitude of the dilemna before Him, that His whole creation had woefully fallen into sin and had fallen far from His glory and plan [Romans 8:22], there weren’t a lot of good option available. You can picture God, head in hands, agonizing as He asked Himself over and over again, “Whom shall I send to save My people, to restore My creation, to show them I still love them?” It was the voice of Jesus, without any hesitation, that picked up that mission of God, that answered firmly and resolutely, “Here I am, Lord. I will go, Lord. I will hold Your people in my heart.”

That one word of commitment and dedication, followed by the unwavering obedience to that commitment, is what makes all the difference for you and for me. It makes all the difference in how we approach God. It makes all the difference how we live our lives here on earth. It makes all the difference in how we view our lives for all eternity.

It was Jesus Who answered, “Here I am.” Jesus said those words when the angel Gabriel announced His coming birth to Mary. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words in Bethlehem’s manger as the angels filled the sky with songs of praise. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words at age 12 as He amazed all those in the temple that day. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words as He called each of His disciples. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words to Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words to Pontius Pilate when He was threatened with the death sentence. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words as the Roman nails pierced His hands and feet. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words as people laughed at Him hanging naked on the Cross. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words when He yelled, “Tetelestai – It is Finished!” “Here I am.” Jesus said those words when He rose on Easter morning. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words as Mary stood crying at His empty tomb. “Here I am.” Jesus said those words as He walked through those locked doors and confronted the fears of His followers. “Here I am.” Jesus says those words every time we approach His altar and receive His Body and Blood. “Here I am.” Jesus will say those words when the time for each of us to leave this world arrives and we’re grasping for something to cling in our hands to present to our God as our admission into His Heaven. “Here I am.” Jesus will say those words as we join that great crowd gathered around His Throne in Heaven, eternally singing His praises.

My friends, don’t worry about those times that you’ve let others down. Don’t worry about those times you’ve let yourself down. Don’t worry about those times you’ve let God down. Instead, let your eyes focus upon your Savior Jesus. Allow your ears to hear His words, “Here I am.”

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena