Isaiah 65:17-25 Gods Future Story November 13, 2016

Last week, in prayer and communion, sermon and song, we remembered

the past. We called up the memories of people we love and re-membered them
into the one living body of Christ through story telling and the power of
imagination, through uplifting music and broken bread making us whole. We
named how it is that the impact of people and events of the past shape who we
are today in our culture, our homes and our lives of faith. We also noted how so
much of scripture is devoted to rehearsing the story of Gods people -
Over and over again in the Hebrew Scriptures, Gods people were
commanded to remember that they were once enslaved. Remember that they
were once a stranger in exile. Remember that they were once a people with no
home. Remember that they were once no people. The purpose of this
remembering was to inform the behavior of Gods people in the present. Dont
forget who you are and the circumstances that shaped you.
Our present is impacted by the past, whether it was positive or negative.
When we remember how we were once welcomed, we can welcome others.
Remembering how we might have been bullied in the past may make us inclined
to bully others, or it may give us pause so we dont injure others in the present.
Remembering when our needs were provided for when we were unable to do so,
so that we can provide for someone elses needs today.
This morning I want to suggest that our present identity and behavior is
equally informed by the stories we tell ourselves about the future. In our current
socio-economic reality in the United States, the future stories we hear and tell
conflict with each other. We hear future stories of greatness and of failure.
Stories of rejuvenation and alienation. Stories of revival and of destruction.

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 Whatever story we tell ourselves about the future has a direct bearing on
our countenance in the present. If our future story is one of might and power and
conquering, then we become puffed up and over-confident in the present. If our
story is one of victimization and powerlessness and deflation, we become
depleted and self-deprecating in the present. Neither option serves us well as
people who come together as the body of Christ. Neither over-confidence nor
self-deprecation will further the realization of Gods reign on earth, nor will either
of these qualities enhance our development as disciples of Christ.
Our future story the story we tell ourselves and our children cannot be
tied up in politics and rhetoric. Our future story the story that guides us and
informs our well-being in the here and now must be tied to Gods future story.
This is the story that we hear in Isaiahs prophecy. It is not an apocalypse rife with
destruction and barriers and nationalism. It is a pastoral scene of Gods creatures
once at odds, living in peace together.
Gods story has to do with a grander vision than boundary lines and
national identities and skin color. Gods future story is about justice. It has to do
with distribution of goods provision of food for all enough food for all. The
one who works on the land, benefits from that work. The one who builds houses
gets to live in a house. Children will not be born into slavery or die from hunger
and neglect. Gods future story is a vision of everyone living together on the holy
mountain. The mountain of God is a place where there is no destruction or
separation, but a coming together of even those who were seemingly created to
be enemies, like wolves and lambs. The mountain of God the kingdom of God
is a state of mind, a set of humane behaviors and a heart of compassion that
already dwells among us, and needs to be nurtured and reinforced.

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 We can choose Gods future as our own. We do not need to buy into the
stories of politicians, fear mongers, newscasters, and bloggers. Instead, we can
measure the stories that we see and hear from social media, t.v., radio and
people around us, by the Story of God. How do the stories provided to us in the
past week measure up to the vision of Gods mountain of creativity and peace? If
they are not measuring up in your heart and mind, then you have the opportunity
to redefine the future story that you are going to live by. What future story will
give you the confidence to live into that vision of Gods holy mountain?
There are reports circulating that up to 8 people who are transgender have
died by suicide since the election. Even though these reports have not been
substantiated, one can imagine how concerned and fearful our transgender family
members must be. What we do know for sure is that there is an increase in
overtly rude and hateful behavior and comments in the name of not needing to
be politically correct any more. In the last week, 2 of my students at McCormick
Seminary were called Nigger. Another student comforted a neighbor who was
told she and her family, all US citizens, had to move out of their apartment or
they would be deported back to Mexico. These are not images that fit with Gods
story, past, present or future. This is not the model of hope and reconciliation we
want for future generations. These explicitly hateful acts fly in the face of what
God intends for humanity.
When these stories are measured by Gods future story, there is a gaping
chasm. In order to bridge that chasm, we are in a unique position of praciticing
the discipleship we have talked about all this season. In order to get from
disparaging words and acts to a place of oppressor and oppressed living together
in mutual respect, you and I must engage our discipling skills of embracing

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difference, practicing service, showing compassion, and engaging our energies to
model Gods way of life not a blue or red, or black or white, or US or global way
of life.
Our political reality does not determine our identity as people of God. We
are created and inherently valued by One Divine Creator. This is who we are. We
are held, inspired and encouraged by a transcendent Spirit that did not create us
and then leave us to our own devices. Holy Spirit is still creating, and still shaping
our present lives by giving us a future story that surpasses any earthly hope or
fear we could ever have. With confidence we can live into the hope that is
proclaimed by Jesus and made real by the work of our hearts and hands. We
have the future promise of justice and peace on Gods holy mountain, and
therefore have every reason to live NOW as hope-filled people.
Fear not! We have the assurance that GOD IS STILL SPEAKING
Amen.

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Isaiah 65:17-25
Lay Reader: For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former
things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people
as a delight.
Rev. Ann: I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the
sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in
it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a
lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and
one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
Lay Reader: They shall build houses and inhabit them;
Rev. Ann: They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Lay Reader: They shall not build and another inhabit;
Rev. Ann: They shall not plant and another eat;
Lay Reader: For like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my
chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Rev. Ann: They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they
shall be offspring blessed by the Lord and their descendants as well. Before
they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
Lay Reader: The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw
like the ox; but the serpentits food shall be dust!
Rev. Ann: They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says
the Lord.