by Pastor Douglas Brauner
Eyes Ahead
The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), a post-Civil War organization of Union veterans, listed over 400,000 members of which over 150 of them moved to Colorado and joined Post no. 22 in El Paso County. Though they migrated from elsewhere, they would call Colorado home hoping to find rest from the horror of war.
The G.A.R. is an imperfect example of the Church Triumphant, those Christians who remained faithful to Jesus until death. We are members of the Church Militant, a good phrase to describe what it means to flesh out our faith in this sin-filled world. We continue to battle while they rest from their warfare. Those who rest from their labors are the Christians of whom John speaks in his revelation.
“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:14b English Standard Version
Because of God’s mercy, we experience moments of peace. Yet, life is a battle against our sin, the influence of a world, and Satan himself. In our battle, God does not abandon us. He knows the battles which we fight. We might not sense his presence, but he is with us. God’s Word states that even the angels minister to us in our daily battles (Hebrews 1:14). The metaphor of life as war is unpopular in some circles, yet it aptly describes our experiences.
The battle will one day be over, and God will receive his soldiers into his presence to rest from the battle, not a momentary rest, but an eternal rest in the presence of the Lamb who won the war.
All Saints Sunday was yesterday. It might have been a difficult day for you as you feel raw from the death of someone you loved. You cannot put your pain into words. The collective voice of our loved ones in the Church Triumphant call out to us today, “Don’t give up!” even when the pain is unbearable.
In the battles you face, may your eyes find hope in the vision of rest and the joy of the Church Triumphant.
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
