BLESSED ASSURANCE

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3; Romans 8:18-25

Text: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the

conviction of things not seen.

INTRODUCTION

On this Founders’ Sunday 2004, as we remember the past, rejoice in the present and seek renewal for the future which God holds in store for us, our text is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen …

According to Dr. Louis Evans, the Presbyterian pastor, preacher, Bible scholar and father of Andie Goodrich in this congregation – according to Dr. Evans’ Biblical Commentary on Hebrews, this letter was probably written to “…second generation Christians who had been reared in the Jewish religion…” and who had begun to face the brutal persecutions of the Roman Emperor Nero “…sometime between 65 and 70 A.D.” (From “The Communicator’s Commentary: Hebrews” by Dr. Louis H. Evans, Jr., Word Books, Waco, Texas, 1985, pages 25, 30).

So it seems to me that the purpose of this letter was to encourage those besieged believers to hold fast to their faith in Jesus Christ, and to look forward toward the future with hope in the midst of that painful, fearful, traumatic moment in history.

Almost 2000 years later, I believe that these biblical words still speak to us today, for we Christians are living in a time when our traditions are being ignored and discarded by an increasingly secular culture; a time when our American Protestant Denominations are struggling with divisive issues and declining membership; a time when our international brothers and sisters in the faith are being persecuted by hostile governments and are caught in the cross-fire of religious conflicts; in fact, a time when the whole world, as the Apostle Paul described it to the Romans, is groaning in travail (Romans 8:22), seeking peace among the nations and some sign of hope on the horizon.

So like our first century forbears, I think that we can read and understand these words from the Letter to the Hebrews as a source of encouragement to hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ and to go on instead of giving up, no matter how dark or difficult the road ahead might be: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…

It was that same assurance, call it “Blessed Assurance,” which inspired 19 visionary men and women to found this church in January of 1848, and to weather the storms of the War Between the States; it was blessed assurance that guided J. Sprole Lyons, Sam Inman and other leaders from our congregation to purchase this property at the corner of 16^th and Peachtree in 1913 and to dedicate this grand and glorious sanctuary in April of 1919; it was blessed assurance, courage and conviction which enabled our church to navigate through World War I and the Great Depression, World War II and the Conflict in Korea, the Orly Plane Crash, the Civil Rights Era and the Viet Nam War, followed by an increasing commitment to Community Ministry with the poor across this city and mission partnerships with people in need throughout our world.

My friends, that is our tradition and we are here to celebrate all that has been as we remember the foundations that were laid long ago, and all those who have helped to make this church healthy and strong. The Bible calls them The cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) and we can see them in our mind’s eye, an extensive line stretching out across time – parishioners and pastors who have done their best to lead the way, and have left the rest in the hands of God and passed it all on to us today.

This morning, we pay special tribute to all those who joined this church over the years through 1948, including our longest living member, Mamie Lowe Hubbard, now 102, who became a member here when she was eight years old and we were located downtown on Marietta Street.

Mamie Lowe is still going strong, thank God, and she reminds me of a story that one of you shared with me about a little girl sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a story. From time to time that little girl would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch her grandfather’s wrinkled cheeks, and then she would touch her own cheeks as well. Finally she said, “Grandpa, did God make you”? “Yes He did sweetheart. God made me a long time ago,” he answered. Then she said, “Did God make me too”? “Yes indeed He did, dear, God made you just a little while ago.” The little girl touched his face and then her own face again and said, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t He”?

And I think of another lady who turned 100 and was surrounded by her family and friends for the birthday celebration. One of the children asked her during the party, “Great Gran” (that’s the name they had given her), “Great Gran, what was it like back in your day”? The wise old centenarian looked down at the little boy with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye and replied, “Sonny, this is my day”!

Well, on this special day, it is a great joy for us to honor Mamie Lowe and all the other “long standing” members who are living examples of the blessed assurance of faith and hope that God has given to them and to this church down through the generations. In fact, one of the people whom we recognize this morning gave me a prayer some time ago which I mentioned last week and want to read to all of you today. It’s entitled “A Prayer for Those Growing Older” – please listen:

“Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will someday be old.

Keep me from getting talkative and especially from the habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all – but thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Seal my lips on my many aches and pains – they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is growing sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally, it is possible that I just might be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with, but a sour old human being is one of the crowning works of the devil.

And help me, Lord, to extract all the possible fun out of life. There are so many wonderful things in this world, and I don’t want to miss out on any of them. Amen.”

It is that sense of humor and humility, wit and wisdom, courage and conviction which marks the lives of those longstanding members whom we recognize on this Founders’ Sunday. For they and their forbears going back to 1848 have believed and staked their lives upon the promise that Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

II.

So let’s move on now from remembering the past, and as we rejoice in this present moment, the time has come to ask the question: “What is our vision for the future?”

Last Thursday afternoon, I drove up to a nursing home in Kennesaw to visit Mr. Ben Gilmer who was 98 years old and had lost his sight, but who’s mind was still bright and we had a good conversation. He talked about his family and how proud he was of all of them. We reminisced about the past and his remarkable career which concluded with his retirement as President of AT&T in New York City. I told him that the photograph he gave to me which shows him smiling on his last day in the office was still on my credenza in the pastor’s study, and that he had been and was still an inspiration and a mentor to me.

And then Ben Gilmer asked how things were going at the church. I told him that we were doing well here, and that I had brought him some sermons from December, including one entitled “Hope for Our Church.” He paused for a moment, tilted his head toward me and said “George, it’s a great church. It’s a great church.”

I agreed, we talked a while longer, then shared a prayer, and going out the door, I said “Ben, Happy New Year and God be with you.” He smiled and replied, “Goodbye, goodbye.” And the next day, his grandson called to tell me that Ben Gilmer had died. We will celebrate his life here in this sanctuary on Tuesday afternoon, knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ben is with the Lord forever in heaven.

Now I share that story with you today because I will never forget the one thing that Ben Gilmer had to say about this church: “It’s a great church,” he said. “It’s a great church.” And I believe that those words are true.

Since the foundation of this church was laid back in 1848, God has been at work in the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. In each and every generation, the Lord has raised up strong and capable leaders who have discerned His will and followed His way. Those men and women who have worshipped, worked and made their witness here at the corner of 16^th and Peachtree have helped to build a great church which has now been passed on to you and to me.

So the question that all of those founders and forbears would ask of us today is the same question which the Lord is ready to help us answer: “What is our vision for the future?”

Ben Gilmer, who had lost his eyesight, helped me catch a glimpse of what is possible in the years ahead. He said, “It’s a great church, it’s a great church.” And with those words, I remembered an unforgettable quote from Helen Keller: “The greatest infirmity is to have sight, but no vision.”

My friends: if we are to be and to become a great church, then we need a bold and challenging vision for the future. We are located strategically in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our next-door neighbor, the Woodruff Arts Center, is expanding their facilities which could open to us a wide range of possibilities in music, drama, dance and the fine arts. We are a growing congregation with spiritual and financial resources that should enable us to dream great dreams and to reach out to all kinds of people, including those homeless men, women and children who keep streaming into this building day after day, week after week. We have recently called associate pastors for family ministry, young adult ministry and a pastor for our partnership with Hillside Church in an inter-racial ministry – all of which are increasing our ability to touch the lives of men, women and children with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Three years ago, we set in motion a long range planning process, and by this spring, our session will be letting you know what they have discerned and discovered about the Lord’s vision for the future of this great church. This is an exciting time for our entire congregation, and as we watch and wait and pray for a sense of direction, I hope that we will remember the text that has guided us all these years and has brought us to this present moment.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…

We may not know today what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future in the palm of His hands. And He has promised to work all things together for good for those who love Him and have been called to serve according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

So, may the Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to believe in the blessed assurance and the glorious vision which the Lord God Almighty holds in store for this great church.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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