Matthew 5:1-12

Eyes of Faith

            If your day-to-day life hinges on what is going on in our world, then you might want to pick your bible up and start reading. If your mood swings from elated to despair based on what comes out of the White House, you might want to get on your knees and pray more often. If you can’t find any reason to be happy during the troubles and turmoil of life, then perhaps your faith isn’t as strong you think it is. Indeed, this is a lesson that we all must learn so intimately as Christians. And I know, there’s room for growth in all of us. None of us are perfect and we often succumb to the despair and hopelessness that pervades our world. But this is one of the most fundamental lessons about being a Christian. We can no longer look at this world like everyone else, but must understand everything through the eyes of faith. It’s when everything is going wrong that faith is meant to shine the brightest. It’s when life is falling apart that we can cling to faith all the more closely. It’s when we don’t have any explanations for the evil around us that we must rely solely on the hope we have by faith for a world made right. For even if everything seems to be going your way at present, give praise to God for the goodness he has bestowed upon you, but also, look at how you can be a blessing for those less fortunate around you. This is to say, that as Christians, faith should be everything to us in every circumstance, in good and in evil, in prosperity and in poverty, in life and in death.

            For today, we hear Jesus speak his blessings over us in the Beatitudes. But through these blessings, Jesus leads us to see our world in a new light. When things aren’t going as we wish in this life, there are still greater blessings awaiting us in the life to come. For so let us open our eyes of faith, as we learn today: 

LOOK BEYOND THE SUFFERING OF LIFE TO THE ETERNAL BLESSINGS OF GOD!

I.

             I don’t need to ramble about how difficult life can be. I think we all imagine, to some extent, our own worst-case scenario, our rock bottom circumstances, not because we think it’ll happen, but to try to keep it from happening. This is why when people land in that exact situation, they often become hopeless and driftless. If we can pour all of our effort into making the best life possible and still find rock bottom, then what hope is there for us? I want you to understand that it’s these types of people that Jesus is speaking to in the Beatitudes. These are people who feel like they’ve lost everything. They’ve been told by this world that they’re worthless and useless. Only to hear Jesus open his mouth, and say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:3. Blessed? Really? Do you know how bad my life is Jesus? For, I think, we often imagine blessings come only in the form of wealth or power. So, Jesus calling the poor blessed is a wild counter to our normal way of thinking.

            But here is where I want to challenge that worst-case, rock bottom scenario you’ve created in your head. For you see, what is the worst thing that could possibly happen to you or someone you love? Isn’t it death? Now take that away. What’s next? Becoming homeless? Losing your job? Becoming ill? Indeed, if we look at life only by the eyes of this world, everyone would tell us that life is meaningless if you’re suffering. Our world even says there’s some suffering worse than death, that death is even preferable! Yes, this is why our world is so hopeless and filled with despair. If all suffering is to be avoided lest our life become meaningless, then there’s not much to live for at all. However, hear what Jesus tells you, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matthew 5:11-12. Again, blessed… blessed when life is down in the dumps. Blessed when people hate you. Blessed when life doesn’t always go your way. 

II.

            This is why I want you to look at the Beatitudes differently. These blessings which Jesus speaks over us, over his people aren’t meant only for comfort. Comfort is actually secondary to the goal Jesus has. Rather, the goal of the beatitudes is to challenge you to reorient your view of life, the world, and everything. For I want you now to think about what the worst-case scenario is for a Christian? Is it death? No, because then we get to be with Jesus! Is it going bankrupt? Well, no, because we get to see all the more intimately the providential hand of God. Don’t even get me started on how people treat politics. No, it’s not the end of the world if your candidate loses. Why? Because faith looks at our world and says, everything God has placed before me to do, I will do to the best of my ability that God has given me, and the rest, I shall leave up to the hands of God! Faith is that which sees God’s hand at work in our world despite the suffering we see… and we take comfort in that fact. For faith looks past the suffering of this world knowing that God is at work making everything right by his eternal blessings.

            This is where the comfort of the Beatitudes comes in. We find comfort in these words because we’re reminded that even if this life doesn’t turn out how we want, that God still has bigger and better things in store for us. We’re reminded, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted… Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” Matthew 5:4, 7-8. Jesus’ blessings are pointing us toward the reality of heaven and earth made new. They point us to the cross where Jesus shows us what true blessings are. For some things are more valuable than any amount of money, or power, or fame. It’s the precious body and blood of our Lord that are given us, to forgive us our sins, so that nothing in this life could ever hold us apart from God. By the cross, we receive these blessings even now as we find comfort in God’s love and care for us. Thus, through worship in God’s word, we train our eyes to see life differently that we too may be blessed… blessed by the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross.

            So, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if you find life difficult right now, if suffering has you facing despair, if this world is causing you to lose all hope, then remember that Jesus has called you blessed. Blessed by his blood shed for you so that you may find joy in the eternal blessings of God! In Jesus’ name! Amen.