Nothing Is Lost, But Everything Is Made New
Rev 21:1-6 John 6:35-40
I used to go to cricket with my Father in law.
We’d sit together and watch the game and chunter on merrily for hour after an hour
One day towards the end of the 2004 season someone from the church I was at spotted us in the crowd and came over during the tea interval.
“Fancy seeing you here, off duty and watching the cricket” she chirped “and your Father in law too, how lovely”
And before I knew what was happening she had started ushering the crowd out of the way so that she could take a picture of the two of us.
They must have thought we were celebrities.
We both grinned through gritted teeth and the picture was taken – not once but twice.
“Come on smile Fr Andrew!”
It was all very embarrassing.
Two months later my Father in Law collapsed and died.
That had been his last visit to the cricket.
Now I was so grateful to have that photograph – it’s on my desk in front of me as I think about these few words.
An important memory had been captured on a photograph and I am eternally grateful now for that interruption.
A moment which seemed just ordinary at the time – has been changed in my life to a precious jewel – I would say – almost holy.
Me and Dad at the Cricket.
Each of you who have come to this memorial service will have memories of loved ones stored away like treasure.
There is so much light behind the candles we have each lit.
Sometimes the memory can be painful to recall.
Sometimes it gladdens the heart on a cold old day.
Sometimes it’s so overwhelming, you’re not quite sure what to do with it.
When you put together the meaning behind the two readings we’ve shared tonight, I think we’re left with a promise which goes something like this:
Nothing is lost but everything is made new.
Our loved ones are safe now in the nearer presence of God and the heart of God is big enough to store all the treasures of a loved ones life and keep them safe.
No thing, however little, trivial or personal is washed away by the concerns of Almighty God.
Rather it is accorded its rightful place in the scheme of things.
In short, that which is precious to you today, is precious to God also.
And he holds it safe just as you do.
Nothing is lost but everything is made new.
All the memories that are dear to us about someone – in the end. point beyond themselves.
Every glimpse of beauty in this world, every happy moment, every long remembered event has as its source the love that comes from God.
The loss of a loved one can bring memories that perhaps we’d rather not have.
Suffering without any meaning. Wishing we’d said something in a different way.
Misunderstandings and confusion – just plain and simple regrets.
There is something about the way the kingdom of heaven is described in our readings that means that everything is acknowledged for the effect it had – so it’s not lost.
But everything is made new – the pain of Jesus on Good Friday does not become any less because we know the happy outcome of Easter Day. It’s still there and real – but it does have a positive resolution.
So we thank God for memories of a loved one – whatever they maybe.
In the treasuring of them a great thing happens – our hearts become one with God’s heart for they hold within them the same jewels.
RH 4.11.07