Sermon November 5-6, 2022 - All Saints’ Day

Title: You have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus!
Text: Rev 7:9-17

Facebook live: You have been washed clean in the blood of Jesus!

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “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.

All Saint’s Day is a day where we reflect and remember the faithful departed members here at Peace and our loved ones as well who are now resting in the arms of Jesus.

I’d like to tell you about one of Peace’s sainted members, Steve Collom.

Steve started visiting here in 2016. He didn’t say much. But he and I talked a bit after church and he would stop by unannounced occasionally during the week to sit and talk about life and the Lord.

Steve was a professional musician, guitarist, and song writer in Nashville. He worked with many well-known Country artists such as Dolly Parton Ronnie Milsap, Glenn Campbell, The Kendall's and others. When Steve and I first talked and I found out he was originally from Waterford and played guitar so I asked if he had anything I could listen to. He told me to look up Gone Away a song he wrote that was recorded by the Kendall's – “The studio version, not the live version!” he said. When I told him I heard both, he said, “You’re a brave man!”

Steve wrote for the chorus:

Gone away, gone away,
All the troubles in my soul have gone away
I was lost out in the night but praise God I saw the light
And the troubles in my soul have Gone Away

Steve wouldn’t claim to be a theologian – he’d tell you, “I’m a guitar player and a song writer.” - But he is writing very theologically here.

Faith and trust in Christ don’t make the troubles in your life go away, but your eternal wellbeing is changed from being God’s enemies to God’s redeemed.

We welcomed Steve into membership here on September 9th 2018 along with the Smithson’s and Regentin’s and laid him to rest on June 28th 2019. Not along time in the history of Peace but we’ll have an eternity to catch up.

Our first reading today gives us a picture of eternity:

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Paul speaks in Ephesians 2 of our situation and also the blessed gif of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins Eph. 2:1

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, [or dead in sin] made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph 2:4-6

Steve grew up in Waterford and left Waterford, and as many do – came home again.

He found our church on Elizabeth Lake Road and visited many times. I would see him walk in turn to the left and sit in the back pew on the very end. Maybe that was just Steve but I saw him as a true Lutheran.

A meme on Facebook said it so well:

Lutherans: Avoiding the front pew since 1517!

But as Lutherans we also joy with those in the Gospel reading waving our own palm branches during Holy Week and we celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry.

9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:9)

Their cries of welcome led up to the cries of “Crucify Him” and the cross of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice and now these cries of death are completed in the heavenly cries of glory in the gathering of the multitude before the throne of grace who have been brought to faith in this same Jesus Christ, crying:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

What had been anticipated before the cross is now fulfilled.

What had been a triumphal entry for Jesus is now a triumphal fulfillment for you and me though the cross of Christ and though you - are many - you have been adopted into God’s family and are now His child, a child of His own choosing.

That is the good news for you and me as well. God knows you as His child. Though born in sin and death awaits us all, we are made new, washed clean and adopted into Christ family by the working of his Holy Spirit.

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “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.

Being brought to faith in Baptism makes you part of this great number from every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages. And that was the good news for those early believers too. They knew that this Jesus who had died on the cross was the same one taken up to heaven was the same Jesus who said:

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Steve Collom had an earthly hero.

Chet Atkins, the great guitarist from Nashville, had many years ago added three letters to his name. He saw that many people with advanced degrees listed such degrees as MBA or PhD after their name. So, in 1988 with the release of his 55th studio album he bestowed upon himself the honorary degree of CGP – Certified Guitar Player.

Over the years Chet gave the honor of CGP to players he deemed worthy.

Though Steve never mentioned it, I’m sure Chet would have given him that honor.

Steve’s earthly remains rest less than 2 miles from our church in Waterford Center Cemetery on Pontiac Lake Rd. When I was looking up the cemetery it had a picture of his headstone. It read:

World’s Ok-Est guitar player
Steve Donald Collom
Beloved, Son – Brother - Father

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

At Steve’s funeral I played “I’m But A Stranger Here” and would like to share verse one with you now.

Dear Saints … Heaven is you home!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen